Ivan Meštrović, one of the great Croatian sculptors of the twentieth century, created the pair of Native American horseback statues that stand in Grant Park, Chicago. Another Croatian sculptor, Antun Augustinčić, made the “Peace” monument that sits in front of the UN building in New York.
Croatia has a long list of historical figures who shaped science, art and exploration. Hermann of Dalmatia, the medieval philosopher and translator, was born in Istria. Marco Polo, by tradition, came from Korčula. Julije Klović was the miniature painter often compared to Michelangelo. Ruđer Bošković, the Dubrovnik-born physicist and astronomer, made early contributions to atomic theory. Nikola Tesla, born in Smiljan in the Lika region, became one of the most influential inventors in modern history.
Six UNESCO sites worth knowing about
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the country’s oldest and most visited park. It became a national park in 1949 and joined the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 1979 as one of the first sites included. Sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls run through forested limestone country. Local legend says the lakes formed after a long drought, when prayers for rain were finally answered.
The Euphrasian Basilica complex in Poreč carries the name of Bishop Euphrasius, who rebuilt the cathedral in the sixth century and commissioned its mosaics. The complex includes the basilica, the baptistery, the bishop’s palace, the bell tower, the atrium and a monumental chapel. The gold-ground mosaics are among the best-preserved early Byzantine examples in the Mediterranean.
Split grew up around Diocletian’s Palace, built around 305 AD by the Roman emperor as a retirement home. Diocletian was born in Dalmatia and chose to spend his final years near Solin. The palace still forms the heart of modern Split, with shops, cafés and homes built into the original Roman walls.
Hvar Island sits in central Dalmatia and is often called the sunniest place in Europe, with around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year. Stari Grad Plain on Hvar is on the UNESCO list as one of the oldest preserved Greek agricultural landscapes, dating back to the fourth century BC.
The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik was built between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by three architects: Francesco di Giacomo from northern Italy, Juraj Dalmatinac from Zadar and Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino from Florence. The whole structure is made of stone, with no mortar or wooden supports.
Trogir, sometimes called the “museum city,” sits on a small island connected to the mainland by a short bridge. Once you cross it, you walk straight into a preserved medieval centre of churches, palaces and narrow lanes.
If you want to see all of this without group coaches getting in the way, Croatia private tours give you the freedom to set your own pace. A custom Croatia itinerary can cover the coast and inland sites in one trip, and a Balkan private tour adds neighbouring countries to the route.