Krka National Park is located in Šibenik hinterland and it includes almost the entire flow of Krka river. It is highly attractive due to its many waterfalls, the most famous one being Skradinski buk, and one can swim in its vicinity during the summer. Krka waterfalls were formed as a result of growing tufa barriers and they consist of beautiful string of smaller and bigger lakes that cascade from one into another and form the falls. As Krka river flows through the karst Dalmatian landscape it creates special scenery as its lush river vegetation stands in contrast to the surrounding rocky slopes and bushes, and the animal world is pretty diverse. There are also many cultural and historical sites o the river and near it, such as the Franciscan monastery situated on Visovac islet, then Krka monastery upstream, or the archaeological remains of ancient Roman military camp, Burnum. The remains of defense towers are especially interesting as they were built along the entire river flow and were used to monitor the entire Krka area.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is situated in the neighbouring region of Lika, but it takes just an hour drive to reach it by car. This is the oldest national park in Croatia and it is very special – a string of emerald green and blue lakes that are all interconnected through cascading tufa barriers can leave on one unimpressed. The lakes are situated amid the mountain slopes and are supplied by water through many nearby rivers and creeks, divided by tufa barriers. Numerous waterfalls and streams, crystal clear water and beautiful forest vegetation create a magic wonderland. The highest waterfall in Croatia is the one in Plitvice Lakes, Veliki slap, and it height measures 78 meters. In the upper part of the Park the highest is Galovački buk with the height of 25 meters. Waterfalls and lakes are not the only attraction available for visiting. Forest animals are often seen in the Park area, and we must mention the wonderful underground world as there are several caves in the Park. Visitors can see two of them – Golubnjača and Šupljara..
This National Park is situated on Velebit mountain, in its southernmost part in the north region of Dalmatia, and it includes Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons. The park is a real treat for free climbing lovers as there are several climbing routes and the most popular ones are located at Anića kuk where an international competition is being held annually. What also makes Paklenica attractive are its thick forests, a feature that isn't very common on the southern, sea-facing side of Velebit which is karst landscape with sparse vegetation . There is a mountain house and several shelters in the Park and many hiking paths that vary from easy to difficult level. When talking about Paklenica attractions, we must also mention so-called „mirila“, stone monuments build in memory of a late person – on they way to the cemetery, local people carrying the deceased person's body would stop and mark it with two stones (position of head and feet). Although they were buried on a cemetery, „mirila“ were honoured more than the actual graves as it was believed that the deceased person's soul remained on the spot where they marked them with those two stones.
This maritime National park consists of Kornati archipelago and its sea bed, and it is a great opportunity for boat trip. Kornati comprise some hundred islands, islets and rocks, and the biggest island bears a name of Kornat – and the archipelago was named after it. There is no permanent settlement on the islands but in the past this was a pretty lively place. Many shepherds stayed on the islands guarding their herds, and fishermen and seafarers used to find shelter from the storms in the many bays of Kornati. Today, dry stone walls and small houses built right next to the sea as shelters and storing places, stand as reminders of human existence in the archipelago. When talking about Kornati monuments, we must mention the remains of the 6th century Byzantine fortress, and right next to it there are remains of an early Christian basilica. Kornati archipelago is especially popular among yachtsmen and there are several marinas located in the Park, as well as a few restaurants that offer excellent fish dishes and superb wine. Scuba divers should definitely put Kornati on their to-visit list as Kornat sea bed is very attractive with diverse sea animal world.
Nin is a small town situated on a small peninsula in the middle of a shallow lagoon in the north part of Dalmatia. This place has a long and rich history that spans over a few millenia. During antique period Romans lived there, and Croatian noblemen resided in the Middle Ages, rightfully earning Nin a title of a royal town. St. Cross church, the smallest cathedral in the world, was build in the early medieval period. One of the attractions is Nin sea salt plant which is open for visiting so people can learn about the procedure of extracting the salt from the sea there, Today Nin is very popular tourist destination, with long sand beaches and excellent accommodation offer. It is also very attractive for the watersports enthusiasts as winds that blow in Nin make it ideal for windsurfing, kite surfing and other similar sea activities.
Dalmatia Holiday
