Dubrovnik - The Pearl of the Croatian Adriatic

The picturesque town of Dubrovnik in Croatia makes a powerful impression at first sight when coming from the sea when you take a look at its 25m high protective walls which were built during the middle ages but now are nothing more than a tourist attraction. The name means “city that came from the sea”, which could not be better suited for this resort.

It’s considered by many sailing enthusiasts as the best resort in all of Croatia and more than often it’s the first stop people make when coming to visit the land by the Adriatic shores. “The Pearl of the Adriatic” as it’s sometimes called was founded in the 7^th century and has been a sought after destination for the rich and famous.

Among the most visited places in town are the Renaissance architecture like the Sponza Palace, the Rector’s Palace, the St. Savior church and the Franciscan Monastery. Let’s not forget the famous town walls which have been turned into a 25m high sea walk for visitors.

Another important part of the city’s history that also translates into a shopping opportunity for visitors is Dubrovnik’s artisans that specialize in weaving anything from tablecloths to lines and napkins according to old methods. And speaking of old methods, there is a famous pharmacy in the Franciscan monastery that sells cream and medicine from centuries-old recipes.

If you’d like to sample the Dalmatian cuisine, you’ll need to head to the old town where you’ll find numerous establishments that serve concoctions made from old recipes with fresh ingredients taken from the neighboring sea and the backcountry. The only downside is that you’ll have to pay more than in other places in Croatia.

At night, if you’re searching for a little party time, the Stradun promenade or Lapad is where you’ll need to be. If you’re searching for a good club, you’ll need to go exploring on the narrow streets of the old town and follow some of the locals as well as the loud music, otherwise you won’t stand a chance.

Just like in other popular resorts in Croatia, say Split, Dubrovnik is particularly popular and gets rather crowded during the summer months. In August there is a Sumer Festival which dates back from 1949 and has live concerts, open air theater in the main plazas around town.  Then there’s a Film Festival in May, a carnival in February the famous yacht charter regatta in November.

Charter a yacht in Biograd

With a name that translates as “the white city by the sea”, Biograd seems to have been destined to become a great holiday resort, especially since it used to the capital city of the medieval kingdom of Croatia.

Biograd na Moru, as the complete name goes, is located in a naturally beautiful region of the country, surrounded on all sides by national parks and sailing opportunities like the Kornatiarchipelago, a real sailor’s paradise thanks to the myriad of islands and islands and the breathtaking landscapes.
Of course, there are many other attractive Croatian resorts along the coast, places like Split, Dubrovnik or Zadar to name but a few, but Biograd manages to keep its “cool” and keep raking up tourists by the thousands every year.

The most important sites in town are constituted by the 11^th century St. John’s Basislica which has withstood the sacking by the Venetians in the middle ages, the historical museum which has a number of ancient boats on display and the tropicarium which plays host to a number of exotic species of reptiles and fish.

The center of the tourist attractions however, is the waterfront because here you’ll find most of the bars, restaurants and shops worth checking out. It’s where most of the visitors and even some of the local converge night after night in search of a good time or a relaxing time. One can choose between wine bars, live music venues or open air terraces with a view of the marina.

The Dalmatian cuisine is perfectly displayed in the local restaurants which also serve international dishes, but rely on the local recipes to attract hoards of gourmets. The Dalmatian foods are an interesting mixture of continental heritage and Mediterranean influences.
As a testament of the strong maritime culture in Biograd, the marinas here are famous in the whole Adriatic for their quality of services but also for the interesting sailing events they organize, out of which the most important has to be the October regatta which draws in considerable crowds and occasionally the who’s who of the yachting world. For those with a sailing passion it’s a good idea to synchronize their holiday with this event. It will be a great experience.