Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

48  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

Croatia at a Glance

Croatia is a fascinating country with great ethnic, historical
and architectural diversity as well as varied topography.
The north had close ties with the former Austrian empire,
and the bell towers alongside 19th-century Baroque
churches and buildings have a Viennese look. The eastern
side marks the start of the Hungarian plain with broad
rivers and houses with overhanging roofs. The Adriatic
coast is quite different, with its indented coastline fringed Varaždin
with lovely islands. The coastal cities reflect the centuries- St Mark’s Square
old Venetian culture with churches, monasteries, palaces (pp160–61), with its Gothic THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES
church of the same name, is
and forts testifying to the brilliance of the late Middle Ages the heart of the Gornji Grad (see pp202–19)
and the greatness of the Renaissance period. district in Zagreb and the
city’s oldest square.
Zagreb Virovitica
ZAGREB
(see pp154–71) CENTRAL
CROATIA
(see pp172–83) SLAVONIA AND Osijek
Karlovac BARANJA
Sisak
(see pp184–201)
Rijeka
Đakovo
Poreč Ogulin Slavonski Brod
ISTRIA AND THE
KVARNER AREA
Barban (see pp50–89)
Senj
Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč Pula
(pp56–7) has marvellous
mosaics, some of the best-
preserved examples of Jablanac
Byzantine art in Croatia. Amphitheatre, Pula
(pp64–5) Lički Osik
Otrič
Posedarje
Plitvice Lakes National Zadar
Park (pp88–9) is one of
nature’s natural wonders DALMATIA
with 16 lakes surrounded (see pp90–153)
by woods. The cascading
waterfalls create an Šibenik
impressive display
of light and colour. Sinj

Kornati National Park Split
(pp100–1) is made up of
over 150 islands with Makarska
underwater caves and
sheltered coves. The park
covers an area of about
300 sq km (115 sq miles) Ploče
and is surrounded by
clear seas. These wooded,
rocky islands present an
unforgettable sight.
Dubrovnik

Pavement cafés in Varaždin, once a seat of the Croatian Parliament

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