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A-Zagreb of Croatian Facts

 A - Adriatic shoreline – Croatia has 1,777 km of unspoilt  Adriatic shoreline. With this amount of space you can swim in bays in total seclusion, or you can always take a friend!
B – Beaches –  Pristine, unspoilt beaches are found bordering the Croatian coastline. Thirty three beaches and marinas in Croatia have been awarded Blue Flags in 2002 by the European Commission for cleanliness.
C – Celebrities –  Hang out with the stars in Croatia! Croatia has been visited by prominent personalities and celebrities such as, Steven Spielberg, Pierce Brosnan, Jay Kay, Naomi Campbell, Andre Agassi, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Vanessa Redgrave, Bernie Ecclestone and King Albert II of Belgium. Celebrities visiting in 2002 include Gwyneth Paltrow, Sean Connery and Valentino. Cat Deely and Edith Bowman also did a road trip in Croatia this year. Darling, it’s the place to be!
D – Dalmatian Dogs –  The dogs of 101 Dalmatians fame originate from the Dalmatian Riviera in Southern Croatia. They were ‘spotted’ in an 18^th Century oil painting in a monastery in Dalmatia – this is thought to be the first record of the infamous pooch.
E – Eating – To many connoisseurs, the white fish and crab of the Adriatic is the tastiest in the world! Try the cheese from Pag made of ewe’s milk. During maturation, the cheese is covered with olive oil, giving it a unique aroma and flavour. For Oyster lovers the town of Ston is a must where the best oysters in Croatia are grown.   
 F - Film Frenzy – Forget Cannes, and head for Croatia for the annual film festival in Pula. Zagreb, Croatia’s capital is the film location for the classic Fiddler on the Roof. Croatian Academy Award winner Branko Lustig has directed numerous films including Schindlers List, Gladiator and Hannibal.
G – Gorgeous Goran – Croatia’s most famous sportsman Goran Ivanesevic is the only ‘wild card’ to have ever won the  Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Goran beat Pat Rafter to win the 2001 Wimbledon Championships and on returning to his home town Split in Croatia, Goran showed true Croatian spirit, by stripping down to his underwear as he was given a hero’s welcome!    
H - Hot, Hot, Hot - Sun worshippers will also not be disappointed in Croatia - after Nice, the island of Hvar is thought to be the sunniest place in Europe. Plus, the people of Hvar are so sure about this that if it does ever snow they promise to give visitors their accommodation for free!
 I – Island life – Known for its indented coastline, Croatia has an amazing 1,185 islands. With only 66 of them inhabited by humans, you don’t have to be a millionaire to have an island all to yourself – a perfect place for anyone wanting to play Robinson Crusoe and Girl Friday! So popular are the islands that Sharon Stone, Robert De Niro and Clint Eastwood have all inquired about purchasing islands. 
J – Jacques Cousteau – Infamous Oceanographer, Monsieur Jacques, acknowledged Croatia’s Adriatic Waters, ‘ one of the cleanest seas on earth’ - and he should know!
K – Korcula – The Polo families who live on the island of Korcula boast about their famous exploring ancestor, born on the island in 1254 – Marco Polo himself. 
L – Liquid Lunch – With 650km² (240 sq miles) of vineyards, it’s not surprising that the Croats know how to have a good time! Sample the delights of the local beer such as Karlovacko, Croatia’s special brandy with herbs, Travarica or some of their highly prized wines such as Postup and Dingac. Just make sure your hotel is in staggering distance! 
M – Music Mania – Croatia has been host to numerous concerts. The country has rocked with the Rolling Stones, experienced the operatic delights with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, been seduced by James Brown, and been host to many others such as U2, Jamiroqui, Paul Young and Tina Turner in recent years! 
N – Nautical – Hit the sea in Croatia, with 47 marinas, it is a haven for seafarers. Try a learn to sail holiday, as part of a Flotilla sailing at your own pace between harbour to harbour. 
O – Operators  - There is  tour operators featuring holidays in Croatia in 2003 – from summer sun to activity and coaching holidays. 
P – Preservation – Catch ‘Flipper’ in action off the Croatian Coast!  A research team has been set up to study the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the waters of Cres and Losinj. They can often be seen following yachts and ferries and it is even possible to adopt your own Croatian dolphin!
Q – Quarries – Without Croatia there would have been no White House – well, it wouldn’t have been as well built. The white stone and marble from the quarries of Croatia was used to build the famous home of the American President in Washington DC.
R – Romance – With stunning coastlines, solitary beaches and crystal-clear seas, it’s easy to see why Croatia is an ideal destination for a honeymoon. Agatha Christie seemed to think so, as she spent her honeymoon in Dubrovnik and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton regularly visited for romantic holidays. So, all those heading for wedded bliss should head to Croatia, you can even get married under a waterfall! 
S – Sex Symbols – Ever wanted to know where the beautiful people come from? It’s Croatia. Croatia has produced hunks such as ER Heart throb Dr Christa D’Souza alias Goran Visnjic, tennis ace Goran Ivanisevic and his gorgeous model girlfriend Tanya Dragović.
T – Tie – London, Paris, Milan, no, Croatia invented the neck tie!  The tie originates from the Cravat, a part of Croatian ancient military dress. The word cravat evolved from Croat. 
U – UNESCO - Many towns and sites in Croatia have been listed by UNESCO including Trogir, Split, Dubrovnik and the Plitvice lakes. This makes Croatia an excellent choice for history and culture lovers.
V – Vultures – The Croatian Island of Cres is home to the endangered White Headed Griffin Vulture. These amazing raptors have few remaining habitats in Europe.  
W – Walled towns and cities – Croatia boasts a number of walled towns and cities including Dubrovnik whose walls were built between the 11^th and 17^th centuries and are still intact today. Other walled towns include Trogir, Sibenik and Korcula.
 X – Xtra ordinary sea life – There are over four hundred species of fish in Croatian waters such as Adriatic Blue, John Dory and Frog Fish, making this a fantastic place for scuba diving. Pack your wet suit and take your pick from numerous recognised diving schools.
Y – Yachting – This summer, the Croatian Adriatic played host to a number of luxury yachts. So for instant glamour, why not contact one of the specialist sail operators and hire yourself a yacht of your own.
Z – Zagreb – Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is over 900 years old and extremely rich in cultural life, with more than 20 theatres, several concert halls and over sixty museums and art galleries. This friendly city has many events to choose from year round, such as the Summer festivals and classical music concert, many performed in the open, cathedrals or old castles.  

For further information about Croatia contact the Croatian National Tourist Office on 
+ 46 8 53 48 20 80 
 or visit www.visitcroatia.nu

       croinfo@telia.com

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