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Dalmatia Zadar
Arriving to Zadar by boat we are heading directly for an encounter
with George Bernard Shaw. No, he did not settle in this part of
the Mediterranean, although by all accounts he undoubtedly would
have liked to. The amous writer once wrote: “God wished to
round off His work. And so, on the final day, from tears, stars
and the breath of the sea, He created the Kornati.” Needless
to say, one does not have to be a G.B.S. for this archipelago to
make such an impact upon the soul.
The Kornati archipelago, the most numerous (140) array of islands,
isles and reefs in the Mediterranean, enchants with a beauty that
can be compared only to the lacework in stone strewn across the
gently undulating blue surface of the water. Today, the Kornati
is a national park, an azure nautical forecourt to the Zadar mainland.
Zadar, a town of ancient roots, is some 3000 years old – which
in itself has the status of a cultural event. Roman remains are
complemented by numerous examples of sacral architecture: the 9th-century
church of St. Donatus, the cathedral of St. Anastasia (which rose
on the foundations an Early Christian basilica), the church of St.
Mary (the guardian of the cultural heritage known as the “Gold
and Silver of Zadar and Nin”, the church of St. Francis (the
oldest Gothic monument in Dalmatia), the church of St. Simon (which
shelters a casket containing the saint’s silver sarcophagus,
weighing 250 kg). Comparable to Zadar with regard to this kind of
historical patina is the nearby town of Nin. In the days of Antiquity,
Nin was the centre of the Illyrian Liburni, after which it became
the seat of Croatian bishops and the residence of Croatian monarchs.
It is from those times that the stone baptismal font with an inscription
mentioning Prince Višeslav, dates. Knin, located in the Zadar
hinterland and dominated by the largest fortress in Dalmatia, was
also once the seat of Croatia’s nobility
In contrast to its historical wealth, the
surrounding area is impressive for its beautiful landscapes. The
Plitvice Lakes National Park is arhapsodic experience in stone and
of stone, a dreamland for an active holiday, for treks through deep
passes and ravines, for mountaineering and free-style climbing,
possible on Anica kuk – the most popular Alpinist destination
in Croatia. And why not follow this by rafting, kayaking through
a canyon and canoeing on the Rivers Zrmanja and Krupa, or take a
tour of the Vrana Lake – a protected realm of rare birds.
Those who decide to go down to the sea again
will not err either. The southern part of the island of Pag is a
delicacy for all the senses – with all the fl avours of the
local cuisine, the fragrance of sage and the vistas of the medieval
town of Pag. Ideal for Mediterranean-style relaxation are the islands
of Ugljan, Pašman, Silba, Olib, Iž, Premuda, Molat, and
Dugi otok. There, visitors may choose from among the submarine world
and sheltered coves, olive groves, cellars, fishing fiestas, donkeys,
lavender, cycling routes... |
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