UNESCO Gems of Croatia: Exploring World Heritage Sites from North to South
Many know the sea of Croatia, but few know of its adventurous past. Different peoples have fought over this land over the centuries, and from time to time they have left it as a pledge historical-artistic testimonies of great value. The commission knows this well UNESCO for the World Heritage Site, which has selected some Croatian sites and included them in the prestigious list, valorising the art and culture of Croatia and allowing tourists to get to know it thoroughly, in the infinite facets that make each place magical. Here is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia: on a hypothetical journey from north to south you pass by cathedrals, imperial palaces and historic jewels, without forgetting an incursion into the wild nature.
The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč: A Byzantine Gem
In Porec (in Italian Parenzo), a city of about 17 thousand inhabitants along the north-western coast of Istria, stands the early Christian cathedral dedicated to Bishop Euphrasius, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. The original Basilica was from the 4th century BC and was erected in honor of St. Maurus of Parenzo, but it was demolished in the 6th century and replaced, in 553 BC, by the current one. Not only the church is a protected property, but the entire complex of which it is a part: even the atrium, the baptistery, the votive chapel, and the bell tower of the bishop’s palace represent fine examples of Byzantine art, in combination with classical elements. Inside the Basilica, you can admire sacred objects and valuable furnishings, finds from various eras, the relics of San Mauro and Sant’Eleuterio but above all the splendid mosaics, a true treasure of the Euphrasian complex. Probably made in the 6th century BC, they have exceptional colors and impressive details, making them one of the most appreciated Byzantine masterpieces in the world.
Plitvice Lakes National Park: Nature’s Masterpiece
About 260 km southeast of Poreč, just over 3 hours drive, the National Park of the Lakes of Plitvice opens up in all its verdant beauty. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, guardian of 16 lakes immersed in wild vegetation, it is the ideal setting for those who want to walk, cycle, or ride in nature. The little train, as well as the boats that ply the lakes and streams of the park, are also perfect for enjoying the turquoise and green of the Croatian landscape and, for the luckiest, spotting bears, wolves, wild boars, roe deer and other wild animals. Situated between the mountains of the Lička Plješivica massif, between the regions of Lika and Senj, the 33 thousand hectare park seems designed by a skilled architect… instead, the creators of such splendor are the White River and the Black River, which over the centuries have carved out a fascinating limestone labyrinth before diving into the Korana River. While exploring the Plitvice Lakes Park, have fun counting the butterflies: there are 321 different species, of which 76 are diurnal.
The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik: A Fusion of Gothic and Renaissance
On the coast of Dalmatia, 187 km south of Plitvice and a couple of hours drive away, lies the town of Šibenik (Sebenico). Populated by almost 50 thousand inhabitants, divided into 4 main districts, it is famous for its St. James Cathedral that in 2000 has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The plans for the building date back many centuries, to 1298 to be precise, and it was in 1431 that work began under the guidance of architects Francesco di Giacomo, Juraj Dalmatinac, and Nikola Firentinac. The Catholic Cathedral was immediately a witness to the cultural relations that linked Dalmatia to Northern Italy and Tuscany, but it took a few more years to complete, and it was only officially consecrated in 1555. You don’t need to be an art expert to recognize the elegance and harmony of the stone building, but UNESCO chose it for very specific reasons: it skillfully combines Gothic forms and Renaissance motifs and you can recognize the influences of different cultures, which makes the Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik a unique monument.
The Old Town of Trogir: A Venetian Legacy
About fifty kilometers south of Šibenik, which can be reached by car in about 45 minutes along the D 58 road, you will come across the town of Trogir (in Italian Traù). In 1997, UNESCO included it among the World Heritage Sites for its historical centre, among the most beautiful and best-preserved examples of Venetian style of the whole of Dalmatia. Connected to the nearby island of Bua by a bridge, sweetened by a good Mediterranean climate, and equipped with a tourist port, Trogir fascinates above all for its proud fortifications, elegant palaces, and Romanesque churches, embellished over time with Renaissance and Baroque details. The orthogonal plan dates back to the Hellenic period, then the city experienced Roman supremacy, the strength of the Saracens, and the greatness of the Republic of Venice, and in the last centuries it passed from the hands of the Napoleonic French to those of the Austrian Empire, to then become part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after the First World War. It has belonged to the Republic of Croatia since 1991. Worth seeing is the Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo (1180-1250), but also many other medieval buildings, which on the waterfront create a nice contrast with the modern port and the moored boats.
Split: Diocletian’s Palace and the Medieval Center
Split, about thirty kilometers from Trogir, is the most important city in Dalmatia, a university and episcopal seat included among the World Heritage Sites in 2005. To be precise, those protected by UNESCO are: the medieval core still well preserved, with its cathedral, various Romanesque churches and fortified parts, and the famous Diocletian’s Palace, probably built between 293 and 305 AD as an imperial palace. The latter represents one of the most important buildings of late antiquity, a precursor of early Christian, Byzantine and medieval architecture. Imposing, excellently preserved, it is the result of additions and modifications that have accumulated over the centuries, but in its original parts it coincides with the first nucleus of the city. It seems that the name of Split derives from the Latin “palace”, or “palace”.
The Starigradsko Polje Plain Around Stari Grad
Old City, in Italian Cittavecchia, rises along the western coast of the island of Hvar, about fifty kilometers from Split, and the plain that welcomes it, called Starigradsko polje, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008. The reason is simple: visiting it means taking a leap into the past, because the territory has remained exactly as it appeared in the 4th century BC, when the Greeks founded a colony there for the first time. Today, as then, vineyards and olive groves characterize the landscape, and the stone walls that divided the lands into various lots, where the farmers built their farms, have survived to this day. In addition to the Greek finds, about sixty Roman estates have been discovered.
The Ancient City of Dubrovnik: The Pearl of the Adriatic
To finish Dubrovnik (in Italian Ragusa), almost 200 km south of Stari Grad. It is located along the Adriatic coast, very close to the southern Croatian border, protected by the reassuring outline of Mount Srđ. Its historic center, inserted in 1979 among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, was damaged by an earthquake in the second half of the seventeenth century, but its treasures were restored and earned the city the nickname of “pearl of the Mediterranean”. The current fortifications are from the seventeenth century, and enclose a pedestrian historic core embellished with Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, as well as stately palaces and elegant fountains. The heart of Dubrovnik is divided in two by the Stradùn, a wide paved street that connects the center to the waterfront and passes by the most beautiful buildings in the city.
Papuk Nature Park: Croatia’s First UNESCO Geopark
And so the Papuk Geopark in eastern Slavonia has become the first protected area of its kind in Croatia. It has many special features, as well as the localities that are part of it… just think of Rupnica, near Voćin, with degrading volcanic rocks from 70 million years ago: a rarity that Papuk shares with three other localities in the world, one in New Zealand, one in the USA (Yellowstone), and the third in Slovakia.
