This post is not really on travel but more on our history and troubled past in the 19th century. I was always sad to see people whose ancestors had to leave their homeland and go across the oceans in search of better life probably never returning… Why was that happening? Too many reasons. Recently I…
Tag: Antiques
Sv. Nikola church – fortress in Nin
On this glorious spring day, we simply could not stay at home! Since the Zadar – Šibenik region is full of awesome places to visit, we decided to go to Vir island and to visit some beaches and fortresses in the region. One of the most popular motifs in the region is the small church…
Stecak monuments – www.secretdalmatia.com
Some of the most mysterious monuments in Croatia are, by no doubt, stećak tombstones. Stećak [stechak] (for singular) or stećci (for plural) are not only found in Croatia but in the neighboring countries as well. Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly famous for this tradition with an estimated 60 000 stećaks still standing! Although their look…
Classic guidebooks on Croatia
Nearly all good and relevant publishers have guidebooks on Croatia and nearly all of them are written by foreigners who come here, spend some time and then return occasionally to update the books. And that is how the guide book publishing works, I guess… But prior to these, new guide books, Croatia has been covered…
Museum of Antique Glass in Zadar, Croatia – www.secretdalmatia.com
One of the finest museums in Croatia is definitely The Museum of Antique Glass in Zadar. The museum opened it’s doors this past spring after years of restoration of the beautiful classical Cosmacendi palace (1877) located on the former defense wall of Zadar called “muraj”. The architect Silađin did a terrific job with the interiors…
Burnum – Croatia’s most recent Roman amphitheatre www.secretdalmatia.com
Probably some of you did not know where the image in the header of this blog was taken. It was back in the 2006 when I took my friend Miljenko Hegedić (a professional photographer whose portfolio can be seen here) on a photo shoot for my web sites. One of the sites I wanted to…
The Wall of Oštrica
I am sure that no traveler passed tiny Grebaštica village, when driving from Split to Šibenik, without noticing the imposing wall on a long peninsula. That wall always looked so mysterious and so prohibitive that I simply had to visit. Another sunny morning yesterday and, after I have finished some work in Šibenik, I simply…
Roman aqueduct of Zadar and Vrana cave
Village of Vrana, near Biograd and Zadar, is filled with amazing treasures. The area was inhabited from the earliest days of civilization since it was lying on fertile soil with numerous fresh water springs and it was close to the sea. This area has over a dozen great fresh water springs that almost never go…
Lavdara Island – Islands of Dalmatia
Lavdara. It has been a while since I was there. Maybe 6 years now… We had a lovely trip with some friends:barbecue, beer, wine and some stretching on lovely April sun. Since then, I was planning to get back on several occasions but simply too busy or always something else (excuses, excuses…). It is an…
Casa Garzotto Hotel – Rovinj
Casa Garzotto in Rovinj is probably one of the cutest hotels in all of Istria and a great example how to build a very interesting hotel and preserve the heritage. The owners, especially Mr. Dario, spent years researching and restoring antique furniture, paintings and photographs that make this hotel more of a museum! For authentic…
Sv. Simeon of Zadar – Sv. Šime: patron of Zadar
Now this is a special place! The church of St Simeon is located in historic quarters of Zadar: near the Roman entrance to ancient Jadera. The tiny square is one of my most favorite places in the World! Small, quiet, historic… just radiates with harmony! I cannot explain it, but it simply shines with tranquility….
Split harbor… in 1907.
Just this morning, a new acquisition for my historic postcard collection was delivered! Beautiful postcard of Split harbor sent on June 2. 1907. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Ships and boats, masts and sails, clear Adriatic with Venetian tower and present day hotel Bellevue in the background… Of course, some other boats now anchor and sea is…
The Medieval Fair in Vrana – The return of the Templars!
This past weekend, a local tourist board of Pakoštane organized a 3 day show focusing on the medieval tradition of Vrana village. This tiny place was one of the most important towns in the medieval Croatia and even the royal crown was kept in the now ruined castle. Among many very unique features, the best…
Lost Roman Cities of Dalmatia – Asseria
My long lasting love for history and archaeology resulted with several tours and original programs. One of those is Lost Roman Cities – tour dedicated to one of the most deserted areas of Croatia and to one of the most beautiful parts of Dalmatia. Once inhabited by thousands of Illyrians and later Romans, the area…
Roman roads in Croatia
Another post on Roman heritage in Croatia! This weekend, running away from the crowds, I took my family and headed straight to my private refuge – Bukovica. One of the most unique landscapes in Croatia! A mixture of picturesque patches of green meadows and rugged, rocky planes… It is here that we have discovered, on…