CROATIA HOLIDAY

Welcome to South Dalmatia

Southern Dalmatia is the smallest and the most southern part of Croatia. This region does not have a natural backdrop like the rest of Dalmatia. Its backdrop is the border with Bosnia and Hercegovina which also has access to the sea by way of the town of Neum and their coastline is 9km long.Southern Dalmatia includes the area south of the Neretva river, the Peljesac peninsula and the Dubrovnik which borders with Montenegro in the inlet of Boka Kotorska. The city of Dubrovnik is the main center of the Dubrovnik – Neretva county as well as the main tourist center of Southern Dalmatia and Croatia. Dubrovnik is a city full of history and cultural heritage and lies under the protection of UNESCO. Its beautiful natural surroundings, preserved cultural and historical architecture, ecological standards and tourist industry have made Dubrovnik one of the most visited cities on the Adriatic Sea.The Old Town of Dubrovnik is surrounded by a monumental wall which is 1940 m long and 25 m high. The oldest and most well-known street within the old town is Stradun.
Cavtat is located around 20 km south of Dubrovnik and is a well-known tourist destination and offers a wide variety of accomodations such as room and appartments in private homes and villas, pansions, campsites and hotels. townspeople are known for their fishing expertise.The Peljesac peninsula, along with Istria, is the largest peninsula on the Adriatic coast. Its inhabitants occupy themselves with wine-growing (producing Dingac), shell ranching and fishing, as well as tourism. The larger towns on the peninsula are Orebic, Trpanj, Ston, and Kuciste.
The island of Mljet is one of the islands with the most vegetation and one third of the island was declared as the National Park of Mljet. It was declared a national park because of its exceptional natural beauty, richness in fauna and flora, beaches, fishing grounds.The Elafit islands lie just west of Dubrovnik and are part of the Dubrovnik archipelage. The Elafiti (greek for: stag islands) are closely tied to Dubrovnik and its history.
KORCULA is a town and port on the north-eastern coast of the island of Korčula, situated on a small peninsula which is connected with the island by a narrow isthmus. Visitor opportunities of the island of Korčula include various types of accommodation - hotels, apartments, campsites, marina; sports and recreational facilities, especially interesting are water sports; organized excursions and a rich cultural life and entertainment programs. The most important cultural event is the traditional chivalrous game called "Moreška". It has been performed in Korcula since the 15th century and is of Spanish origin.
LASTOVO a small town above the northern coast in the north-eastern part of the island of Lastovo. Lastovo is an ideal place for peaceful vacations, far from the usual crowd of tourists. Especially attractive are excursions by boat to the islands and islets of the Lastovo archipelago, with bathing and fish picnic opportunities. The island of Saplun is famous for its beautiful sand beaches.
PLOCE is a town and port on the coast of the Neretva Channel, 5 km north of the Neretva Delta; population 6,332. Economy is based on farming, fishing in the Neretva Delta; production of asbestos-textile goods, production of fancy goods and synthetic packaging; terminals for liquids and wood. The nearby mouth of the Neretva and the freshwater Bacina Lakes are a challenge to sports fishing enthusiasts. The Neretva valley provides also hunting opportunities. Gastronomic specialities include Neretva-style fish stew ("brudet") and grilled eels.
CAVTAT is a town and port in the southern part of the Zupa Bay, 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik Major tourist attractions include a very pleasant climate, luxuriant vegetation and nice shores. Economy is based on tourism, while chief occupations in the surroundings of Cavtat include farming and fishing. . Apart from various forms of accommodation - hotels, boarding houses, apartments, intensive exploitation of economic resources of the hinterland.
DUBROVNIK is a town, port and tourist centre of the southern Croatian coast; population. It lies at the foot of the limestone Srđ Mount , in a valley enclosed to the south-west by the Lapad plateau and a smaller reef with the oldest part of Dubrovnik. Apart from its outstanding natural beauties and well-preserved cul-tural and historical heritage, Dubrovnik also offers high-quality visitor opportunities. It is also the city of hotels, of high ecological standards and tourist programs, and is equally attractive in all seasons. A great number of Dubrovnik restaurants and taverns offer delicious specialities of local and international cuisine. Sports and recreational facilities include playgrounds, courts and requisites for all sports in the sea and on the ground, from tennis and table tennis to sailing and yachting. There are also several gyms and fitness centres with swimming pools, saunas, massage, aerobics, solarium, box gym.
KLEK is a village on the north-western coast of the bay of Klek - Neum, 12 km south of Opuzen. Klek is an ideal place for peaceful and pleasant vacations. Apart from bathing and water sports, visitors may enjoy other recreational activities at four tennis courts and miniature golf facilities. In the vicinity are also the villages of Duboka and Komarna with beautiful beaches.

I S T R A C R O A T I A

UMAG , a town and a port in the north-west coast of Istria, is a kind of exit and entrance of Croatia to Europe. This famous business and tourist center is at only 40 km from Trieste, 150 from Ljubljana, and 50 NM from Venice. Development of Umag is best evidenced by the world famous ATP tour, a tennis tournament taking place right here every year. In terms of tourism, the hinterland of Umag is very attractive although it is a still undiscovered location between two Istrian rivers, namely the Dragonja and the Mirna surrounded by the rivieras of Savudria and Umag, and that of Novigrad. Sunbathed beaches and luxurious hotels are only part of the offer. Alternative programs offer a variety of activities to make your stay rich in attractions. Enjoy mountain climbing, spelunking, cycling, or a simple walk. Get to know the secrets of the sea, go sailing, swimming and diving. Ride a horse and feel the spirit of adventure. Fly and see these incredibly beautiful sights! Welcome to Umag and its surroundings!

NOVIGRAD ,tourist resort on the west coast of Istria, the town proud of its peacefulness, cordiality and beauty as well as of its rich historical and cultural heritage. Novigrad opens gladly its doors to everyone, its citizens will welcome and host every visitor trying to make the time she/he spends in our town as pleasant and memorable as possible.
Here, a comfortable bed and opulent table can be found for everyone, as well as the various possibilities of recreation and entertainment. The last but not the least, the purest sea in this part of Mediterranean will soothe your body and soul.
These pages provide the basic facts and information about Novigrad and everything it offers during summer - from accomodation, gastronomy, sport and recreation facilities up to the historical and cultural points of interest.
These pages are also an open invitation to all of you who might choose to come to spend your well deserved summer holidays or a simple week-end with us to relax in this friendly and hospitable corner of the Adriatic, under our mild blue skies which promise the most sunny and joyful memories which will keep your heart warm in grey winter days.
Hope to see you soon in Novigrad!

POREC, In all different actions organized by the Croatian media and National Tourist Organization there is no one else but Porec when it comes to taking first place. So many rewards and certificates which no other Croatian tourist city has. This position is achieved through the mutual efforts of hotels and city authorities. In order to meet its guests properly, during the last few winter it is being prepared for the incoming season. The number of residents exceeds the number of tourists during summer months. Poreč tourism is more than sun, sea and perfect tourist image. The summer visitors know how to recognize the city that is still keeping its historical values, which can be seen in the historical city center. You can find museums, galleries in the most valuable city palaces, many of them are the homes for people as they have been centuries ago. Many of our guests probably do not know that they are walking on the streets, built during the Roman times. One part of the city ramparts and towers is still preserved, in the Pentagonal tower there is a restaurant and in the Round tower a pub. Besides Basilica, now it is possible to visit Euphrasius' bishopric, opened in the year 2000 as an architectural monument and the curch museum.

PULA, Situated at the southest end of the Istrian peninsula has been in existence since 3 thousand years. It represents a very fine combination of the old and modern city where many famous writers and composers have found inspiration for their masterpieces. Many cultural and historical monuments dominate its panorama and represents today the unique setting of various cultural and artistic events. Tourist facilities are located outside the town in woods close to the sea. Beaches stretch along, 100 km of beautifull and indented coast.

ROVINJ,For centuries has Rovinj been turned to the sea. It gets there its wealth, way of life, mentality, development and future. But this town has known how to preserve its nature and acecpt, at the same time, all the challanges of modern tourism. All the Rovinj coast and the surrounding twenty-two islands and islets are a protected natural heritage. There is the island of Katarina for those who are looking for the sun, sea, clean air, peace and a shady spot. The island of Crveni otok ( Red Island) is known as Flower Island, too, hecause of its lavish vegetation. Besides all the beauties of its hidden corners, this green paradise provides everything a modern tourist may wish for.The whole Roovinj hinterland is is just like this: a happy union of the past and the comfort of the present, a peaceful place for rest and joy.

DUBROVNIK

Gastronomy - general info
The cuisine of Dalmatia and the islands follows the trend of modern nutritional norms. The brief thermal preparation of foodstuffs (mainly boiling or grilling) and plenty of fish, olive oil, vegetables and self-sown herbs found near the sea is why this cuisine is considered to be very healthy.
Dalmatian wines, like olive oil and salted olives, have been highly esteemed since ancient times, which the present names of some of the indigenous grape sorts reveal (Grk : Greek, from the island of Korčula; Prc from the island of Hvar). Famous wines include Dingač and Postup from the Pelješac Peninsula, then there are Pošip and Grk from Korčula; Maraština from the island of Lastovo, and also Prošek (a sweet dessert wine), the very strong grape (loza) and herbal brandies (travarica, grapes with medicinal herbs).
Although even today every area has its own way of preparing certain dishes, the cuisine of the islands represents a separate world, their distinguishing features having been discovered only recently, such as the cuisine of the islands of Hvar, Korčula, Brač (vitalac, a dish made from lamb offal wrapped in lamb gut and spike-roasted), Vis (spike-roasted pilchards, as during the Ancient Greek period; flat cake with pilchards from Komiža and Vis, related to the modern-day pizza).
Fresh sea fish (dog's tooth, gilt head, sea-bass, grouper, mackerel, pilchards) grilled, boiled or marinated; then there are mollusks (squid, cuttlefish, octopus), crustaceans (shrimps, lobsters) and shellfish (mussels, oysters, date-shells) boiled in a fish stew or as a risotto.
Of the meat dishes, prosciutto is unarguably unrivaled - pork leg smoked and dried in the bora (from Drniš), served with dry, mostly sheep’s cheese (famous sorts of cheese are those from Pag and Dubrovnik) and salted green and black olives, capers and pickled onions. Lamb is also very highly valued, especially boiled or baked on an open fire (Franjevačka begovica from Visovac, or lopiz from the island of Iž); also, dried mutton (kaštradina), roast beef, Dalmatian stew (pašticada) with gnocchi, offered by many restaurants.
Lightly boiled vegetables are also favorite dishes (Swiss chard with potatoes, tomato sauce) often a mixture of cultivated and self-sown vegetables, spiced with olive oil and wine vinegar, or served with meat (manestra - pasta with minced meat; arambašići - stuffed vine leaves).
Regions with an abundance of fresh water are famous for their frog, eel and river crab dishes (the Neretva valley, Trilj and the Cetina basin). Typical Dalmatian desserts win the heart with their simplicity. The most usual ingredients include Mediterranean fruit, dried figs and raisins, almonds, honey, eggs (rafioli, mandulat, smokvenjak, the gingerbread biscuits from the island of Hvar - rozata).

RESTINGPLACE CROATIA

DUBROVNIK ZADAR SIBENIK SPLIT

Because of the dense pine forest, beautiful beaches, clear sea, springs of potable water.If you have chosen the beautiful Croatian Adriatic for your sailing holidays, we are sure that we can provide you with exactly what you want.We are constantly updating this web site entering new info and posting articles and photos so be sure to bookmark this site and come back to see what is new.

DUBROVNIK, a town, port and tourist centre of the southern Croatian coast. It lies at the foot of the limestone Srd Mount (412 m), in a valley enclosed to the south-west by the Lapad plateau and a smaller reef with the oldest part of Dubrovnik. The ancient town core was connected with the suburban zone on the other side of the valley by levelling and between the Gruz Bay in the north and Stari Porto (Old Port) in the south, as well as by the construction of the Placa (Stradun). Stradun thus became the centre of the town and its main street, connecting two opposite town gates: the Ploce Gate in the east and the Pile Gate in the west. Upon the construction of the port in the Gruz Bay, Gruz was gradually annexed to Dubrovnik and became an integral part of the town. Later on, Dubrovnik extended also to the Lapad peninsula, to lower parts of the Srd slopes and outside the town ramparts toward Zupa. The climate of Dubrovnik is characterized by warm and dry summers and mild winters. The average air temperature in the coldest month (February) is 4.6 ?C and in the warmest month (August) 26.2 ?C. The cold half of the year accounts for 68 % of the total annual rainfall; the spring accounts for 29, the summer for 14, the autumn for 26 and the winter for 37 rainy days out of the total number of 105 rainy days. Snow occurs extremely rarely; with 2,554 hours of sunshine a year, Dubrovnik ranks among the sunniest towns of southern Europe. In July it has 12.4 hours of sunshine a day, like Alexandria in Egypt. The vegetation is subtropical and extremely luxuriant (olives, almonds, citrus fruit, rosemary, laurel, holm oak, pine, stone pine, cypress). Southeast of the old part of the town is a tourist zone called Ploce (hotels and beaches), west of it is Lapad (sports facilities, hotels, beaches, walking trails), while northwest of it is the Gruz port and Gruz. Economy is based on tourism and seafaring. The town has a number of cultural and educational institutions: the Nautical College, the Tourist College, the University Centre for Postgraduate Studies of the University of Zagreb, the Institute of History of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and other. Dubrovnik has a town port, the port of Gruz and a marina. The old town port is protected by the Porporela breakwater; yachts drawing up to 3 m may dock in it; smaller ships are docked in the cove of Gornja Bocina. The port of Gruz is a trading port, situated 2.5 km northwest of the ancient town core of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Marina is located in Komolac, in the interior part of Rijeka Dubrovacka, about 4 km from the entrance to the port of Gruz. Dubrovnik is located on the main road (M2, E65). The Dubrovnik airport is located in Cilipi.Located among the Mediterranean oasis of Babin Kuk, a peninsula 5 km far from Dubrovnik's city center and Stradun historical monuments, the hotel Argosy, which takes its name from a 16th century merchant ship, is the ideal choice for a vacation in this region. Here you will have the possibility to relax at the seaside or to practice several kind of sports such as tennis, gym, table tennis, miniature golf, watersports, football and basketball. The hotel offers also meeting facilities and a daily entertainment program for children and adults (from April to September).

ZADAR and the tourist region of Zadar are located in the very centre of the Croatian Adriatic, in the most indented part of the Adriatic archipelago. At a smaller or greater distance from Zadar are the national parks Plitvice, Paklenica, Krka and Kornati, nature parks Velebit and Telascica, as well as more than 300 islands and islets. Natural beauties, numerous coves and beaches, cultural and historical monuments, restaurants and hotels offering selected national specialities make Zadar and its surroundings one of the most attractive tourist regions in Croatia. Tourism in Zadar has a long tradition. More recent annals note that in June 1879 a group of tourists from Vienna visited Zadar; in 1892 the Society for the Embellishment of Zadar was established (it remained active until 1918), while "Liburnija" Hiking Club and the Tourist Association were established in 1899. Early in the 20th century, in March of 1902, Hotel Bristol (today's Hotel Zagreb) opened to the public. Tourist attraction of Zadar is also based on the combination of yachting tourism, various types of accommodation and catering services, atmosphere, charming beaches and promenades, excursions to closer and farther surroundings, as well as interesting cultural, artistic and entertainment events and programs and on especially valuable cultural and historical monuments. The historical part of Zadar is fascinating to all those who respect historical monuments and cultural heritage. The church of St. Donat, the symbol of the city, is a must in each itinerary, as well as the museums of Zadar: the Archaeological Museum (established in 1830), one of the most important in Croatia, with about 80,000 exhibits from the Stone Age to the late Middle Ages, the National Museum with the Art Gallery and the Department of Natural Sciences, the Maritime Museum with exhibits of the development of navi-gation in northern Dalmatia, as well as the Permanent Exhibition of Sacral Art with about a thousand valuable exhibits from the past centuries, known under the popular name The Gold and Silver of Zadar.

ZADAR, as an Illyrian settlement, dates back to the 9 th century BC. Several layers of city walls, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monuments and a preserved collection of church silver and gold witness the city’s tumultuous past.
Today Zadar is the administrative, tourist and cultural center of the region called the region of national parks and islands, it includes four national parks and 1200 km of a picturesque sea coast with 300 small and large islands, peaceful and untouched bays and about fifty attractive tourist destinations. Modern hotels, camps, private suites, villas and nautical centers are situated along Zadar's tourist region, both on the mainland and islands.

SPLIT , a city and port in Central Dalmatia. Situated on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kastela and the Split Channel. A hill, Marjan (178 m), rises in the western part of the peninsula. The ridges Kozjak (780 m) and Mosor (1,330 m) protect the city from the north and northeast, and separate it from the hinterland. Split has the Mediterranean climate: hot dry summers (average air temperature in July reaches 26 ?C) and mild, humid winters (average annual rainfall is 900 mm). Split is one of the sunniest places in Europe: the average daily insolation during the year is about 7 hours (in July about 12 hours). Vegetation is of the evergreen Mediterranean type, and subtropical flora (palm-trees, agaves, cacti) grows in the city and its surroundings. Marjan is covered with a cultivated forest. Development of steam-shipping, construction of railroad connections with the hinterland before and between the World Wars, and particularly industrialization underlie the economic prosperity and increase of the population in Split. Split is a business, administrative and cultural centre of Dalmatia. Apart from shipbuilding industry, other manufacturers include processing of plastic masses, cement industry, food and other products. Vegetable, fruit and flowers are grown in the surroundings. Split is an important Croatian port in terms of passenger and goods traffic. It is the centre of the maritime connections with the ports on the coast and the islands and terminal railway station of the rail connections with the hinterland. Ferries operate regularly between Split and the central Dalmatian islands, as well as to Ancona in Italy. Ship connections are established, except with the islands, with Pula, Venice, Dubrovnik and Greece. The airport of Split is situated in Resnik (Kastela). Split has many cultural and educational institutions and schools: the University of Split (established in 1974), the theatre, museums, galleries, institutes, and recently a specialized UN institution for protection of environment in the Mediterranean (Regional Activity Centre for the Priority Actions Programme).The Spit Summer, a cultural event (open-air operas, plays and concerts), as well as music perfomances (Melodies of the Croatian Adriatic, Split Festival of Pop Music) take place every year. Split disposes of a variety of sports facilities, swimming pools and piers for sports boats and similar. Both stationary and transit tourism record a permanent increase. New port, hotel and tourist facilities have been constructed. The coves within the city offer several public beaches. Split has four marinas: Split ACI Marina in the north-western part of the City Port; the sports boats pier Spinut on the northern coast of Marjan; the sports boats marina Poljud in the Poljud Port; the sports boat pier Zenta on the eastern coast of Split. The City Port of Split in the centre of the city is used only for passenger and ferry traffic.Split history Within area of Split and Solin the oldest findings are from the time of Neolithic and Eneolithic. In late ancient period during the Roman administration Diocletian Palace was built. It was around 298. year after Christ when the Roman imperator Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus decided to start the construction in the bay of Split on the Dalmatian coast nearby his birth place, Salona...

SIBENIK lies almost in the middle of the Croatian Adriatic Coast, in the picturesque and indented bay around the mouth of the river Krka, one of the most beautiful Karst rivers in Croatia. Today Šibenik is the administrative, political, economic, social and cultural center of a county which stretches along the 100 kilometer long belt between the Zadar and Split Rivieras, reaching up to 45 kilometers deep into the hinterland.The Šibenik region covers about 1,000 square kilometers and is composed of an island and a coastal region, and its hinterland. The county of Šibenik has 242 islands, islets and rocks. Most of this archipelago lies in the north-west part of Šibenik's waters and is very indented, bare and sparsely inhabited. The county of Šibenik has only 10 island settlements. The most numerous group of islands are the Kornati, widely known for their bizarre shapes and luxurious and magnificent landscapes.From Šibenik bay the open sea and the islands are reached through a narrow winding channel about 10 kilometers long and 300 - 1200 meters wide. Although the coastal belt of the Šibenik region reaches only several kilometers inland, to the Trtar mountain chain and Mt. Svilaja in the south-east, 66 % of all its population lives here. After World War II it went through very rapid urbanization. Almost all the production edacities, business activity and strength of the Šibenik county are concentrated here.This region is characterized by limestone mountain crests (the Trtar chain stretches towards the south-east, and in front of it is the lower Šibenik-coastal chain), small valleys (Gornje and Donje polje) and plateaus - the bases of agriculture. The vegetation is mostly spruce in the hinterland, and maquis on the coast and islands. The Šibenik region has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers cooled by the maestral breeze, and dry winters.RESTINGPLACEŠibenik excels among all Croatian towns at the Adriatic coast by its unique location in a picturesque and large bay, at the mouth of the Krka. Created initially as a castrum, a fortification or a campus, beneath the St. Michael’s Fortress that still dominates the town, Šibenik was mentioned for the first time in 1606, in a document issued by the most important of Croatian rulers - the king, Petar Krešimir IV. Šibenik obtained its status of a town in 1298, when the Diocese of Šibenik was established.A view of Šibenik reveals the unique harmony of urban poetics of the town and its natural surroundings. The harbor, connected with the open sea by the St. Anthony Strait, has been the initiator of development of sailing, trading and the overall economic prosperity of the town for centuries. At the entrance into the straight, there is the fortress of St. Nicholas, the most important renaissance fortress at the eastern coast of the Adriatic.The town is surrounded by the fortresses of St. Michael, St. John and Šubićevac that, together with the fortress of St. Nicholas, make the symbol of the centuries long no subjugation of Šibenik, confirmed in the recent Fatherland War. The St. Jacob’s, the cathedral of Šibenik, built for over a century, is a testimony of persistency, sacrifice and belief of the generations of inhabitants of Šibenik.By many things it is unique not only in the Croatian architecture, but in the European as well: it is entirely built of stone, no other material being used; it is unique by the brave structure of stone slabs and ribs, with no binding material; it is also unique among renaissance churches by its trefoil front facade; finally, it is unique by the harmony of its architecture and the row of 71 realistic sculptural portraits around the apses.Documents preserved from the time of building of the cathedral evidence contributions from the entire community to its building, but from many individuals as well, including large number of domestic stone-dressers, builders and artisans. The most important among them is Juraj Matejev Dalmatinac, who came from Zadar and who the town of Šibenik commissioned in 1441 to take over the job of the proto-master of the cathedral of Šibenik.The cathedral and the nearby renaissance town hall, other churches, palaces, and the Prince’s Palace presently housing the County Museum, make probably the most beautiful town square of the Croatian urban heritage. In the 15th, and the 16th century Šibenik was among the Croatia’s most important centers of humanism and renaissance.They're lived and worked writers Juraj Šižgorić, Antun and Faust Vrančić, Petar Divnić and Ivan Polikarp Severitan, composers Ivan Šibenčanin, Julije Skjavetić and Ivan Lukačić, historian Dinko Zavorović, painters Nikola Vladanov and Juraj Čulinović, printers Martin Kolunić - Rota, Horacije Fortezza and Natal Bonifacij, and many sculptors and builders of the Juraj Matejev Dalmatian's circle.The scientist and visionary, lexicographer and writer, philosopher and teologist, Faust Vrancic, is the best known figure of the Croatian renaissance. The writer of the first Croatian dictionary, as well as the author of the famous book of inventions, Machinae novae. Among many ideas, there outstands the drawing of homo volans, the flying man, the first printed picture of a parachute fly in the history.The 14th century church and monastery of St. Francis, the first Croatian national shrine of St. Nikola Tavelić, has been an important ecclesiastical and cultural center for centuries. In the monastery collection, there are over 150 incunabula and that many valuable manuscript codexes, including the famous Šibenska molitva , the first Croatian poetry text written in the Latinism script.In the church, there are organs made by well-known Croatian organ designer of the 18th century, Petar Nakić, preserved in the original form. The present vivid cultural life of Šibenik is evident in the traditional International Children Festival of Šibenik.The Krka National Park was declared in 1985. It covers an area of 14.222 ha in the region of Šibenik - Knin, and Zadar district. It comprises the lower course of the river, from the strongholds of Necven and Trosenj respectively, under the noisy waterfalls of Manojlovac, Rosnjak and Miljacka, across the Roski waterfall (26 m), the take of Visovac and the Skradin waterfall (46 m), the highest tuff barrier in Europe, to the lake of Prukljansko and the "Šibenik" bridge on the Adriatic coast road.The basic values of the Krka National Park combine specific characteristics of natural, humanized and cultural values, particularly geological, geomorphologic, hydrological, biological and landscape elements and phenomenon in natural environment, as well as cultural historical and ethnological heritage. Due to all that the Krka is an object of high scientific interest and simultaneously an extraordinary aesthetic, landscape and tourist value that should be preserved in its original form.The Krka River is a distinctive phenomenon also due to its specific biocenosis and formation of tuff barriers. The continuous growths of barriers, waterfalls rich and heterogeneous Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean flora and fauna in the Park have several endemic species. Vegetation comprises about 860 species, with several Illyrian-Adriatic endemic ones. Regarding its rich faunistic structure (221 species), this area is one of the most important ornithological reservations in Croatia and among the most important ornithological regions in Europe.The canyon ornitofauna is particularly important for its numerous rare and endangered species, especially eagles and falcons. Regarding the number of fish species, the Krka river is one of the richest in the Adriatic river basin, while by its endemic species (7), it is one of the most interesting in Europe. Therefore, the Krka is ichthyologically a natural monument of top category, also extremely rich in mammals, amphibian animals, reptiles, insects and other kinds of fauna.Special charm is given to the Park by numerous historical and cultural remainders that bear witness to the presence of man in this region since Neolithic, particularly prehistoric finds in caves, remains of ancient settlements and cities, an early Christian basilica, old Croatian monuments, medieval ruins, numerous old watermills and mortars, some of them still in use.The most valuable jewels are the Franciscan monastery on the small island of Visovac and the one of St. Archangel's (the Krka monastery) with its treasures. The city of Skradin (ancient Scardona) is a protected cultural monument as a whole. In the vicinity of the Krka there are numberless monuments of cultural and political history, among them the fortress of Knin, Bishopric, Kapitul, Burnum, Bribirske glavice, Drniš, Otavice, Danilo and the city of Šibenik itself, with numerous reminders of the thousand years of its tumultuous history.