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A Country
Torn
Apart by War
While Italy is one
of the most popular tourist countries in the world, its neighbour,
Croatia, is relatively unknown in comparison because it is still
seen as a war torn country.
When we recently
travelled through Croatia, we were struck by the devastation of the
war: many inland small villages are totally desolated and abandoned
by its inhabitants during the recent war.
After the fall of
the Berlin wall in 1989, the Croats, as well as many other
Europeans, rejected communism in the multi-party elections in 1990.
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Cathedral and Market Square - Zagreb |
The Serbian
aggression to Croatia in 1991 and then Bosnia and Herzegovina in
1992 was the most dreadful event in Europe after the World War II.
A two-day
visit of Pope Paul II to Zagreb on September 10, 1994, was
rather symbolical. The whole Croatia together with the Holy
Father prayed for peace in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
By the end of
1995, the Croats brilliantly performed military actions in order
to liberate the largest part of its territory ensuring the
repossession of the occupied part of the Eastern Slovenia. The
Dayton treaty of 1995 stopped the war in Croatia and in Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
The Croatian
people speak a south Slovak language. The tourist industry main
language is German but because of Croatia’s location Italian is
widely spoken along the coast. English is spoken by most of the
young people. |
The best time to
travel is April - September, when temperature is around the high
20’s. The coastline is renown for averaging over 7 hours of sunlight
per day. In winter temperatures drop to below freezing, and the
country tourism network basically comes to a halt.
Instead of flying
into the capital, Zagreb, one should rather combine the Veneto
region of Italy with your visit to Croatia.
Zagreb is a
typical east European city where time stopped some decades ago. The
contrast between the very poor and middle class is distinct.
A good tram
service provides excellent public transport to most of the tourist
attractions of the city.
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Surrounded by woods and parks, the city lies
between the snow covered slopes of mount Medvednica to the north
and the Sava river to the south. The old town, Gornji Grad,
played a significant part in the history of both the city and
Croatia.
The works of
art, mostly sculptures, of the great Croatian sculptor, Ivan
Mestrovic, can be enjoyed in his home gallery, near the church
of St Mark. The coloured tiles on the roof of this fine Gothic
Church, form the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia
and Zagreb.
The Zicara is
a cable car which connects Zagreb with Sljeme, the highest peak
from where impressive panoramic views of the city can be
enjoyed.
- Johann &
Monique Beukes |
Sava River and highrise housing - Zagreb
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