Photo credit to croatia.hr

Why charter in Croatia?

You will adore rich Croatian history and culture

September 21, 2021

4 minute read

If you are a history or a culture buff, you will adore Croatia because there is history behind every corner. A rich cultural heritage lies hidden in the day-to-day- activities of regular Croatians, and not only in museums, churches or cathedrals. Although a small country, Croatia is home to 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Everyone has heard of Dubrovnik and Split, the most visited UNESCO sites on this list, but we are bringing you more places that are definitely worth visiting!

Charter a yacht and explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Introduce yourself to Croatian history and culture in Diocletian’s Palace and the Medieval core of Split – berth your yacht on Split Riva and enjoy the famous Croatian coffee culture. The Old Town of Split is an absolute gem! Allow yourself to be lost in the Emperor’s Palace and take your time walking through it; Marmont Street, Pjaca Square with its stunning marble tiles, Fruit Square with its quaint markets and the superb renaissance architecture are all must-see! You can berth your yacht in front of Split city and enjoy the view.

In beautiful Split, you can experience the Dalmatian coffee culture, where almost every bar is full of local people drinking coffee for two or more hours.

Dubrovnik Old Town – kayak around the walls of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is an UNESCO World Heritage Site full of life! You can become a movie star for one day while visiting the filming locations of Game of Thrones or Robin Hood, or just explore every street in the Old town and you will fall in love with this city. Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic, though history knew it as the Republic of Dubrovnik. Because of that, buildings like the Rector’s and Sponza’s palace are places you must visit.

Berth your yacht in front of the walls and admire the wondrous city. From your yacht, you can observe the entire town or use water toys to explore the island of Lokrum or some of Dubrovnik’s hidden coves.

Paddle a kayak around the medieval walls!
croatian history and culture kayaking around dubrovnik
Tour the magnificent Dubrovnik by using kayaks – Photo credit to dubrovnikwalks.com

Berth your yacht in front of the early-Christian Euphrasius Basilica Complex in Poreč

Berth your yacht in front of the cathedral complex in Poreč and witness the Euphrasius Basilica, one of the most well-preserved monuments of early Byzantine art in the Mediterranean. The episcopal complex comprises the basilica itself, a baptistery, a sacristy, and the bell tower of the nearby archbishop’s palace. You will have an opportunity to climb the bell tower, see many mosaics and breathtaking frescos in the basilica that dates back more than 1500 years.

yacht charter in poreč aerial view
Photo credit to maloff from Shutterstock

Be swept away by the historical core of Trogir

Trogir is surely a must-see location when discovering Croatian history and culture,  because of its 2300 years of tradition & influence of old Greeks, Romans, and Venetians. This small town can be explored in a few hours and is a remarkable example of urban continuity. You can witness magnificent Romanesque churches, as well as excellent Baroque and Renaissance architecture from the Venetian period. Trogir Cathedral is the most significant building and the perfect example of gothic and roman art in Croatia.

yacht charter in hvar, yacht noor ii in trogir
Yacht Charter Noor II in Trogir

National Park Plitvice Lakes – the most popular Croatian National park

This magnificent miracle of nature is one of Croatia’s most popular spots. This is Croatia’s largest and most visited National park; here, you can experience 16 incredible lakes, together with untouched nature. Every year it receives over a million visitors and if you charter a yacht you can berth your yacht near Rijeka and in less than 90 minutes you will be in Plitvice, listening to the sound of waterfalls.

croatian national parks plitvice cover photo
A small part of the magnificent National park Plitvička Jezra -Photo credit to croatia.hr

St. James Cathedral in Šibenik – The epitome of Croatian history and culture

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is the most significant architectural achievement of the 15th and 16th centuries in Croatia. You can berth your yacht just a few steps from the cathedral and you will fall in love with this charming place. It is unique because it is completely built of stone without using any binding material. St. James Cathedral is a must-see if you want to explore Croatian history and culture.

croatian history and culture chatedral in Sibenik
Explore St. James cathedral in Šibenik with the help of a private tour guide, hired by your yacht crew – Photo credit to croatia.hr

Visit the plains of Stari Grad, on the sunniest island in Europe, the island of Hvar

In 385 years B.C. a lot of families from Greece came to Croatia and started their lives here. As every Greek city consists of a city centre, and an agricultural area, the Greek settlers divided the land in Stari Grad in accordance with their culture. The land was split between a lot of families, so each colonist was entitled to an equally large plot of land of similar quality. Stari Grad Plain is the best-preserved ancient Greek landscape in the Mediterranean.

yacht charter in hvar cover photo cropped
Photo credit to xbrchx from Shutterstock

Stećci – Mediaeval tombstones near Dubrovnik and Omiš

The ,,stećci” are monumental mediaeval tombstones, made out of limestone and with a flat or gable-top surface. The stone monoliths come in both recumbent and vertical positions. Some of them are decorated with religious symbols, animals, or people. There are 4,400 stećci spread around Dubrovnik and Omiš, so you can visit them while visiting these cities.

croatian history and culture stećci near dubrovnik
Stećci around Dubrovnik – Photo credit to croatia.hr

Venetian stone works and fortificational architecture near Šibenik

If you charter a yacht, you can visit the defence system of Šibenik – St. Nicholas fortress, a part of a 6-piece transnational series of Venetian fortifications architecture made in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ask your crew and they will gladly organise a picnic inside the fortress itself.

croatian history and culture St Nicholas fortress in Sibenik
Experience the incredible St. Nicholas fortress in Sibenik – Photo credit to croatiaweek.com

14 Intangible Cultural Heritages

Croatia has so far registered 65 intangible cultural heritage elements in its national registry, but these 14 Intangible Cultural Heritages have been added to the UNESCO list:
1. Annual carnival bell ringer`s pageant from the Kastav area
2. Bećarac singing and playing from Eastern Croatia
3. Festivity of Saint Blaise, patron saint of Dubrovnik
4. Gingerbread craft from northern Croatia – Licitar
5. Klapa multipart singing of Dalmatia, southern Croatia
6. Lacemaking in Croatia
7. Mediterranean diet, shared with Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy, Morocco, and Portugal
8. Nijemo Kolo, silent circle dance of the Dalmatian hinterland
9. Ojkanje singing
10. Procession Za Križen (Following the Cross) on the island of Hvar
11. Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from Gorjani
12. The Sinjska alka, a knights’ tournament in Sinj
13. Traditional manufacturing of Children’s Wooden Toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje
14. Two-part singing and playing in the Istrian scale

sinjska alka vitezovi na konjima
Photo credit to Instagram Account: _sinjska_alka_