DAY 1: ZAGREB
Arrival to the Zagreb Pleso airport in the morning. Transfer to the hotel – including sightseeing. After short rest and lunch, we will start our tour around Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Zagreb has more than thousand-year long history: its development began on the two hills Kaptol and Gradec – today the Upper Town. Our stroll around the streets of Zagreb begins on the King Tomislav Square and the adjacent park, further to the Zrinjevac park with its fountains, the most valuable example of the 19th century architectural design. From the park a short Praska street leads to the main square called Trg Bana Jelacica. After a short walk we will arrive to the Cathedral and visit its interior. The sightseeing will continue on the other part of the old Upper Town – the Gradec hill. There we will visit the well-preserved Stone Gate (13th century) a part of defence walls, St. Mark church with its famed multi-colour roof, the Parliament buildings on St. Mark Square, St. Catherine church, the Lotrščak tower… Near the tower there is a Promenade with beautiful view of downtown Zagreb. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
DAY 2: ZAGREB – KUMROVEC – TRAKOŠČAN – VARAŽDIN – ZAGREB
After breakfast departure for the northern parts of Croatia – Zagorje. Our first destination is Kumrovec where we will visit the ethno village with the preserved village houses from the end of the 19th century and their interior. There is also a native house and memorial museum of Marshall Tito. The journey continues to one of the most beautiful castles in Croatia – Trakoščan. We will have a guided tour around the castle and its park. After that we will go to Varaždin, the beautiful town with the well-preserved baroque urban complex, once the capital of Croatia. Free time for lunch (optional). We recommend one of the best restaurants in the region “Zlatna guska” (Golden Goose). After lunch, a walk around picturesque Varaždin streets and visiting the Old Town, National Theatre building, St. Nicholas (the patron of the town) church, numerous Baroque style palaces, the building of the old gymnasium, the graveyard in Varaždin, with flower beds and geometric patterns, which ranks among the most beautiful ones in Europe. Short time for individual programs and return to Zagreb. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 3: ZAGREB – MOTOVUN – NOVIGRAD – POREČ – ROVINJ
After breakfast we will take a coach trip to Istria. Our first destination is the old town Motovun, a small acropolis type of settlement built on the top of 277m high hill. Today’s aspect of the town has not changed much since 12th / 13th century. We will visit the town gate with fortress, the renaissance town palace, the loggia, the St. Stephan’s parish church, town cisterns and old houses with coat of arms on their portals. After short free time we will continue our journey to Novigrad. There we will visit olive oil processing plant called Al Torcio. It produces famous olive oil which is included in the list of the world best olive oils (among 3000 samples from all continents). Visitors can taste olive oil with some other delicious snacks and learn more about olive oil production. It is also possible to buy oil. Lunch in one of typical Istrian restaurants called that are called konoba (optional). The journey will continue to the town Poreč, famous tourist resort with rich cultural heritage from Roman times, dense pine woods and other Mediterranean vegetation, numerous beaches and modern hotel complexes. The sightseeing tour includes the Marafor Square, once the centre of Roman Parentium, with the remains of the Neptune temple from 2nd c., Romanesque style house on the Marafor Square, today housing the Istrian parliament, which was originally Franciscan gothic church from the 13th c. and the most significant example of the Byzantine art, the Cathedral of St. Euphrasias from the 6th century. The mosaics in the apsides are the masterpieces of high artistic value. The basilica is included in the UNESCO’s list of the World cultural heritage. Short time for individual program and then departure to the town of Rovinj. Accommodation at the hotel in Rovinj and dinner at the hotel restaurant.
DAY 4: ROVINJ – NATIONAL PARK BRIONI – PULA
After breakfast, a walk around the lovely old town of Rovinj with narrow stone-paved streets leading up the hill to St. Euphemia church on the top, overlooking the sea. We will visit the church and 60m high bell tower with the statue of St. Euphemia on the top. There is an interesting legend about St. Euphemia, once a daughter of rich merchant from Kalcedona (near Constantinople), who was tortured as a Christian (in 304), the sarcophagi with her body was loaded on a ship which wrecked in storm and by miracle it arrived to the coast near Rovinj. The tour around Rovinj continues to the Baroque Balbi’s arch standing on the spot of the former town gate, the clock tower, the Town hall, the chapel of St. Trinity built in the Romanesque style with seven angels (13th c.). We will also visit Rovinj’s aquarium, the oldest in the Mediterranean. Departure to Fažana where we will take a boat to the National Park of Brioni. After a short sail arrival to the beautiful islands Brioni. Sightseeing tour by a small tourist train. Visit of archaeological sites: the Verige bay with the remains of Roman villa rustica, temples and baths from the 1st c., Byzantine castrum in the Dobrika bay with the old settlements from the 2nd c. B.C. to the 16th c., the archaeological museum in the newly reconstructed palace. The tour continues in the “Safari” park with zebras, antelopes, llama and even elephant. The Brioni islands are a perfect combination of lawns, picturesque parks and well preserved forest vegetation. After sightseeing, lunch in one of the restaurants (optional) and free time until departure by boat back to Fažana from where we will continue our trip to Pula. Accommodation at the hotel in Pula. Free time and dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 5: PULA – VODNJAN – RAŠA – OPATIJA
After breakfast we will start our walk around Pula by visiting the symbol of the town – Roman amphitheatre constructed in the 1st c., preserved parts of the town wall, Twin Gate, Hercules’ Gate, the remains of two theatres (2nd c.), the Augustus temple, loggia, the cathedral, St. Francis church and monastery. After free time for individual program we will continue our journey to the small town Vodnjan. It is famous for its parish church and palaces built in the period from the 15th to 18th c. We will visit Vodnjan’s museum collection which was unknown to the public for the long time, although it contains valuable pieces and unusual exhibits – 370 relics (pieces of cloth from saints’ clothes, objects of everyday use and three well preserved mummies. Lunch at one of the typical Istrian restaurants (optional). On our way to Opatija we will stop in the small town of Raša near which are coal mines that were in exploitation for a long time. The town was built on the initiative of the Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini in 1936. On the main square there is an interesting church of St. Barbara (the patron of miners) built in the form of mine tip cart and the belltower reminds of traditional miner’s lamp or a derrick. After visiting Raša, coach will take us to Opatija, known also as “Nice of the Adriatic” for its beautiful old villas and parks. Check in at the hotel and a stroll around Opatija where we will visit: St. Jacob’s chapel, fountain of Helios and Selena, Villa Angiolina, Villa Amalia, hotel Kvarner, statue of a girl with seagull, central park with over 150 specious of plants, hotel Imperial … free time for a walk long the coast – Lungo mare. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 6 OPATIJA – RIJEKA – TRSAT – KRK (KRK – JURANDVOR)
After breakfast at the hotel a short trip by coach to Rijeka – important port, administrative and cultural centre of the northern Adriatic. We will walk around the old part of the town where many representative buildings were built at the end of the 19th century in the so-called historical style such as the theatre, the Maritime Academy, the Governor’s palace, etc. We will also visit the Square of Republic, the church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, the Romanesque bell tower, the Upper gate that leads to the magnificent Jesuit church, native house of the famous Croatian composer Ivan Zajc… Free time for individual program and then a short drive to Trsat hill with the medieval town of the Frankopan family (13th c.) . Trsat is known as the oldest and the most famous Croatian pilgrimage place, where pilgrims come to the church of St.Mary the Lauretane or Our Lady of Trsat (15th c).
The journey continues to the largest Croatian island – Krk and town Krk. A lunch at one of the typical restaurants (optional) after which we will stroll around the picturesque small town. We will visit the Cathedral complex with the nearby Romanesque church of St. Quirin (the 11th c.) the unique church at the Adriatic, two floors high, the castle and fortresses built by the noble Frankopan family in the 15th and 16th c. and several palaces built by the Croatian and Venetian noble families with the elements of Renaissance and later styles. Departure to the historic place Jurandvor where we will visit the small church of St. Lucy which houses the copy of the inscription form the eleventh century in the Glagolitic writing and it testifies about the grant given by the King Zvonimir for the construction of the church. Departure to the resort Baška, accommodation at the hotel, dinner at the hotel, overnight.
DAY 7: KRK – RAB (by boat)
After breakfast a boat will take us the nearby island Rab. Our first destination is town Rab – the town of bell towers. We will visit the St. Christophor’s Square, fountain with two statues: Kalifont and shepherdess Draga, the characters from the legend about chastity and unhappy love…., town walls, palaces with coats-of-arms of the noble families on the portals…and the beautiful park Komrčar. Lunch at one of the restaurants (optional), check-in at the hotel. Short free time after which we go to Kampor, a lovely fishermen village where we will also visit the old Franciscan monastery from the 15th c. Return to Rab, free time for individual program. Dinner at the hotel, overnight.
DAY 8: RAB – SENJ – ZAGREB
After breakfast at the hotel we go to Mišnjak from where a ferry boat will take us to Jablanac on the coast. Our journey continues in the old town Senj. A sightseeing tour around the town will include: the Town’s museum in the palace of the Vukasović family, one of the most influential noble families in Senj, the Nehaj tower which represents the symbol of the town. It was built in 1558 under the supervision of Croatian army generals. The Nehaj tower houses the exhibition of the Senj’s ‘Uskoks’, (brave fighters against the Turkish attacks), exhibition about the navy, particularly merchant navy which had long tradition in Senj, permanent exhibition about the Senj’s churches through history and the Town and noblemen coats-of-arm. The sacral art exhibition contains valuable exhibits from the Senj’s Cathedral treasury, archives and bishop’s library including fine pieces of furniture (Empire style) from the time of Bishop Ozegović, portraits of bishops, etc. Lunch in one of the restaurants (optional) and after lunch return to Zagreb. Arrival to Zagreb in the afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, free time for individual program. Dinner at the hotel, overnight.
DAY 9:
Breakfast. End of the program.
The price of the package includes:
Hotel accommodation:
Accommodation at 3*/ 4* hotels, half board, in double rooms
List of hotels:
Zagreb – Arcotel Allegra hotel, Four Points Panorama or similar
Rovinj – Sol Club Istra hotel, Sol Club Park or similar
Pula – Palma hotel, Mutila hotel or similar
Opatija – Hotel Imperial, hotel Kvarner or similar
Baška (island Krk) – hotel Chorintia, hotel Zvonimir or similar
Rab – Hotel Imperial, hotel Padova or simialr
Local guides for the tours around Zagreb, Trakoščan castle, Varaždin, Poreč, Rovinj, National Park Brioni, Pula, Opatija, Rijeka, Krk, Rab and Senj
Tickets for: ethno village in Kumrovec, the Trakoščan castle, olive oil plant Al Torcio, National Park Brijuni, the Amphitheatre in Pula, Exhibition in Vodnjan, the Cathedral in Krk, St. Lucy church, Franciscan monastery in Kampor, the Nehaj Tower, Senj’s Town museum, sacral art museum in Senj
Other services included in the price of the program:
Transportation by luxury coach according to program
Boat ticket Baška (island Krk) to Rab
Ferry boat ticket Mišnjak (islad Rab) to Senj
Costs of design of the program and its realization
The price does not include:
tips
drinks
additional health insurance
lunches
other items specifically not included in the price of the program
Additional fee for single room: on request
