Along the Adriatic’s eastern coast, Croatia with 1,600 km of rocky, indented shore and more than 1,000 islands, boasts some of the most dramatic and scenic stretches of coastline that Eastern Europe and the Balkans has to offer.
From the legendary Renaissance splendors of Venice in the north to the less-frequented gems of Montenegro’s Gulf of Kotor and the "Jewel of the Adriatic” Dubrovnik in the south, the Adriatic is a microcosm of 3,000 years of Mediterranean history. The Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Habsburgs have all had their turn molding this remarkable region, with many reminders of their successive dominations.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Wednesday, Arrive Dubrovnik, Croatia
Upon arrival at the International Airport in Dubrovnik we will be met by our guide and representative and transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Lero, Dubrovnik. (2 nights)
Day 2: Dubrovnik
"Jewel of the Adriatic", Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East and had trade representatives in Africa, it even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the middle ages. Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croatian-Slav city.
The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. Tall ramparts surround it and there are only two entrances to the old town, which lead to the Stradun, the city's promenade. We will enter the old town through the Pile Gate, and in front of us is the Stradun. Here will find the Onofrio Fountain, built in 1438.
On the right is the Franciscan Monastery, with one of the oldest functioning pharmacies in Europe, in operation since 1391. At the other end of the Stradun, we will find the locals' favorite meeting place, the Orlando Column, with the nearby Sponza Place and the baroque church of St. Blaise.
Here, also, is the Rector's Palace, built in 1441, which is now a city museum packed with valuable and historic exhibits. Opposite the palace through a narrow street is a square, Gunduliceva Poljana, which is the site of the busy morning market. In the same square is the Jesuit Monastery from the early 18th century.
From here we can head for the little old town port and visit the city walls, built between the 13th and the 16th centuries, which encircle the city and which have been remarkably preserved. The afternoon will be free for us to explore on our own the city and souvenir shops. (Breakfast)
Day 3: Dubrovnik / Korcula
In the morning we will take a drive along beautiful Dalmatian coastline to the tip of the Peljesac Peninsula and the little town of Orebic. Here we will embark for a short ferry ride to the island-city of Korcula.
Korcula it was first settled by the Greeks who gave it the name Korkira Melaina or Black Corfu for its dark and densely wooded appearance. In the afternoon, we will have a walking tour of the town, a lovely place with cobbled streets and fish vendors. Our walk takes us through the Old Town, surrounded by ancient defensive walls, where we visit the birthplace of Marco Polo.
The Cathedral of St. Marko, an architectural delight and it is squeezed into a tiny space between the buildings that form in fact a main square. It took 300 years to build the Cathedral and the result is a curious mixture of styles that shows a kind of muddled continuity from the Gothic forms of the nave to the Renaissance northern aisle, tacked on some time in the 16th century.
Opposite, in another Venetian palace, is the Town Museum, whose comparatively modest display contains a plaster cast of a 3rd Century BC Greek tablet from Lumbarda, the earliest evidence of civilization on Korcula.
A room is devoted to the liberation struggle with some faded photos featuring Fitzroy Maclean, a Scotsman who was influential in the liberation of this area during World War II. Overnight: Hotel Marko Polo, Korcula (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 4: Korcula / Hvar
This morning after breakfast we will take the ferry to the Island of Hvar. Even by Dalmatian standards Hvar’s history seems unusually ‘dense’. Originally a Greek colony, the island has been the temporary property of different rulers like Hungary, Genoa, Bosnia and Dubrovnik, and like the rest of Dalmatia, it only achieved a period of relative peace and stability under the Venetians.
Its harbor is now alive, with a constant hum of activity, with a creamy-brown piazza in the middle, flanked by the Venetian Arsenal, and culminating in the skeletal campanile of Hvar’s Cathedral. Upon arrival we will have a walking tour of the town of Hvar. We will first go through the narrow streets to the 15th Century Franciscan Monastery followed by the visit to the Renaissance Cloister.
The old Rectory houses today a collection of lace, manuscripts, and books. The church also contains remarkable collection of paintings. We visit later the St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Arsenal, a thick walled fortress overlooking the harbor, where Europe’s oldest community-theater has been opened in 1612. Overnight: Hotel Amfora, Hvar (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 5: Hvar / Split
Today we leave Hvar and after a short ferry ride we will arrive to Split. Split is a very vibrant city with shouting stall owners, in-transit travelers, and white-suited sailors, who give a noisy night-on-the-town feel. At the heart of all, hemmed in by sprawling estates and a modern harbor, lies the Diocletian’s Palace.
Once here we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Palace and through the crumbling old town, to see some of the most outstanding classical architecture in the world. The afternoon is free for us to explore on our own. Overnight: Hotel Consul, Split (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 6: Split / Trogir / Šibenik / Zadar / Plitvice Lakes
Another interesting day ahead… we start our tour with a visit to the medieval town of Trogir, which has changed little over the years and it is today one of the most beautiful towns along this coast. Life in Trogir revolves around Narodni Trg, a creamy-white square flanked by the Cathedral, the Communal Palace and the Loggia.
Here we’ll visit the Venetian Cathedral of St. Lovro, built from the 13th to 15th Centuries and the Place of Ivana Pavla, one of the finest architectural works in Croatia. Our next stop is at Jibenik, located in an area of several hundred inlets spread out to the open blue seas, forming many channels, bays and droves of rare beauty. Sibenik and its beautiful surroundings it is a rare and unique place on the Dalmatian coast.
Our last stop of the day will be at Zadar, the ancient capital of Dalmatia. The town offers a variety of architectural styles, where lone Corinthian Columns stand alongside Romanesque churches. Zadar was part of Italy until 1947 and, though fast diminishing, one still can find the Italian influence.
In Zadar we’ll visit the Archaeological Museum, which has a neatly displayed collection of Roman relics. Pre-Christian, Roman and medieval findings from nearby Nin, as well as fragments of sculptures from most of the local churches are also exhibited here.
Among sites to be visited are the Roman Forum from the 2nd Century BC, the 9th Century pre-Romanesque Church of St Donatus and the St Elias Church. From here we drive to Plitvice Lakes for our overnight stay. Overnight: Hotel Jezero, Plitvice Lake (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7: Plitvice Lakes / Opatija
Today we walk one of the most magnificent sites in Croatia, the Plitvice Lakes. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level join the other in a series of cascading waterfalls, all surrounded by dense woods, it is the area declared by UNESCO a World Natural Heritage Site. It is truly a rare and unique natural beauty.
Wooded paths follow the succession of lakes and waterfalls, where streams burst out of rocks creating an abundant water-net. The colors of the pools are reminiscent of Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. Later in the afternoon we will enjoy a drive along the breathtaking Croatian Coastline as we pass through the lovely town of Senj, then through several sleepy and picturesque fishing villages, finally through Rijeka, the most important business center and harbor of this part of the country, to arrive at our final destination, Opatija.
Opatija it is the oldest established and still the most popular Croatian resort-town, with the best traditions and seaside magnificence. A Rijeka businessman built the first villa here in 1844, and after a visit by the trend-setting wife of the Austrian Emperor, the town was promoted as a handy health resort for aristocratic Austrians. Overnight: Hotel Astoria, Opatija (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 8: Opatija / Pula / Rovinj / Porec
We start our day with a journey to Pula to visit its impressive 1st Century Roman Amphitheatre, overlooking the harbor northeast of the old town. Built entirely from local limestone, the Amphitheatre was designed to host gladiatorial contests and could accommodate up to 20,000 spectators. The Roman walls mark the eastern boundary of old Pula. We follow these walls south and continue down to the Triumphal Arch of Sergius.
This majestic arch was erected in 27 BC to commemorate three members of the Sergius family who achieved distinction in Pula. Until the 19th century the arch was backed by the city gate and surrounded by walls that were pulled down to allow the city to expand beyond the old town. A short but beautiful drive along the seacoast will bring us to Rovinj.
Originally an island, Rovinj was first mentioned in the 7th Century as Ruvignio. It was settled by Slavs in the 7th Century and began to develop a strong fishing and maritime industry. We enjoy a walking tour of Rovinj. The beautiful fishing port is in fact mostly Italian speaking; shops line the narrow streets of the old town, selling everything from local Istrian wines and grappa to the region's tasty olive oil and truffles. Above the old town stands the largest gothic church in Istria, the Basilica of Santa Euphemia.
This is a culmination of a number of earlier churches, remains of which are still evident. From here we drive to Porec. This pretty little place it is set on a small promontory and cut into an ordered mesh of streets that dates back to the times of the Roman encampment. The Romans conquered the region in the 2nd Century BC and made Porec an important administrative center, from where they were able to control a sweep of land, from the Lim Fjord to the Mirna River.
Porec’s street plan was laid out by the Romans, who divided the town into rectangular parcels marked by the longitudinal Decumanus and the latitudinal Cardo. Overnight: Hotel Neptun, Porec (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 9: Porec / Postojna Cave (Slovenia) / Trieste (Italy)
After breakfast we will leave the Istrian Peninsula and Croatia as we cross the border into Slovenia, to first visit the Postojna Cave. The cave at this scenic town is one of the largest & longest in the world, and it is Slovenia’s most popular attraction.
The Postojna Cave (Postojnska Jama) system consist a series of caverns, halls and passages for some 27 km (17 miles) long and 2 million years old and it was hollowed out by the Pivka River, which enters a subterranean tunnel near the caves’ entrance.
The river continues its deep passage underground, carving several more series of caves to immerge again as one, the Unica River. In the afternoon we will cross the border again into Italy and drive toward our final destination today, Trieste. Overnight: Hotel Roma, Trieste (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 10: Trieste / Venice
After breakfast we will stop at Miramare Castle, just outside Trieste, which is one of the many famous Habsburg’s castles, before we continue our journey to our final Adriatic destination, Venice. Venice, the ‘one and only’… Once here we’ll start to unlock the secrets of the world's most unique city – its lifestyle, culture, art and architecture.
We'll walk the streets and discover just how and why Venice was founded and how it has changed over its long and eventful history, how it lives and works today, and what are its unique contributions to the evolution of Civilization.
Along the way, we'll seek out many of the well known and lesser-known treasures of the city, visit world-renowned landmarks, private homes, and simple artisan workshops, and see incomparable artistic and architectural masterpieces, all in a different approach or way of looking at Venice. Overnight: Hotel Eden, Venice (2 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 11: Venice
After breakfast, let's go! Go again on a walking tour to continue discover Venice, experience the Venetian life, and share new emotions with new friends. It's our day in Venice. We urge you to take and enjoy a soothing journey along the canals. You will be captivated by the glamour and elegance of such an experience.
This is the best way to soak up the atmosphere and feel part of this unique city. Your Gondola Serenade will take you along the Grand Canal and through the minor canals of Venice. The afternoon is free to immerse yourself into the city’s crowd and cafe’s or restaurants. (Breakfast)
Day 12: Venice / departure
After breakfast we will have transferred to the airport for our flight home. Limpid, calm waters, rock bound coves and shimmering ancient stone cities, Renaissance palaces and romantic fortresses, inhabited, others wild sanctuaries, beckon across the placid Sea – all these and a sunny climate, great food and wine, made our journey along the Adriatic Coastline an unforgettable, a lovely one… Adria amore! (Breakfast)
Price includes:
- Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes
- Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Dinner)
- All sightseeing and transfers by AC car / minivan
- Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
- Services of local English speaking guides
- Entrance fees to museums, parks and sites included in the tinerary
- Ferry rides between the islands (ferry schedules subject of change!)
Price does not include:
- International airfares and airport taxes
- Insurance & visa fee (if required)
- Personal expenses / Beverages / Tips / Bills
- Services not mentioned above
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS)
- Old City of Dubrovnik (WHS)
- Historic Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian (WHS)
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (WHS)
- Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic entre of Porec (WHS)
- Historic City of Trogir (WHS)
- Hvar Island
- Korcula Island
- Postojna Caves, Slovenia
- Venice and its Lagoon (WHS)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices for 2008
Low season (Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct) USD: 4,660.00 / CAD: 4,830.00 - per person in double occupancy, when only 02 people are traveling together, and USD: 3,380.00 / CAD: 3,550.00 – per person when 6 and up!
Single supplement, USD: 490.00 / CAD: 515.00
For high season (Jun, Jul & Aug), please add to the tour price USD: 280.00 / CAD: 295.00 – per person
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Croatia
Slovenia
Italy
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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