Major European City Bans Rolling Suitcases

Under a new law suitcases must be carried and not dragged through the streets of the old town in Dubrovnik in Croatia, with anyone caught rolling their luggage facing a fine of £230 ($252).

The Croatian city sees a huge influx of visitors each year, which is great for the hospitality industry there, but not so fantastic for those wound up by the sound of miniature wheels rumbling across cobbles.

The anti-bag legislation is due to get even more severe in November, when all suitcases and bags will have to be left at the walls of the old town before visitors can enter.

Those laden with things who wish to enter the section of Dubrovnik will have to pay a courier to have their bags delivered to their accommodation by electric vehicle.

The laws have been passed by Dubrovnik mayor Mato Franković, who is attempting to lessen the impact of over tourism on the town.

Each year 1.5million people visit the city, which is almost 40 times the 41,000 people who live there full time.

Another additional noise-reducing measure just introduced will see cafes and bars with terraces where the noise level exceeds 55 decibels face fines and be forced to close for seven-day.

A video urging tourists to “respect the city,” will be shown on cruise ships docking at Dubrovnik and on Croatian Airline flights arriving in the country, Lonely Planet reports.

Walking around shirtless, riding bikes or e-scooters in the city centre, and climbing on statues are all behaviours that will be discouraged in the public announcement.

The city is currently trying to keep its world-heritage status six years after UNESCO warned disrespectful hordes were ruining the city.

In a bid to make Dubrovnik more sustainable, the number of tour buses and cruise ships docking in the port have been limited.

Despite this, the reputation of the city has only grown, capturing large numbers of the post-coronavirus-lockdown crowd looking to visit new place now that travel restrictions have been lifted.

Mayor Franković, who is trying to get the still rising tourist numbers to fall, said: “The most important thing is that Dubrovnik has stopped being a city of excessive tourism, although we still have a lot of work left.”

This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the city's biggest highlights thanks to its eye-catching architecture, picturesque cobbled streets and beautiful Baroque churches.

If you are one of the 1.5million who make it there annually, a walking tour can be a great way of seeing the highlights.

Surrounding the Old Town are impressive walls which make for a scenic stroll as you can enjoy some great views of Dubrovnik and the ocean. The 1940 meters long-walls boast six fortresses.

Rector's Palace is one not to be missed off the itinerary with its intricate Gothic architecture, heaps of fascinating exhibits and plenty of artwork. If you're short on time it is possible to explore it under an hour or so, so if you are nearby it's still worth popping in.

If you're planning to spend a few days in the city it's worth leaving space on the itinerary for a trip to Banje Beach.

Here you'll find everything from high end bars and beach clubs to families tucking into picnics on towels along the shore.

The beach can get quite busy during peak seasons but it offers some pretty views of Dubrovnik, not to mention there are heaps of boat tours you can take to visit the islands.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/

Croatia Opens Adriatic Coast Bridge, Linking Divided Region

Croatia has opened a long-awaited bridge connecting two parts of the country’s Adriatic Sea coastline while bypassing a small sliver of Bosnia’s territory.

Top officials and guests gathered in the evening for a formal opening ceremony that included a flyover by military jets, speeches, performances and fireworks.

Earlier Tuesday, many Croats braved summer heat to be among the first to cross the Peljesac bridge on foot as it opened for pedestrians ahead of the official inauguration.

Co-funded by the European Union and built by a Chinese company, the elegant, cable-stayed bridge with six pylons is a rare venture of its kind amid concerns in Europe over China’s bid to boost its economic influence through investment in infrastructure.

In a video message aired at the opening ceremony, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said the bridge “illustrates friendly relations” between his country and Croatia, but also between China and the EU.

“China and the EU present important political forces and leading global economic powers,” said Li.

The 2.4-kilometer (1.5-mile) bridge spans the Adriatic Sea to link Croatia’s mainland to the Peljesac peninsula in the south, allowing easier access to the country’s most important tourism destination — the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described the day as historic for the country, which joined the EU in 2013 after splitting from the former Yugoslavia and going through a war in the 1990s.

“I am overwhelmed by the feelings of pride, joy and gratitude,” said Plenkovic.

The Yugoslav federation had no internal borders between its six republics, including Croatia and Bosnia. But when it broke up in the early 1990s, the two parts of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline were split by a narrow strip of Bosnia.

Both residents and tourists had to pass border checks, which slowed down traffic and left the inhabitants of the southern area feeling isolated from the rest of the country.

That area includes Dubrovnik, a stunning medieval town that has been on UNESCO’s protected heritage list and is Croatia’s biggest tourist attraction.

The bridge finally became a reality in 2017 when the EU allocated 357 million euros ($365m), which covered much of the 526 million-euro ($533) cost. The China Road and Bridge Corporation in 2018 won an international tender to construct the bridge.

The project, however, had faced criticism from Bosnia, whose officials complained of unresolved border issues and said the bridge would hamper access to its part of the coastline.

Known for its stunning nature and hundreds of Adriatic Sea islands, Croatia is a major tourism destination, attracting millions from Europe and all over the world every summer. Tourism also is key for Croatia’s economy, which remains among the weakest in the EU.

By DARKO BANDIC

The Great Eastern European Road Trip, Part One: Island Hopping In Croatia

View from the Kamp Lili campsite on Hvar island in Croatia. Photograph: Kevin Rushby for the Guardian

On the first leg of a road trip to the Balkans and the Baltic, our writer and his family hurtle through the rain to reach the brilliant sunshine of Croatia

By the time we disembark from the ferry at Zeebrugge, I’m wondering if our great European adventure is going to be sunless. The drab landscape is apparently hammered flat by cold rain. We turn south-east and drive all morning, until a horrible rattle from under the car starts just before the Luxembourg border.

The whole idea for this escapade came from a feeling that eastern and central Europe are a vast under-explored region – particularly by me. I’m more familiar with Papua New Guinea than Poland, or any one of a dozen other European countries. In a cold English spring I sketched out a plan for a massive summer road trip, an ambitious loop around the Balkans, then up through Europe as far as the Baltic. I calculated the distances – around 5,000 miles – and decided six weeks would be sufficient.

The route threw up immediate questions. Does British vehicle insurance cover Albania? Answer: normally, no. I switched companies. What other paperwork and equipment was required? Answer: lots. Green cards, vignettes, international driving permits (1949 convention), a fire extinguisher, a Croatian fishing licence and more. On the last shopping day before departure, I filled the car with an inflatable canoe and piles of outdoor gear. My wife Sophie and daughter Maddy (12) refused to allow a speargun, but compromised on the lobster pot.

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 Crossing the Alps on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria. Photograph: Kevin Rushby for the Guardian

On that road near Luxembourg we discover that our car’s front trim is hanging off, but rattle on into Germany and spend a superb first night at Camping am See near Augsburg. The next day we wind up through the Alps, avoiding motorways and piercing the ghost of the iron curtain at the Wurzen Pass on the Austrian border before arriving at Slovenia’s Lake Bled.

The next day, still in heavy rain, we enter Croatia and the sun emerges. Our first stop is Pag Island, which we reach via a ferry from the fishing port of Prizna. The queue for the ferry is massive and filled with young men high on Red Bull, beer and the rest. Pag, they tell us, is a party island. Sophie pulls me aside. “Aren’t you writing about the best, most secluded spots in Croatia?” I nod, a little nervously. I’m hoping my contacts are not mistaken.

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 A paški sir cheese factory in the village of Kolan, Pag island … most cheese there is still made in cottages. Photograph: Kevin Rushby for the Guardian

Pag itself is like a bone: wind-dried and white. We leave the partygoers behind (they all head for the beaches around the town of Novalja) and find an elemental landscape with stirring views of an improbably blue sea. On every corner there is someone selling home-grown olive oil, liquors and cheese – home-produced shopping that is to prove one of the great pleasures of Croatia. We stock up onprošek (a thick sweet dessert wine), paški sir (the island’s own rich, salty sheep’s cheese) and olive oil, then locate Branimir, the owner of the cottage we are booked into. He adds to our shopping a bottle of his father’s travarica, a spirit infused with 12 herbs, and takes us to a little stone cottage by the sea with a shady terrace and steps to a rocky shoreline.

We explore the coast by canoe and soon realise that selecting the “10 best beaches of Croatia”, as some websites do, is like picking the 10 best stars from the Milky Way. Everywhere we look there are perfect little coves and clear deep blue water speckled with schools of fish that are far too wily to be caught. At the northern end of the island we discover the ancient olive groves of Lun, a 24-hectare (60 acre) labyrinthine marvel of curving stone walls and trees that date back an average of 1,200 years – one tree is 1,600 years old. Inevitably, there are perfect small coves for swimming.

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 Sophie paddles along the shoreline of Pag island. Photograph: Kevin Rushby for the Guardian

Croatia, you might think, has long been on the tourist radar. Back in 1964 Alfred Hitchcock declared the sunsets from Zadar, south of Pag, the best on Earth. But the truth is that most visitors head for a few well-known spots, leaving many areas to be discovered. The north has some fantastic islands such as Rab (great sandy beaches and historic town), Cres (griffon vultures fly over this idyllic island) and Silba (not even bicycles are allowed to disturb the peace). Further south you could try Šolta or Vis, both accessible by ferry from Split. There are 47 inhabited islands – a further 671. The inflatable canoe, I declare to a sceptical family, is ready.

One evening Branimir invites us to a beach party at the secluded cove of Girenica, where we drink fine red wine from the Pelješac peninsula and eat grilled fish followed by fritules, sweet dumplings. A guitar appears and everyone sings Croatian songs which are, apparently, all about love or the sea. One of Branimir’s mates even fixes our car and when we move on, southwards, we don’t rattle any longer.

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 In good spirits … Branimir (third from left), host of House Tomislav and friends at Girenica Bay on Pag island. Photograph: Kevin Rushby for the Guardian

The Croatian mainland coast is 1,104 miles (1,777km) long and we cover a lot of it over the next few days. Island hopping with a car seems relatively simple: turn up at a port, buy a ticket and wait until there is space. Waiting was never so easy: you swim off the sea walls, picnic and shift the car when need be. On the island of Hvar, a lush contrast to Pag’s austere moonscape, we drive through a mile-long single-track tunnel and emerge to find the idyllic Kamp Lili campsite, a clutch of tents under shady pines with several coves to swim around.

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There are few reminders of the Balkan war of the 1990s here, but there is a 25km section of Bosnia-Herzegovina to negotiate before Croatia resumes. Here, in the town of Neum, the atmosphere is suddenly very different: ladies in stout swimwear lying in the shade of the bombed-out post office, a victim of Serbian army artillery. This tiny corridor of land was ceded to the Ottoman Empire in 1699, a buffer between the independent city state of Dubrovnik and the then Venetian-controlled north. We push on south, back into Croatia, stopping briefly in stylish Dubrovnik, then onwards, as I write, through Montenegro, heading for our next stop, Albania. The adventure is definitely under way.

• Ferry crossing was provided by P&O Ferries (Hull-Zeebrugge one way for a car plus two adults and one child, with cabin from £200, poferries.com). Accommodation on Pag island was provided by Croatia Tourism (croatia.hr): House Tomislav can be booked through Adriagate (adriagate.com) which has a range of cottages on the mainland and islands, some only accessible by boat, from £16pppn. Camping am See (tent and car £6, adults £5, children £3, bauer-caravan.de; Camping Bled (from £16 for tent plus two adults, sava-hotels-resorts.com); Kamp Lili (£6 per adult, children £3, under three free, price includes tent and car,kamplili.hr). For information on Croatian ferries see (jadrolinija.hr/en/ferry-croatia)

Books: Kevin read Rebecca West’s classic travelogue Black Lamb and Grey Falconwhich he says “is proving to be an astonishing companion, full of memorable images and quotations: ‘I had come to Yugoslavia to see what history meant in flesh and blood.’”

By Kevin Rushby

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The 4th Dubrovnik International Wine & Jazz Festival Featuring José Feliciano, September 25th-28th

Music legend José Feliciano announced as the main headliner for the 4th Dubrovnik International Wine and Jazz Festival taking place September​ 25-28 in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, the famous Croatian seaside town and UNESCO site, will be welcoming all music and wine aficionados to the 4th Dubrovnik International Wine & Jazz Festival. ​It was just announced that the international music legend José Feliciano, acclaimed by music critics as “the greatest living guitarist”, will be the main headliner for the festival, playing two concerts in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The festival will take place from September 25-28, 2014, with concerts held around the historic Old Town Dubrovnik localities such as the Rector's Palace, in front of the Dubrovnik Cathedral and more. José Feliciano, the international music legend, guitar player and singer, many-times Grammy laureate will be playing at two concerts during the festival​; a VIP exclusive “JAZZ IT UP with José Feliciano!” concert scheduled on September 26 at the Dubrovnik Sun Gardens hotel while the second concert, under the hospices of the City of Dubrovnik, will be held in front of the cathedral accompanied by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and conducted by maestro Michael Kissinger on September 27.

   

​Photo Credit: Dubrovnik Old Town,The Croatian National Tourist Office

Dubrovnik International Wine & Jazz Festival will also be featuring local wines by Vina Vukas, Vinarija Miljas, Korta Katarina, Crvic Vineyards and Mokalo-Bura Vineyards which festival goers will be able to taste for two hours before the concerts and at intermissions at Rector’s Palace which will also display art from local artists. The south Croatian wines from the nearby Peljesac peninsula are regarded as some of best Croatian reds, featuring the famous Plavac Mali variety.

This exciting event affirms the attractiveness of Croatia for an autumn vacation, adding to the destination’s already established cultural vacation appeal. While the Croatian wines are still mostly undiscovered outside of Europe, mostly because of smaller quantities produced, this would be a perfect opportunity for wine lovers to get acquainted with south Croatian wines while enjoying superb musical concerts in a historic location.

For more information about the festival and to book tickets, please visit: http://www.dubrovnikwinejazz.com/

Travelore Tips: 5 Top Places to Visit in Croatia

Croatia looks like it may be the next big thing in European travel – the beautiful country has history, recreational facilities and plenty of nature but has not yet been overrun by tourists – here are the top Croatian locations to visit.

1. Dubrovnik

“The Pearl of the Adriatic” and one of the country’s most famous cities, Dubrovnik is a fortified city with winding narrow cobbled lanes perched on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The city is rich with Baroque and Renaissance architecture in its pedestrian-only Old City.

There are sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants, all the tourist amenities you could ask for and the city is framed by the green mountains (Dinaric Alps) behind the city and the white sand beaches below.

2. Hvar

Take a ferry ride out to the UNESCO island of Hvar, one of 1,000 Croatian islands. It is considered the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient Greek landscape with rural beauty in the islands olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards and farms.

Hvar town is a quaint town on the edge of a bay, the rest of the island has a number of small villages like Starigrad and Jelsa.

3. Split

The Roman remains in Split have put it on the map but it also has the longest coastline of any Croatian city with the Riva promenade running along the water front. The magnificent Roman UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace is a unique and well preserved architectural masterpiece used for shops, restaurants and luxury apartments.

The pine forest in the Peninsula Park adds green to the city. Visit the underground caverns, the St. Domnius Cathedral and see the Grugr Ninski Statue – the historic harbor town of Trogir is a popular day trip from Split with Venetian buildings and palaces and a 13th century island fortress.

4. Zagreb

This city looks like many of the beautiful Western European cities with many medieval buildings but with an Eastern twist. Zagreb is the country’s largest city it is located on the slopes of the Medvednica Mountains and the Sava River snakes through the city.

The city has a rich cultural life with historic theatres, a cathedral and impressive museums.  The city has urban parks, pedestrian streets and a deep and interesting history.

5. Plitvice Lakes National Park

For natural beauty visit this untouched paradise which has 16 lakes and lush forests, it is located near the Bosnia Herzegovina border in the mountain karst area. The cacophony of colors, green trees, bright blue lakes and the many colored leaves make this a nature lover’s dream.

There are a number of animals like the brown bear, lynx and wolf as well as a variety of birds including owls and eagles.  See the many waterfalls, prehistoric caves and flora and fauna as you follow the marked paths through the park.

Contributed by Sofia

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Travelore Tips: Top 10 European Cities At Spring

With spring on the horizon, the romance of Europe seems more appealing than almost any other time of year. Rich in heritage, architecture, arts, music, and food, the Continent's cities welcome visitors with pretty flowers lining elegant boulevards, scintillating scenic coastlines, fine wines, and an expansive roster of museums and shopping. Spring in Europe is guaranteed to dazzle and delight your senses, whether you're looking to take off to an exclusive enclave, the newest hot spot, or a trendy metropolis for shopping and time on the beach. Here are Europe's best city escapes for spring.

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
  Vitaly Titov & Maria Sidelnikova / Shutterstock
  The Netherlands takes pride in its tulips, and the buds are big business. This spring, explore the countryside by bicycle to see vast fields carpeted in the vibrant flowers.Keukenhof Gardens, located in nearby Lisse, is famed for rows upon rows of tulips that blanket views as far as the eye can see. Take a day trip there when the gardens are open from mid-March to mid-May by direct bus (No. 858) from Schiphol Airport. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Amsterdam Guide
• Lisbon, Portugal
  Jorge Casais / Shutterstock
  In spring, Europe’s westernmost capital is bathed in warm climes, with picture-perfect hues that pervade al-fresco alleyways. A spring trip to Lisbon is a fairytale fling in a global city that's undergoing something of a renaissance. Neighboring castle-clad towns Sintra and Cascais are an easy day-trip away. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Lisbon Guide
• Budapest, Hungary
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  The hip capital Budapest ranks as a popular budget-friendly destination. The city offers medicinal thermal baths, edgy ruin pubs, and a post-Communism gritty exuberance. For touring around, the lower Pest side of the Danube River boasts opera, theaters, and the city's historic Jewish quarter, while Buda on the upper side features the castle district's posh residences. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Budapest Guide
• Riga, Latvia
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  Deeply etched in European history, Riga in Latvia is synonymous with classical music, elegance, and historic architecture. Get lost through the quaint side streets on a spring morning and make sure to visit the city's medieval center, which offers the widest collection of art nouveau buildings in the world. Here, the concentration of remarkably intact medieval architecture dates back to the 12th century, which contributed to Riga's World Heritage status. The European Union also recently recognized the city as the European Capital of Culture for 2014. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Riga Guide
• Copenhagen, Denmark
  Ed Francissen | Dreamstime.com
  Spring kick-starts a year of Danish design and architecture exhibitions. Start at the iconic Hotel D’Angleterre, which is newly refurbished and overlooks famous Kongens Nytorv square. The hotel neighbors the Nyhavn Canal, the Royal Danish Theatre, and shopping street Stroget. Spend another afternoon at The Blue Planet, Northern Europe's largest aquarium. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Copenhagen Guide
• Belgrade, Serbia
  Vlado Marinkovic | Dreamstime.com
  Serbia’s fierce history gives beauty an edge in Belgrade, where Soviet blocks nestle between modern artistic masterpieces. The city radiates an outdoor lifestyle: During Easter, the rivers spring to life with cruises, floating bars, and clubs—called splavovi. For trendsetters, Savamala is the elite spot to be seen. Don’t miss new Ada Bridge, already an iconic landmark. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Belgrade Guide
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
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  Croatia’s dramatic Dalmatian Coast is spectacular at Dubrovnik. Christened by Lord Byron as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," the city is fringed by bold blue sea and outlined by rugged peaks. From March 1 to 4, the Dubrovnik Carnival Fest transforms the city into a masked playground, where classical musicians serenade dancers in the streets. A 2-kilometer historical city wall, which is easily navigable on foot, overlooks ancient monasteries, aristocratic palaces, and baroque churches. Plan Your Trip: VisitFodor’s Dubrovnik Guide
• Matera, Italy
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  A haphazard mix of stone settlements chaotically piled together defines this Southern Italian city, where an air of peace pervades Matera's streets. As one of Italy’s oldest inhabited cities, the historical center is a treasure chest of Baroque palazzi, Romanesque and rock churches, and traces of nobility. Work up an appetite exploring Matera's nooks and crannies, and then head to Trattoria Lucana, a restaurant run by two brothers, Tonio and Gigi Sancrocco. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Matera Guide
• Vienna, Austria
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  Home to the music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss, the Austrian capital boasts symbolic architecture of carved cherubs, flamboyant figureheads, and dramatic domes. Alluring and romantic, Vienna is quintessential Europe with arts, music, and culture overflowing into elegant Parisian-style boulevards. Spring opens a big year, as Vienna celebrates nearly 200 years of dancing during the city’s ball season. Museums will also be covering the 100th anniversary of World War I. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Vienna Guide
• Montreux, Switzerland
  Peter Guttman / Fodor's Travel
  The attractive Swiss Riviera embodies splendor in spring, when temperatures thaw and flowers blossom along Lake Geneva’s lakeside promenade. Montreux’s hauntingly beautiful landscape features lush, mighty alpine hills, the crystal-clear Lake Geneva, and beautiful views of snow-capped Mont Blanc. The clean, crisp air is perfect for hiking, boating, or relaxing outdoors. Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Montreux Guide

Contributed by Anisha Shah