Highlights Of Croatia

Arrive in Dubrovnik. Our hotel is about 30 minutes' drive from the airport. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Dubrovnik at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Dubrovnik Airport (DBV). Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to take the public bus into the Old Town. The bus stop is in front of the hotel and it is only around seven minutes' drive. This evening you might choose to have your first taste of Croatian cuisine. Fish is a popular choice, as it is caught locally and often served alongside grilled vegetables. Olive oil is a staple in Croatian cooking and there is more of an Italian influence than in most other Balkan countries. Black Risotto is a traditional Dalmatian dish, is coloured with squid ink, and has other seafood in it such as mussels. Both white and red wine are popular choices with Croatian varieties including Babic and Lumbarda. For dessert, a custard pudding covered in caramel sauce is a speciality that is similar to a crème caramel.

This morning we will take the public bus to the Old Town and enter through Pile Gate. The best way to get a feel for the wealth of monasteries, museums and historic buildings in Dubrovnik is on foot and so a local guide will take us on a walk to get our bearings. We'll learn about how the city was almost entirely destroyed by shelling in the Siege of Dubrovnik between 1991-92 and how this fortified medieval town was thankfully restored by UNESCO and the local people and still retains its unique atmosphere and charm. George Bernard Shaw once wrote 'those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik'. This afternoon is free for you to discover more and to make your own way back to our hotel at a time of your choosing. You might like to visit the Rector's Palace and the Maritime and Ethnographic Museum. The Rector's Palace was built in the 14th century for the Rector of the Regusa Republic before later becoming an armoury, watch house and prison. As well as the buildings' fantastic architecture, it also houses a museum that will give you a taste of the Ragusan lifestyle. The Maritime Museum is located in the Fort of Saint John and gives you an overview of ship building and trading from the start of the Dubrovnik Republic right up to World War II. The Ethnographic Museum is in an old granary dating from the 16th century. Here you can learn about the heyday of the Dubrovnik Republic and see the traditional folk costumes and textiles from the time. You may choose to get a view from above the Old Town by taking the cable car to a nearby hilltop or by enjoying a walk around the city walls, (the walk of the full course is 1,940 metres). Perhaps also visit the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery or the cathedral in the Old Town to see some of the most well known religious buildings in the city. For something a bit different you might like to visit the Red History Museum where you can learn about different forms of communism and also about the Cold War. Alternatively, you could leave the city and take a boat ride to Lokrum Island Nature Reserve. This idyllic island, with an ancient Benedictine monastery at its heart is only a short boat ride away. As well as visiting the monastery, there is the opportunity to take one of the forest walks, relax on the small beaches or take a dip in the mini 'dead sea' on the island.

We will leave Dubrovnik this morning and begin our drive to Split. Our first stop along the way is in Ston; a village known for its unusual saltpans and its impressive defensive walls. Built in the 14th and 15th century the town's walls are much longer than those found in Dubrovnik. They run for five kilometres, which makes them the longest defensive walls in Europe. The saltpans are even older and are thought to have greatly contributed to making the Republic of Dubrovnik wealth and successful in the past. If you fancy going for a walk then you could head for Mali Ston or 'little Ston' as it is also known. It's about one and a half kilometres along the peninsula. Here you can find the oyster bays that produce this speciality, which is famed as being some of the best, found anywhere in the world. After spending a couple of hours in Ston we will drive to Omis, where we have a little free time to have lunch. This small port town sits at the mouth of the Cetina River and was once known as, the home of pirates. The pirates that used to patrol these waters would ambush trade ships trying to enter the port and steal their goods. Now it's a far more peaceful place and there are a number of local cafés and restaurants to choose from. Leaving Omis we'll take a scenic drive up the Cetina River Canyon. Arriving in Split, we'll check-in to our centrally located hotel, which is only about 15 minutes' walk from the Diocletian's Palace. Split is vibrant city set on the coast and with a beautiful old town area. We begin our explorations with a guided walking tour to see the Diocletian's Palace and old town. Emperor Diocletian built the palace at the turn of the 4th century and it quickly became the heart of the city. The Roman emperor was buried here, and it later become the world's oldest Roman Catholic cathedral, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Walking in the palace is like taking a step back in time, as we wander through the intriguing maze of narrow cobblestone streets where pre-Romanesque churches nestle alongside Gothic chapels. We'll see the peristyle (central square), cathedral and subterranean halls. This evening you may like to take the opportunity to join the glamorous locals on a stroll along the Riva, Split's seafront promenade and stop off in one of the restaurants or bustling cafes along the way.