Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA  91

DALMATIA

Dalmatia is the most visited region of Croatia. Although tourism collapsed in
the 1990s because of the war, visitors have long since returned to the rocky
coastline and sandy beaches, the deserted islands and the splendid cities of
this Adriatic region. As a consequence of relationships and trade with Italy, an
Adriatic culture developed here which has given Dalmatia an Italianate feel.

In the 1st century BC, after two centuries cities to Venice. In the 16th century, there
of war, the Romans managed to conquer followed a second flowering of the arts,
the Dalmatian and Liburnian tribes and and the sculptors, architects, painters,
integrate them into their system. For writers and scholars of this period laid the
over three centuries the region enjoyed foundations for the future development
a period of prosperity which was of Croatian culture, art and literature.
eventually brought to an end by the In late spring, when the Jadranska
arrival of peoples from Asia, including magistrala coast road has yet to be
the Slavs in the 7th century. invaded by heavy summer traffic, this
In 915, after a long period of wars and must be one of the loveliest parts
unrest, the first Croatian kings founded of Europe. From Karlobag the road
a new state, blessed by papal authority. winds along the edge of the Velebit
New public and religious buildings, walls mountain chain and the Dalmatian
and town halls were built, the arts began and the Biokovo plateaux. Seawards
to flourish, and trading with the Italian is the long, lunar-surfaced island of
coast increased. This was a period of Pag and further along are the islands
great cultural vitality, which survived around Zadar, those around Split, and
the collapse of the Croatian state and its finally the lovely island of Mljet, set
integration into the Kingdom of Hungary in an azure sea. Behind are hillsides
in the 12th century. In 1409, after a long covered in vineyards and maquis
series of conflicts, the Hungarian king vegetation, dominated by the
sold the islands and many of the coastal bright yellow flowers of broom.

A secluded beach on the island of Mljet
Walls of the Old Town, Dubrovnik – the “pearl of the Adriatic”

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