Buje: The Guard of Istria
In the last two days, with Pula, Rovinj and Poreč, we had covered the major coastal towns of Istria. It was now time to visit the gorgeous hilltop towns of Istria that we had read so much about. The first hill-town that we visited was Buje. This town, situated on a 222 m high hill, is just 10 km from the Adriatic Sea and four … Continue reading Buje: The Guard of Istria
Istria: Going Underground at Baredine
We had spent the last two days in the coastal towns of Istria marvelling at their architectural sights and enjoying the views of the clear blue sea. We needed something different to break the monotony, and Baredine Cave was perfect for that. This cave, located in the countryside just 8 km from Poreč, was discovered in the early 20th century, and after multiple explorations was … Continue reading Istria: Going Underground at Baredine
Istria: An Evening in Poreč
We must begin this post with an apology to our regular readers (if any) because it has been almost ten months since we published our last post on the picturesque Rovinj. The reason for this delay is the arrival of a little travelteller who has completely hijacked our time. As an apology let us offer you something worthwhile. In the Roman era, if a foreigner … Continue reading Istria: An Evening in Poreč
Istria: The Postcard-Perfect Rovinj
In our previous post, we mentioned that we did not really like the city of Pula since it lacked the charm associated with Istrian towns. When we reached Rovinj, it seemed like the town was compensating for Pula’s lack of charm. In fact, it might have even compensated for a few more places. It is not hard to see why Rovinj is fast becoming one of … Continue reading Istria: The Postcard-Perfect Rovinj
Istria: Stepping Back into the Roman Era at Pula
Imagine a place where one evening you are watching the sun setting behind lush green hills while the next evening you are watching the sun disappear beneath a vast but tranquil sea in a blaze of colours. Imagine a place where one day you are roaming in the most scenic of coastal towns feeling the cool sea breeze on your face while the next … Continue reading Istria: Stepping Back into the Roman Era at Pula
Varaždin: A 20 Year Capital
Some cities have their histories inextricably linked with natural disasters. Sometimes these disasters engulf and destroy those cities while other times they shape them for better. Varaždin definitely belongs to the latter category. In 1756, as Zagreb was reeling from the effects of battles with Turks along with frequent fires and plagues, the Croatian government relocated its capital from that troubled city to Varaždin in … Continue reading Varaždin: A 20 Year Capital
Trakošćan: A Fairytale Castle
If little kids are asked to draw a castle based on their reading of stories like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty then I wouldn’t be surprised if their drawings look something like the Trakošćan Castle. Sitting on a hilltop next to a lake and surrounded by woods and meadows, the castle, with its light yellow and white exterior, stone walls and a central tower, looks like … Continue reading Trakošćan: A Fairytale Castle
Car Rental in Croatia: A few tips
We have previously stated that we decided to rent a car to explore Croatia. This was the first time that we were renting a car, hence we had a lot of questions regarding it. Now that we have answers to most of these questions, we have addressed them here so as to help future travellers. What type of car to choose? Choose your car depending … Continue reading Car Rental in Croatia: A few tips
Zagreb: The Sights of Gornji Grad
In the 11th century, two settlements emerged on the neighbouring hills of Kaptol and Gradec –the former, religious in nature, consisting of a cathedral and residence of the bishop and the latter secular in nature, inhabited by common people. After a long history of frequent battles and occasional truce, Kaptol and Gradec were officially united in 1850 and today comprise Gornji Grad – the historic … Continue reading Zagreb: The Sights of Gornji Grad
Zagreb: The Horseshoe of Donji Grad
Zagreb – the capital of Croatia – is not a city that is very highly regarded by tourists and travel websites. One would be hard-pressed to find a list of ‘top European cities’ that features Zagreb. In fact, Zagreb rarely finds a place even among the best five places in Croatia. We will not get into a debate about whether Zagreb deserves to be included … Continue reading Zagreb: The Horseshoe of Donji Grad
