Croatia occupies the north east Adriatic running in a narrow strip all the way south to Montenegro. Lying off the coast are numerous islands most of which have small fortified ports. These Croatian Islands & ports were on the strategic trading route between the great trading Republic of Venice and the Eastern Roman Empire based in Constantinople ( Istanbul ), known today as the Byzantine Empire. This left Croatia open to attack from either power and apart from the Republic of Dubrovnik, who cleverly kept themselves independent by diplomacy, most of Croatia eventually fell to the Venetians.
The Dalmatian Coast of Croatia is one of the most spectacular coastlines in Europe with high limestone mountains backing a narrow coastal plain. The offshore islands offer protection from the open sea so there is a calm sea corridor running down the Croatian coast. Thermal winds dropping off the high mountains makes it a sailing paradise with a constant gentle breeze and flat seas. Strategically placed along the coast are medieval ports most of which have Romanesque churches built by the Venetians who ruled the coast for several hundred years.
Croatia has a lot of charm and its reconstructions after the disastrous war with Serbia have been done thoughtfully. The temptation to go for mass tourism seems to have been largely rejected and out of season Croatia offers plenty of beautiful Islands & towns to explore and an ancient history to discover.
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