Though it attained independence less than 20 years ago, Croatia is one of Europe’s most ancient states. Ruled over the centuries by Romans, Byzantines, Franks, Ottomans, and Venetians, this beautiful West Virginia-sized nation of four and a half million people has had a dramatic and checkered history, as befits a land at the crossroads of Europe and Asia Minor.
Croatia thinks of itself as “The Mediterranean As It Once Was,” for good reason. Its Dalmatian Coast is one of the world’s maritime gems, rich in dramatically rocky coastlines, winsome beaches, and the evocative remains of all the civilizations that coveted it. Its Dinaric Alps are wonderfully wooded, and the plains, lakes, and hills of the north and northeast are peaceful and lovely. In 2006 National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia its Destination of the Year, honoring its six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include the Old City of Dubrovnik, one of the most comely cities on the Mediterranean, and the wondrous Palace of Diocletian at Split.
Sicily, Italy, and the Glorious Dalmatian Coast
Highlights: Ruins of Sybaris, Otranto, Diocletian's Palace in Split, Dubrovnik, Hvar
