I just wanted to share here a few of the glories of the architecture of some of the places I visited in Croatia. The glorious combination of Central European and Mediterranean styles and landscape cannot be beat. Everything is so beautifully preserved. Although my professional interest is art, architecture is a very important part of culture and as a traveller, it is the most direct way we engage with the places we visit.

Opatija

In the late 1880s, the small town of Opatija was redesigned and constructed to be the seaside retreat of the Hapsburg emperor and his court, and this is evident in the town’s layout and construction. During the time it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, luxurious hotels were built and are still in business. Many well-known artists stayed there during that time, including composers Mahler, Puccini, and Lehar, as well as writers such as Franz Kafka and dancer Isadora Duncan. These days, Opatija is an elegant town with lots of great coffee, beautiful walks, fabulous independent (high end*) shops and a seemingly endless calendar of cultural and recreational activities.

The architecture is largely Belle Epoque but not all of it. Modernist buildings are also present, even some from the Communist era. One thing that was particularly lovely was the way they have planted roses to climb up the trunks of the palms! The roses scent the air, which combines with the sea air – heady and beguiling!

The town, like much of the coast, is home to exotic plants that were brought there by Croatian sailors. There’s a beautiful beach for sunning and various marinas for water sports and other activities.

Originally built in 1889, the lungomare is a beachfront promenade that runs 12 kilometres (km) all the way to the nearby town of Lovran. It was a bit hot for me to make that trek – next time! I did take a little boat along the coast so I could see the landscape from the water.

more to come …!

• Unfortunately, like in most of the world, the tourist souvenirs are mainly tat made in China, but you absolutely CAN find real Croatian specialties to take home. The shops in Opatija have some lovely clothes, jewellery and ceramics. You can also buy local honey, lavender products, liquors and truffle products.