Croatia -
geographical position
Croatia extends from the furthest eastern edges of
the Alps in the north-west to the Pannonian lowlands and the banks of
the Danube in the east; its central region is covered by the Dinara
mountain range, and its southern parts extend to the coast of the
Adriatic Sea.
Surface:
the mainland covers 56,542 km2, and the surface of the territorial sea
is 31,067 km2.
System of government: multi-party parliamentary republic.
Capital:
Zagreb (779,145 inhabitants), the economic, traffic, cultural and
academic centre of the country.
Coastline:
5,835 km of which 4,058 km comprise a coastline of islands, solitary
rocks and reefs. Number of islands, solitary rocks and reefs: 1,185; the
largest islands are Krk and Cres; there are 50 inhabited islands.
Highest peak:
Dinara: 1,831 m above sea level.
Climate in Croatia
There are two climate zones; a temperate continental
climate, locally also a mountainous climate,
prevails in the interior, whereas a pleasant
Mediterranean climate prevails along the Adriatic
coast, with an overwhelming number of sunny days,
dry and hot summers, mild and humid winters; average
temperature in the inland: January 0 to 2°C, August
19 to 23°C; average temperature at the seaside:
January 6 to 11°C, August 21 to 27 °C; the
temperature is about 12°C in winter, and 25°C in
summer.
Documentation, Customs, Permitions
Travel documentation:
Passport or some other internationally recognised identification
document. Tourists may remain in Croatia for up to three months.
Customs regulations:
Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are in line with the
standards of European Union countries. Foreign currency is freely
brought in and taken out of the country (up to a value of 3.000 euros);
up to a value of 15.000 kn for domestic currency. More expensive
professional and technical equipment should be registered at the border.
Dogs and cats, accompanied by their owner, need to have an International
certificate from a registered veterinarian stating that at least 15 days
and not more than six months have passed since their vaccination against
rabies. Tax refund for goods purchased in Croatia over 500 kuna in value
with a validated "Tax cheque" at departure from the country.
Permitted speeds:
50 km/h - within built-up areas, 90 km/h - outside built-up areas, 110
km/h - on major motor routes, 130 km/h - on motorways.
Maximum permitted amount of alcohol in blood: 0.0 per
mill !
Currency: Kuna (1 kuna = 100 lipa)
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, post
offices and at most tourist agencies, hotels and camping grounds.
Banking hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. On
Saturdays banks are open until 1 p.m. In the larger cities some
banks are also open on Sundays. Credit cards: Most hotels,
restaurants and shops accept credit cards (American Express, Diners
Club, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa, Sport Card International). Cash
dispensing machines are ubiquitous.
There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa coins and 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna
coins
Cultural
Heritage
Croatia is indeed unique, not only for its crystal clear, clean blue
sea, but also for a thousand years of different cultures that have
replaced each other and sometimes assimilated in these areas. The
Adriatic Sea is not only a deep gulf in the Mediterranean cut into
the Continent of Europe thereby creating most economical trade route
between Europe and the East, it is also the cradle of ancient
civilizations. There is much material evidence about that which is
finally beginning to come to light, from the depths of Adriatic
caves and from the deep blue sea. The east coast of the Adriatic Sea
was inhabited as early as the beginning of the early Stone Age, and
there is proof that most of the accessible islands were also
inhabited (archaeological findings in caves near the islands of Hvar
and Palagruza, etc.).
Croatian
cuisine
Croatian cuisine is heterogeneous, and is therefore known as "the
cuisine of regions". Its modern roots date back to Proto-Slavic and
ancient periods and the differences in the selection of foodstuffs
and forms of cooking are most notable between those on the mainland
and those in coastal regions. Mainland cuisine is more characterized
by the earlier Proto-Slavic and the more recent contacts with the
more famous gastronomic orders of today - Hungarian, Viennese and
Turkish - while the coastal region bears the influences of the
Greek, Roman and Illyrian, as well as of the later Mediterranean
cuisine - Italian and French.
