The towns along the coastare full of white washed buildings with terracotta roofs and there are lots of pretty little fishing villages just waiting to be explored. If you’re interested in historical and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you’ll be thrilled. Fascinating history and the bustle of modern life mix effortlessly all along the coast- you’ll find pavement cafes and fashionable shops just a stone’s throw from ancient monuments here.
During our stay we have arranged a programme of included and optional excursions and visits, all taken at a leisurely pace.
Our included excursion takes us firstly to historic Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, once a frontier town of the Ottoman Empire. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers or “mostari” who guardedthe Old Bridge in the Middle Ages and is situatedin the Neretva river valley, surrounded by the Hum Hill and the Vele_ Mountain. The UNESCO protected Mostar Old Town with the Old Bridge is unique for its architectural diversity. Here you can admire exemplary Ottoman architecture alongside Mediterranean and Western European architecture. Stroll the Old Town’s cobbled streets, cross the historic bridge, visit the Mosque or relax in one of Mostar’s pavement cafés. Soon enough, you’ll feel transported to some other time, lulled in the tranquility of this slow-paced, relaxed historic city. Following our visit we continue on to Medjugorje. The literal meaning of the name is “The Town Between Mountains” and today Medjugorje is a site of Catholic pilgrimage due to apparitions of the Virgin Mary to local children in 1981. According to reports, six children saw an apparition of a white form with child in her arms on the hill. The next day they returned at the same time and the vision was there again. The apparition is today known as Our Lady of Medjugorje, often called “Gospa” which is Croatian for “Lady”. Medjugorje is a favourite destination among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Here you can visit the site of the apparitions and the Church of St James.
Split, Croatia’s second largest city is famous for a single building; the UNESCO listed Emperor Diocletian’s Palace which was built in the early third century as a retirement home for the Roman emperor. Without doubt the palace is one of the greatest structures of the Roman Empire and no expense was spared in its construction, using the finest Italian marble and with columns and sphinxes from Egypt. But what makes this palace so astonishing is that in the seventh century, 400 years after it was built, the palace was crumbling and city residents began incorporating it into the city.Which is why today, the palace is made up of homes, shops and cafes within its ancient walls. This gigantic structure feels more like a fortress than a palace, and encompasses almost half of the old town and city centre of Split with some 220 buildings within the palace boundaries. We have a guided walking tour of the Palace, the Mausoleum, the Cathedral of St. Domnius and the incredible Temple of Jupiter and afterwards there will be free time in the city.
There’s natural beauty everywhere you look along the Dalmatian Coast but our included excursion to the Krka National Park really is awe-inspiring. This stunning natural site is one of Croatia’s most popular attractions, and is named after the Krka River which runs through the park. Our excursion takes us along the Krka Valley to the spectacular Krka Falls, an amazing spectacle of roaring cataracts and tumbling cascades. After our visit we return to the coast and visit Sibenik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set at the mouth of the River Krka, the town experienced its heyday in the 15th century and you can see vestiges of this golden era in the Old Town. One ofthe most important Renaissance buildings in Croatia, St Jacob’s Cathedral, dominates the promenade here. After some free time we will return to our hotel along the beautiful coastal road, passing by picturesque villages such as Primosten and Marina and beautiful offshore islands.