UNESCO Pearls of Croatia: Castle & 2 National Parks
UNESCO Pearls of Croatia: Castle & 2 National Parks
8 days / 7 nights
Zagreb – NP Risnjak – Opatija –NP Brijuni – NP Paklenica – Zadar – NP Krka – NP Kornati – NP Plitvice – Zagreb
Day 1: ZAGREB
Upon arrival to Zagreb airport, private transfer by bus to one elegant hotel in city , who is located in the very centre of the city, on the Ban Jelačić square. After short rest in your luxury room, continued city tour of Zagreb including the fortified Upper Town where we have a short stay for possible lunch in one of the local restaurants of upper town where you have gorgeous view to old city , after lunch ,continued to the city`s historical center, pass through popular Tkalciceva Street, stroll to the delightful Kamenita Vrata and St Mark`s church with its multicolored roof,museum of Croatian Naive, the Cathedral, stroll the charming streets and admire the inimitable architecture of lively Ban Jelacic Square, the Croatian National Theatre and the University. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 2: ZAGREB – VARAŽDIN REGION – TRAKOŠĆAN CASTLE ,
After breakfast morning departure to the Varaždin, a region of untouched nature, it is famous for its natural environment,like protected forest-parks of Trakoščan and the Drava.
Trakoščan castle is one of the most attractive Croatian medieval castles and historic sites, Trakoščan, with its forest-park, lake and nature-trail, its museum and well-preserved interior, is rightly called ”the pearl of Hrvatsko Zagorje”.
The castle was built at the end of the 13th century. In the early 1800s, Juraj Drašković was restored the castle and turned it into a stately home. Seeing are the knights’ and the hunt-rooms, the music-salon, the armoury collection with pieces from the 15th to the 19th Century, and – made especially for the restoration – the furnishings, now placed alongside examples from earlier centuries. After short rest, departure to Varaždin city (”Croatia’s Vienna”) ,baroque capital city of Croatia. Sightseeing tour of old city who is a jewel of harmony and intimacy, pass through popular atmospheric squares and lovely streets,visit old castle, City Hall, one of the oldest in Europe, contains offices for provincial administration almost 500 years old, Etnomology city museum,one of the largest collection of insects and butterflies,the famouse Varaždin cemetery,worth of seeing for its wonderful horticulture.
Departure to Zagreb. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 3: ZAGREB – PLITVICE – ZADAR – ŠIBENIK
After breakfast, morning departure toward Plitvice Lakes National Park, included in the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes at different levels, connected in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood, the Plitvice Lakes are natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty, after Sightseeing tour with guide, continued toward to Zadar.
Admire the beauty of the Adriatic Coast as you stop in 3000-year-old Zadar, sightseeing tour of old core including the Roman Forum and St Donatus Church, a magnificent monument of Romanesque Architecture, and pre-Romanesque church of St. Donat, and other sites of historical and nonpareil grandeur.
Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 4: ŠIBENIK – NP KRKA – TROGIR – SPLIT
Departure after breakfast. Sightseeing tour with guide, visiting old Šibenik core.
The most important cultural monument is St Jacob’s Cathedral, masterpiece of Croatian construction and under UNESCO protection. Sibenik, is a historical place earlier inhabited by the Illyrian tribe Dalmats, played an important part in Croatia’s history, past and present. It is also important to the development of tourism in the region. It lies near the mouth of the Krka river, after sightseeing tour and short rest, departure towards NP Krka which is well known for its waterfalls of astonishing natural beauty, one of eight national parks in Croatia.
After sightseeing national park we continue towards Trogir, short visit of St Lawrence Cathedrale whose main west portal is a masterpiece by Radovan, and the most significant work of the Romanesque-Gothic style in the country.Old part of Trogir core was founded by Greek colonists from the Island of Vis in the 3rd century BC.
On this Antique matrix lies the historical core of Trogir, which is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex not only in the Adriatic but in all of Central Europe. Trogir’s medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises a preserved castle and tower and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.Departure on evening in Split, checking in the hotel.
Dinner and overnight rest.
Day 5: SPLIT – OMIŠ – SPLIT
After breakfast, organized city tour in a specially adapted open-type bus, enabling you to see all the beauty of the Diocletian town Split, after city tour continue with walking tour of the old town core of Split with a guide.
Diocletian’s Palace is on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage with Peristyle of the palace, Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral St Duje, Riva, Diocletian’s mausoleum, the colonnades along the streets, Early Croatian churches, Romanesque houses, the gates of Andrija Buvina and architectural works by Juraj Dalmatinac have remained in a good state.
After short rest, continuing towards Omiš, visiting the old pirat town Omiš is a picturesque town with a true Mediterranean atmosphere situated at mouth of the river Cetina.
This town is hosting the famous Festival of Dalmatian choirs (“klapa”) and is located in the very heart if dalmatia, between the two tourist centers Split and Makarska. After its stormy and very interesting history dating from the roman times, with its medieval, impregnable fort of the Omiš pirates, the town has become the tourist centre of a Riviera of unique beauty. Numerous monuments from its past are the witnesses of its history, long and glorious; The river Cetina, with its magnificent canyon, which cuts its way to the sea into the impressive mountain massif at the beautiful, one kilometers long sandy beach and making this part of the Adriatic coast unique and incomparable.
After sightseeing,we continue with tourist boat upstream to resort Radmanove mlinice, where you can rest and have a lunch.
Departure after lunch to Split, afternoon rest in hotel, in the evenning organized original Diocletian`programme, (included: degustation of the traditional dalmatian food, wine, special programme, animation, live music) in the unforgettable atmosphere of the restaurant-enoteca Terra.
The rest of the evening free time.
Day 6: SPLIT -DUBROVNIK
After breakfast in the early morning hours, check out from hotel and go toward Dubrovnik.
Departure in to Dubrovnik, check in hotel on pensinsula Lapad. Short rest for lunch in one of the local restaurants. . Orginised seightseeing of the old town core who are included in UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s palace and the Cathedral.
The rest of time is free for facultative sightseeing and exploring local souvenir shops. Departure in hotel, dinner and overnight.
DUBROVNIK is a medieval city on the Croatian side of the Adriatic coastline and a treasure-trove of cultural-historical monuments that were created throughout its thousand-year existence, In the past, it was a City-Republic, and alongside Venice one of the most famous cultural-economic centers on the Mediterranean. In more recent times, it has become the center of modern cultural and tourist events: a city of summer festivals – an international parade of top musical and theatrical achievements, a city of museums and galleries. These values have turned Dubrovnik into a place that offers a rich selection of various experiences and excitement, but also a complete holiday in a quiet and calming, mild Mediterranean ambience and wonderful seaside landscapes.
The rest of time is free for facultative sightseeing and exploring local souvenir shops. Departure in hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: DUBROVNIK- KONAVLE
After breakfast, departure towards Konavle. This tour takes us to the heart of Konavle Valley, to Cilipi, a village known for its carefully preserved folk customs, rich national costumes and famous embroidery. Enjoy your stay in this idyllic setting by walking arround this picturesque village, buy a traditional souvenir or attend the Mass at St.Nichola`s church.
After the Mass, a folklore performance will take place in front of the church.
Our drive through the villages of Popovici and Radovcici takes us to the Molunat for a photo break. Lunch will follow at the restaurant Konavoski Dvori, preceded by a traditional Konavle welcome with local brandy and dried figs. A visit to the gallery of the local painter Mijo Siša Konavljanin in it.
Departure to the hotel , dinner and overnight.
Day 8: DUBROVNIK- KONAVLE
After breakfast, the tour ends with transfer to the Dubrovnik Airport.
