Croatia, the Pearl of Adriatic Sea

With France returning to the top of football after 20 years, the 20 18 World Cup, which excited countless people all night, also came to an end. On the night of the final, although the runner-up Croatia lost, it won the respect of the whole world and became the biggest dark horse in this World Cup.

Let's learn about their cultural landscape in non-football time.

Flag of the Republic of Croatia

? Brief introduction and geographical location of Croatia

Croatia * * * The Republic of Croatia (Republic of Croatia in Croatian, English), referred to as Croatia, is located in the southeast of Europe, at the junction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pannoni sub-plain in the Balkans, with Zagreb as its capital.

From the end of the 8th century to the beginning of the 9th century, Croats established an early feudal country,10th century, and established a powerful Croatian country. 19 18 In February, Croatia and other Yugoslavs jointly established the Kingdom of Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia (1929 was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). 1945 became a member of the People's Republic of Yugoslavia,1991June declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, joined NATO in 2009, and joined the European Union in July 201March.

Croatia is a developed capitalist country. The economy is dominated by the tertiary industry, supplemented by the secondary industry. Tourism is an important part of the national economy. Croatia has a good economic foundation and a high level of development in tourism, construction, shipbuilding and pharmaceutical industry. Football and tennis are tied as the first sports in Croatia.

From the map, we can see that Croatia borders Slovenia and Hungary to the north and Italy to the west. Croatia is the most developed country in the Balkans except Greece, and nearly 90% of the population is Croats. Because Croatia was planned as a tourist center during the Yugoslav period, even after the war, Croatia's tourism industry remained the pillar industry of the whole country. The unique advantages brought by the long and narrow coastline attract a large number of tourists for vacation and leisure every year. Therefore, the price level of Dubrovnik is not inferior to that of tourist cities in developed countries, while the price level in other parts of Croatia has been greatly reduced by more than half, the number of tourists is much less, and the infrastructure construction is also much worse.

The most beautiful season in Croatia

Croatia's coastal climate is Mediterranean, and the inland climate is gradually changing to temperate continental climate, so April to September is a particularly suitable season for travel in a year. Since April, the weather has gradually warmed up, and some interesting cultural programs have begun to appear all over Croatia, such as the biennial Contemporary Music Festival and QueerZagrebFM Music Festival. The hotel is also cheaper than the peak season at this time; May and June are very suitable for outdoor sports, and there will be more tourists from Europe. This time is also the spring outing season for local students. July-August is the tourist season, with more tourists and higher transportation and accommodation costs, but there are also additional shipping and organized adventure routes to the island; September is the best time to travel, with lukewarm weather, few tourists and falling house prices, which is also a very suitable time.

The most unmissable scenic spots in Croatia

1. A city that makes you want to stay: Dubrovnik is a port city at the southern tip of Croatia and is known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic Sea". The sunshine, red roofs and blue waves in Dubrovnik all show the charm of a seaside town. Dubrovnik's nearest place to the sea is the famous old city wall, which surrounds the old city and is well preserved. Walking around the circular walkway on the top of the old city wall, you can see the castles, monasteries, baroque dome churches and Orlando stone pillars as far as you can see. There is a harbor under the east wall of the old city, and a row of benches are neatly placed on its aisle, facing the sea. In the morning or sunset, listening to the sea breeze and waves here makes time flow and comfortable. With the popularity of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik, as a location, has soared in popularity and its charm has swept the world. "Visiting King's Landing" has become a new activity in Dubrovnik, and even locals love to shout "Welcome to King's Landing!" . In fact, as depicted in the play, the town itself is an epic.

2. Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, which is located in the inland of northern Croatia. Zagreb is a city with a clear distinction between old and new, and its area is not large. One step is enough to measure this land. Shangcheng district in the west is the mark of history, slightly higher than the surrounding area. Climbing along the steps of the city wall, the context of the city is gradually clear. Medieval towers, palaces in the19th century, open-air markets and the ancient St. Paul's church are intertwined, and the Gothic Zagreb Cathedral stands out among the red-topped white walls. In Zagreb, there is also a "Lost Love Museum", which is different from other museums that focus on culture, history, art or commemorative events. This museum is unique because it pays attention to individual feelings. The museum has a collection of souvenirs left here by people from all over the world because of lovelorn love. It seems unremarkable, but there is a heartbreaking story behind each one. It will bring you a travel mood that is hard to find elsewhere, and perhaps it will leave you with a unique memory.

3. Rogier is an ancient Croatian city and a port in the Adriatic Sea. The ancient city of Rogier is located in the Croatian mainland and? On an island between the iovo Islands. Located 27 kilometers west of Split. 1997, Rogier Historical Center was listed in UNESCO World Heritage List.

4. Rowan is a city located in northern Croatia and on the Adriatic Sea. Rovini is located on the west coast of Estella Peninsula. Rovini once belonged to the Byzantine Empire. Before World War I, Rovini belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, it became Italy. After World War II, the city was handed over to Yugoslavia. During this period, many Italians left the city. Rovini belongs to the Mediterranean region and is also a famous tourist city.

5.Chval (Hvar) is a small town, located on the south bank of Heval Island in southern Croatia, decorated with Venetian bell towers and windows. In Chval in the middle ages, there were ancient Gothic palaces and marble pedestrian streets in the walls built in the13rd century. A long promontory is dotted with many small and stony beaches, and there are some bars and cafes along the harbor, which are ideal places for people to relax and watch. Heval Island is increasingly becoming a tourist destination for fashionistas all over the world. As one of the most sunny and lush islands in Croatia, Heval Island really lives up to its reputation. The island enjoys 2724 hours of sunshine all year round. Lavender-covered fields, quiet and peaceful villages and sloping fields shaded by pine trees outline a beautiful panorama for tourists.

6. West Benic is a historic city in southeastern Croatia. Located in the middle of Dalmatia, on the Adriatic coast, about 40 kilometers southeast of Split Port. Xi Benic is the capital of Xi Benic-Ning Ke County. It is also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Southeast Europe.

7. Split is the second largest city in Croatia, located on the Adriatic Sea. This is a noisy and vibrant ancient city, with clean streets, thousands of years of ancient buildings and beautiful beaches suitable for holidays. The ancient Diocletian Palace is the heart of the city, and the lives of local people depend on it. When you are here, you will see many modern bars, shops and restaurants located on the ancient city walls with unique cultural atmosphere. The palace is no longer a distant object, but a part of the city. Imagine what a wonderful experience it is to walk and live in the ancient Miyagi for thousands of years. When you take a ferry to overlook Split, it is another scene: the majestic coastal mountains are like the eternal scenery behind the blue-green Adriatic Sea; Rows of red houses, whether in clear skies or at dusk in Wan Li, are particularly bright; There are parties, nightclubs and restaurants on the east side of the bay, and the foothills at the west end are lush with trees, sometimes mixed with primitive beaches. Whether it is city life or natural scenery, Split will not let you down.

8. Located at the end of a small peninsula in southern Croatia, zadar is a unique point on Croatia's broken and narrow coastline. Although it is the fifth largest city in Croatia, zadar is more like a lazy and comfortable town. The ancient city retains medieval monasteries and churches. Climb to the top of the church to have a bird's eye view of the whole town. Walking on the path between the sea and the old city, the sunlight scatters mottled light and shadow through the shade of the sea. Street painters often haunt the roadside, waiting for you to stop in a hurry and chat with him at any time. In zadar in summer, until 6 pm, the sunshine is still very strong. Couples sitting by the sea are waiting for the sunset. At the end of the road is the famous sea breeze piano, and under the white stone steps is the carefully designed organ pipeline. People all over the world sit quietly together, listening to the sea playing, waiting for the sunset, waiting for the tide, waiting for a big wave to come, and the sea breeze piano will purr and ring a low tone. Lovers bow their heads to exchange a kiss, and the huge sunset will slowly dive into the sea. If you stay in zadar long enough, you might as well take a boat to nearby Uglian and Otto, cliff diving, diving, skydiving and driving in the wild. As long as you are brave enough, this is a place where you can "go to heaven and go to earth".

In addition to the human landscape, we are also attracted by the local natural landscape Plitvece Lake Group National Park, which is located in the western valley of Croatia. Lake Plitvece is the most beautiful and famous national park in Croatia, and 1979 is listed in the World Natural Heritage List. It is close to the main road connecting Zagreb and Dalmatia, and consists of 16 lakes connected by countless waterfalls. The total area of the park is 19462 hectares, of which the forest area accounts for more than 70%. There are 16 connected mountain lakes with a total length of 10 km. The height difference from the first lake to the sixteenth lake is 133 meters, and there is a winding wooden bridge between the lakes, which is convenient for viewing and provides a shortcut for sightseeing. 16 lakes are located in karst landform area, and the water contains a lot of minerals and chemical elements, which makes the lakes show special colors. Especially in the trees in the water, calcium forms a layer of bronze substance, which makes the bark more vivid and lovely and immortal, forming a rare underwater Yushu spectacle. Therefore, people often compare Sixteen Lakes with Jiuzhaigou, because they are both lakes surrounded by barium travertine, and they have the same gorgeous colors. Who has better scenery in Sixteen Lakes and Jiuzhaigou? Maybe everyone has his own love. But there are no roads and motor vehicles, no exaggerated canteen and no locals selling souvenirs everywhere. The scenery here may be purer.

Mlet Island is one of the southernmost islands in Croatia, and a national park named after this island will make people happy that you came. Endless greenery dotted with sparkling salt lakes, dense pine forests and lakes under trees make it a paradise for lovers. Here, you can follow the footsteps of countless predecessors on foot or by bike, or walk on the lake by canoe, or explore the strange Odysseus cave, or dive by the sea. These are all good choices.

Konati Islands is the collective name of all the islands along the Adriatic Sea. The best diving place here is Konati National Park, where there are 140 rocky islands, uninhabited land, colorful reefs and colorful tropical fish, which make you intoxicated and don't know where to go.

Kelkka National Park Kelkka National Park is also called calka or Cocoa National Park. The national park covers an area of 142 square kilometers, which is about half of the sixteen lakes. A canyon with a depth of nearly 200 meters is formed between Circea and the Croatian karst area. The beautiful Krka River flows through it, and the calcified dam steps formed by cutting layers of limestone fall down layer by layer, becoming a beautiful and spectacular waterfall. Its geological structure, landscape and many other features are very similar to Sixteen Lakes, but people who have been to Kerka National Park will find Krka more charming and beautiful than Sixteen Lakes. Kelkka National Park is famous for its good ecological environment and biodiversity. The park is rich in animal and plant resources, with more than 220 species of animals, and is listed as one of the largest bird protection areas in Europe.

Croatian cuisine

Croatia's mainland cuisine is mainly meat, vegetables and freshwater fish.

Stewed beef with potatoes: almost the national dish of Croatia. If you go to a restaurant, you must order something, and every household will do it. At first glance, it looks a bit like China's, but the taste is far from it. Originally a dish with secret sauce, it is slightly sweet and spicy, and no one will refuse the taste.

It is also said that the stewed beef with potatoes in Croatia is similar to the Gulas soup in Hungary, but it is totally different. The taste of chilli powder in Gulashi soup is still easy to distinguish, far less warm than that of beef stew with potatoes in Croatia.

Roasted turkey: another special food in Croatia, which is more popular during Christmas in winter. The highlight is that the turkey is fed barley, chestnuts, walnuts and so on. After cleaning, add corn bread, onion, apple, celery, garlic, chicken liver and other fillings before cooking. The leftover turkey soup is very useful. Soak Mlynch's baked noodles and mix them with turkey. It's really mouth watering!

Most of Croatia's ancient cities are on the right bank of Adriatic Sea. The long coast and numerous islands provide excellent conditions for rich food, so slow down and savor the fun brought by subtle differences.

Grilled fish: The freshest delicacy on the right bank of Adriatic Sea is fish. In fact, there are more than 400 edible marine life in this area! The general practice is to wash the fish, cut them into pieces, soak them in the juice, string them with a fork and bake them on the grill for several hours. You can eat the fish when it is golden, and the juice is overflowing.

Croats believe that grilled fish must be accompanied by wine. Because of its long wine-making history, Slavonia produces the best white wine.

Seafood cuttlefish rice: stir-fry the seafood soaked in red wine with cuttlefish juice and rice, put it in a baking tray for a while, and then pour in lemon juice. The cuttlefish rice looks dark, but it doesn't affect people's love for it at all. Many foreign tourists come here to taste, and it is even more interesting to spend three days in the dark.

Sea water is salty, so don't ignore the sweetness when you come to Croatia.

Skradin cake: Croats are very proud of its gorgeous appearance. Inspired by a distant ancient recipe, we made a bold attempt and transformation, replacing jam with honey, adding a lot of walnuts, hardly adding flour, and covering it with chocolate glaze. This luxurious taste was favored by the Pope at that time.

Gingerbread: Croats are most proud of the ancient food, and its tradition of making began in the Middle Ages. In Croatia's unique gingerbread culture, gingerbread is a gift to express love. It is said that Croatian boys send gingerbread to girls, indicating that they want to marry girls, which is more exciting than sending roses. A few years ago, the technology of making gingerbread in Croatia was listed as a world intangible cultural heritage.

People who have been to Croatia are even more moved by the food here. Celebrities such as Bill Gates and Tom Cruise are fans of Croatian food. In fact, the above is only a small part of Croatian cuisine, and there are many flavors that attract people to embark on an intriguing journey.

? Croatian visa information and instructions

The visa allows you to transit or enter Croatia, or stay in Croatia for no more than 90 days every 180 days.

Visa includes one, two or more transit, travel, business, personal reasons and other reasons.

The validity of the visa depends on the specific circumstances, and the longest period is no more than 5 years.

Having a visa does not necessarily mean that you can enter Croatia. Other legal requirements required by other laws must also be met. Foreigners cannot work in Croatia on short-term visas. Visa applicants need to read carefully and observe the basic visa requirements before submitting their applications. The embassy may request the applicant to provide supplementary materials according to the specific circumstances of the applicant.

Visa application form: the applicant must fill in and sign, and the minor should be filled in and signed by his parents or legal guardians.

The visa application form can also be filled in online in https://crovisa.mvep.hr/. After completing and submitting, please print out the complete application form and sign it in the corresponding position.

Passport: It must be valid within 3 months after leaving Croatia, with at least 2 blank pages, and issued in the past 10 years.

Please provide a copy of all valid or expired visas in your passport and a copy of the passport use page.

A passport size photo: bareheaded within 6 months, 35 mm x 45 mm

A valid travel medical insurance: covering the whole period of stay in Croatia, with a minimum amount of 30,000 euros. Insurance must cover the expenses of emergency medical treatment and emergency hospitalization due to physical illness and the repatriation of remains.

Applicants applying for multiple-entry visas must provide insurance that meets the above requirements during their first stay in Croatia.

Citizens of other nationalities living in China must provide proof of long-term residence permit in China.

China citizens are required to provide the original household registration book and copies of all pages.

Proof and guarantee of means of transportation to return to the country of residence: round-trip air ticket reservation, car or boat ticket; If it is go on road trip, please provide your driver's license and proof of renting a car. If the applicant goes to a third country, he must provide the itinerary (travel ticket, etc.). ).

Proof of purpose of stay in Croatia:

Confirmation letter signed by authorized travel agency, travel plan and names of travel members.

Payment certificate of tour group

Hotel reservation form or other proof of accommodation

Private accommodation certificate

Attached is a detailed tour itinerary of daily hotels in Croatia.

Proof of chartering/speedboat, etc.

Proof of sufficient funds during the stay in Croatia, and proof of returning to the country of residence or going to a third country.

70 euros per day during my stay in Croatia.

If the applicant with the nationality of a third country is provided with proof of paid tourism products or similar materials, it will be 30 euros per day during his stay in Croatia.

The required materials can include: statements for the last three months, retirement payrolls, scholarship certificates, etc.

Your bank statement for the last 3 months must have a balance and a current record.

Proof of employment or school attendance

On-the-job personnel-A copy of the business license of the on-the-job company must be stamped with the official seal.

Original certification letter issued by the company's work unit (in English or Chinese, with English translation). The letter of proof must be written in official paper, signed by the relevant leaders, dated and stamped with the official seal. The contents shall include:

Detailed address, telephone number and fax number of the applicant's work unit.

2) Name and position of the signatory of the certification letter

3) Name, position, salary and working years of the applicant.

4) Certificate of leave permission

Student: The original student ID card and certificate of study issued by the school, stamped and signed, and the contents must include:

The address and telephone number of the school

Quasi-false time

Name and position of the school leader who signed this letter.

Retirees-proof of retirement and proof of normal income.

unemployed

If married, provide spouse's work certificate and income certificate, marriage certificate and be certified by the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Single/divorced/widowed: other proof of fixed income.

Minors and persons without civil capacity: visa applications can be submitted by parents or legal representatives.

The birth certificate of a minor (whose parents are legal guardians) must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents issued by the competent authority to prove the legal guardian must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If the applicant is a minor and travels alone or with one of his parents, the other parent/legal guardian must provide a notarial certificate of consent to travel. The notarial certificate must state the personal information of the parent or guardian, the time of stay in Croatia, the time of consent to travel, the signature of the parent/legal guardian and the certificate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The validity period of the above materials cannot exceed three months.

During the visa application process, the Croatian Embassy may ask you to submit materials other than the above materials, and the international certification materials must be accompanied by a translation.

Regarding the notarized documents submitted when submitting visa applications, we only accept the original materials that have been certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Because it is impossible to verify the authenticity of relevant documents, if the provincial foreign affairs office issues a certificate or does not accept a copy of the certificate. Usually, the visa review time is 15 natural days, counting from the application to enter the embassy.

When you apply for a visa to Croatia, please consider the itinerary. Although Croatia is in Europe, it is not a Schengen country. If you want to enter Croatia multiple times, you can consider applying for multiple or single visas. If you need to visit Schengen countries, you should also pay attention to whether to apply for a single visa or multiple visas.

Self-driving and transportation in Croatia

When you come to Croatia, the first place is, of course, road trip-Croatian Highway No.8, the breathtaking expressway and the beautiful Adriatic Sea, and the old coastal area? Everything is so harmonious, and this road has also been pushed to the road of popularization by CCTV 9, which is also a rare experience; In addition, the cost performance of self-driving is higher, the time cost is reduced, and the flexibility of the line will bring you a more unique experience. China's driver's license allows him to drive in Croatia. First, the driver's license needs to be notarized and translated, but it should be noted that it is best to confirm the certificate of car pick-up with the car dealer who wants to rent a car in advance; And the items included in the car rental fee should also be determined in advance. Driving in the local area is not a big problem, but you need to do some homework on parking.

Friends who can't drive or have concerns don't worry. Croatia's public transportation is relatively convenient, and routes, ferries, railways and highways basically cover all scenic spots in the country and neighboring countries. When there is enough time, it is also a good choice to cross Croatia by public transport.

? Croatia itinerary recommendation

1. Itinerary recommendation 1: Follow Game of Thrones to visit the mysterious Croatian route: domestic-Brad-Zagreb-Plitvece Lake Group National Park-zadar-Benic-Trogi-Split-Chival-Dubrovnik.

Suggestion: 13- 15 days.

Budget: 1.7-22000/ person

Characteristics of the route: this is the road, historical drama fans. He returned to the scene in the play in the real scene, just like the reappearance of history and the interlacing of time and space. Do you remember the steps of Baylor templo mayor? Do you remember Lannister? Is the missay of the special family sent to the port of Dorne? Or have you ever mentioned Lyon? Are you in King's Landing with Wallis? Discuss how to resist stannis on the wall. When you go to these places, the plot jumps out like a magic elf and takes you back to the scene at that time. This trip visited Slovenia and Croatia, two fascinating countries. This route is very small, but it can receive unique scenery and cultural experience. The itinerary combines natural scenery with history and humanities, and the whole journey is relaxed.

2. Croatian Rhapsody-Blue Dream Route on Adriatic Coast: Budapest-Zagreb-Plitvece Lake Group National Park-zadar-Benic-Split-Chival-Dubrovnik.

Suggestion: 15- 17 days.

Budget: 1.4- 1.7 million/person

Itinerary features: "If your dream Mediterranean is warm weather and blue jewel-like seawater under the ancient city, then Croatia is the place to make your dream come true." Dubrovnik's perfect ancient city wall in the Adriatic Sea, the night view of the peninsula in Rovini and the crisp colors in the national park are not enough to make you unable to resist a Croatian rhapsody. This trip will explore Hungary and Croatia in depth. Hungary has arranged for three and a half days, and basically you can visit the more famous scenic spots in the city leisurely. Croatia includes all the most beautiful places, including the scenery of Sixteen Lakes, the humanities of Split, the beaches of Heval Island and the ancient town of Dubrovnik, all the way south. This is a trip full of historical and humanistic atmosphere.

Seeing this, do you want to be as impulsive and practical as me? Be fully prepared and bring this strategy. There is always a body and soul on the road, and I meet the most beautiful myself on the journey. In the near future, Bluewind will launch a travel brochure for small countries in Central and Eastern Europe every 1~2 days. I hope you will like it on the way.