10/04/2024
21 Facts you didn't know about Croatia!
1. Croatia has more islands than Greece, with over 1,246, making island hopping a dream!
2. Dubrovnik's dramatic walls were a key filming location for Game of Thrones.
3. The Istria region of Croatia boasts some of the world's most prized white truffles and olive oil.
4. Croatia is home to eight national parks and eleven nature parks.
5. Hum, with 20-30 residents, claims the title of the world's smallest city.
6. The iconic Dalmatian dog breed originated in Croatia's Southern Dalmatia region.
7. The city of P**a boasts one of the world's six largest surviving Roman amphitheaters.
8. Croatia has the 3rd highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods of any European country after France and Spain.
9. Croatian cuisine is a delicious blend of Mediterranean and Central European influences, offering something to tantalize every taste bud.
10. Pag Island is renowned for its exquisite lace-making tradition, passed down through generations.
11. The critically endangered monk seal finds refuge on some of Croatia's remote islands. Spotting one is a rare privilege.
12. Following WW I, Croatia became part of Yugoslavia. While this era brought modernization, tensions rose within the federation, culminating in Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991.
13. Zadar has the world’s first pipe sea organ which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.
14. Famous inventor Nikola Tesla was born in the rural village of Smiljan, Croatia.
15. Croatians had their own alphabet. The Glagolitic alphabet was preserved only by Croats who used it from the 12th to the 20th century, mostly in liturgy.
16. The island of Korčula is believed to be the birthplace of Marco Polo.
17. The world’s first torpedo was constructed in Rijeka, Croatia.
18. One of the first medieval places in Europe to have a sewage system was Dubrovnik.
19. There are more Croatians living outside the country than in Croatia.
20. Croatia might be the birthplace of the necktie, with the "cravat" inspiring the modern design.
21. Croatia has a renowned term ‘Fijaka’ for a relaxed state of body and mind best described as the ‘sweetness of doing nothing’ or being in a ‘day-dreamy state’.
