ZAGREB, 19 June 2022 -  An international mental arithmetic and mental math Olympiad, which took place in Zagreb on Sunday, brought together about 500 children from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Austria, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The event for children aged between 4 and 17 was organised by the "Malac Genijalac Hrvatska" association.

Mental arithmetic concerns arithmetical calculations using only the human brain, with no help from any supplies (such as pencil and paper) or devices such as a calculator.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 19 June 2022 - In the last 24 hours there have been 373 cases of the infection with coronavirus and three more COVID patients have died, raising the death toll to 16,030, the national COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Saturday.

There are currently 2,270 active cases, including 160 hospitalized patients, of whom seven are on ventilators.

Since the first registered case of infection with this novel virus in Croatia on 25 February 2020, 1,141,919 infections have been diagnosed.

A total of 70.81% of the adult population have so far been vaccinated.

For everything you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.

ZAGREB, 19 June 2022 - Croatia is expected to get the first batch of a total of 23 linear particle accelerators for cancer treatment in 2023 under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and the rest of the procured machines is due to arrive in the country in 2024, the health ministry has said.

The 23 linear accelerators will be dispatched to these hospitals: the KBC hospitals in Zagreb, Sestre milosrdnice Zagreb, the KBC hospitals in Split, Rijeka, and Osijek, and the KB Dubrava in Zagreb and Zadar's general hospital.

A sum of €97 million will be invested in the networking of radiotherapy equipment into a national network to ensure a comprehensive database of radiotherapy resources for patient treatment.

The public procurement process should kick off this year.

The provision of 23 linear particle accelerators will enable Croatia to reach the EU average of five accelerators per million inhabitants.

This target is also highlighted in the country's strategic framework for cancer treatment, which was adopted to streamline the treatment of oncology patients in Croatia.

 Some of the new accelerators will replace the old machines.

An estimated 25,000 citizens in Croatia are annually diagnosed with malignant diseases, and about 13,500 cancer patients die annually.

The most prevalent cancers in male adults are prostate, lung, colon, and rectal tumors and women are most frequently diagnosed with breast, lung, colon, and ovarian tumors.

For more news about Croatia, click here.

ZAGREB, 19 June 2022 -The Central State Office for Croats Abroad has set aside 8.7 million kuna (€1.16 million) for 136 projects and programmes which will be carried out by associations of Croat communities in 12 European countries.

The grants for ethnic Croat projects range from HRK 7,000 to HRK 320,000.

This highest grant has been awarded to the project of public transport of ethnic Croat students in Janjevo and revitalization of the local Croat community in that part of Kosovo. Furthermore, the soup kitchen in Letnica, Kosovo, has received HRK 180,000 in aid.

The Democratic Alliance of the Croats in Romania has been awarded HRK 299,000 for its project of the preservation of the identity of local Croats in that eastern European country.

The state camp of the Croatian language and culture "Collegium Croaticum", managed by the Croatian local self-governing authorities (HDS) in Hungary, has been given HRK 275,000.

Apart from the Croat minorities in Kosovo, Romania, and Hungary, also ethnic Croats in Austria, Bulgaria, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Italy, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Serbia have been granted the funds following the public call for applications.

 The decisions on the grants are available on the Office's website.

(€1 = HRK 7.52)

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

June 19, 2022 - Ever paid a visit to the gorgeous and truly unique Vrana lake nature park?

It’s that time again, when the ancient streets of coastal Croatia are full of traffic. It's the same thing for the roads, especially the Adriatic Highway, probably one of the most scenic routes you could ever drive along. No matter which part of Croatia’s coastline you're heading to, incredible views are guaranteed. Between Zadar and Šibenik, a real natural phenomenon can be sighted – the Adriatic Sea and the freshwater Vrana lake separated by less than one kilometre of mainland.

Besides of being one of Croatia‘s largest natural lakes, it has been pronounced a nature park as well. Stretching from Pakoštane to Pirovac, blessing the two Croatian counties of Zadar and Šibenik-Knin at once, Vrana lake nature park covers about 57 square kilometres in total. A ridge, the Prosika canal, lets salt water flow down into the freshwater lake, making it possible for both salt water and freshwater fish to live there – a fact that attracts both sport and recreational fishing enthusiasts.

There are plenty more opportunities on offer at the gorgeous Vrana lake nature park aside from fishing, such as swimming or kayaking for example. One can also choose horseback riding or even try out swimming with the horses. Besides the abundant water activities, Vrana lake nature park also boasts 40 kilometres of impressive cycling and hiking trails with stunning views on offer. Several display boards providing educational information dotted around Vrana lake can be found as well.

What makes Vrana Lake nature park even more special, is its declaration as an Ornithological Reserve and its listing as one of the “Important Bird Areas in Europe” with more than 256 bird species being registered as living there. Off-season, particularly during the winter, over 100,000 aquatic birds seek out Vrana lake as their seasonal home. Birds aside, numerous other fascinating animal species can be found there as well.

From the “Kamenjak” viewpoint, Vrana lake nature park’s highest peak, one can catch sight of the rugged coastline, the Kornati archipelago, the Mediterranean swamp as well as the rural area of Ravni Kotari all at once – an amazing picture that one can hardly ever forget. During the year, some traditional festivities take place at the top, right in front of the Chapel of All Saints. Moreover, the main path up the hill is known as the Way of the Cross with its 14 stations regularly walked by locals and tourists.

A traditional Dalmatian tavern makes it possible to enjoy local delicacies while admiring the picturesque surroundings up there, and in the mornings one can see the beautiful shades of blue of both the lake and the sea, and soak up the amazing sunsets in the evenings. At this place, one thing is sure – unforgettable memories are guaranteed.

For more on Croatia's nature parks, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

June 19, 2022 - Although the Zadar Digital Nomad Week program kicked off on June 10, a press conference three days later marked the start of various panels, workshops, keynotes and master classes around the city of Zadar. A look at what the fourth day of Zadar Digital Nomad Week left us.

After an appropriate weekend to strengthen ties between the participants and with the host city of Zadar, it was time to formalize the start of a week with a program rich in workshops, keynotes, master classes, and panels. We met on the morning of Monday, June 13 at the Hotel Bastion Cafe, in the old town of Zadar. Tanja Polegubić from Saltwater Nomads, Jan de Jong from Digital Nomads Association Croatia, and Franjo Pehar from Zadar University led the press conference.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

Jan de Jong used the occasion to make a balance of the great progress and success of the digital nomad visa more than a year after its introduction in the country, which started with an open letter from Jan to the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković. Jan revealed that statistically speaking, at any given moment we have some 6,000+ digital nomads in the country, making this already a 100 million EUR industry annually for Croatia. He expressed his joy that a city with very good infrastructure is following in the footsteps of Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Split in attracting these digital nomads.

For her part, Tanja Polegubić said that the reasons behind the Zadar Digital Nomad Week are personal, which can be evidenced in perhaps one of the most ambitious and diverse programs that have been carried out as part of the promotion of Croatia as a destination for digital nomads. Tanja also highlighted Zadar as a city that, in addition to its modernity and infrastructure, can boast of being surrounded by a lot of nature due to its proximity to national parks.

Finally, Franjo Pehar thanked the organizers for bringing this event to Zadar, considering it the most central city in Croatia due to its proximity to the capital, the northwest and the south of the country, and expressed his wish that more events take place in the city to promote it as a destination for digital nomads.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

After the press conference, we found ourselves at the next venue, just across the street. The Garden Lounge was the location chosen for the first panel of the Zagreb Digital Nomad Week, with a lineup that included Romana Konjevod from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia, Franjo Pehar from the University of Zadar, Jan de Jong from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia, Tanja Polegubić from Saltwater Nomads, Albert Anthony, and Josip Zurak from Authland Croatia. The panel was moderated by Marlee McCormick, one of the 10 winners of last year's Dubrovnik Digital Nomad in Residence, and panelists shared their experiences and insights on local businesses and nomads.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

There is no big event in Croatia without a space to taste good wine, and that is why we went to the Fiolić winery, where in addition to trying some of its internationally renowned wines and some delicious appetizers, the attendees would be part of a masterclass offered by Marlee McCormick and her husband Jeff Burke on how to podcast like a pro. The Texans used their extensive knowledge from their radio and podcast backgrounds to deliver a great class that covered everything from conceiving an idea to creating a podcast, to the tools needed to produce it.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

The master class could not have been better accompanied, as Ana Fiolić from the Fiolić winery allowed the attendees to try an excellent red wine, white wine, rose and even a delicious homemade rakija.

The last venue of the date would be Code Hub Zadar, a coworking space located on the campus of the University of Zadar, where different workshops would take place. KPMG delivered an in-person speed networking tax session from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and digital nomads were able to learn more about the tax system in Croatia, and specifically for remote workers like them. An online masterclass by Maya Middlemiss followed, in which virtual attendees were able to learn a little-known side of the podcast world, on how to create one that fits the business world.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

Finally, the day closed at Code Hub Zadar with a LinkedIn masterclass with Mandy Fransz, one of the LinkedIn 2022 top voices, who with her co-host Emanuel Stojanov, delved into the dos and don'ts in that platform. Mandy emphasized that LinkedIn is no longer a platform solely for job searching or posting job offers, but beyond. Now, LinkedIn allows its users to connect with thousands of other users with whom they can find diverse opportunities for collaboration or even as an educational platform. Mandy, at the end of her presentation, gave attendees the opportunity to analyze their profiles to see how they can improve their ranking on the platform.

It was definitely a day that had it all: panels, networking, wines, podcast masterclasses and LinkedIn... and there was still a long way to go to get closer to the end of Zadar Digital Nomad Week.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

ZAGREB, 19 June 2022- The 62nd International Children's Festival began in Šibenik on Saturday evening with the "At last an orchestra" musical play performed by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and directed by Petra and Paola Radin.

The 18 June - 2 July festival will feature 27 shows, 21 foreign performances in streets and squares, 14 domestic performances, 12 film screenings, four exhibitions, seven book launches, four sports programmes, and 47 workshops for more than 1,000 children.

Ten states will participate in the programme - Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Portugal, and Ukraine.

This year the festival is hosting 150 children from Ukraine, some of whom will be part of the audience and some, pupils from an art school in Lviv, will perform.

The opening of the festival was attended by Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek.

The festival is taking place under the auspices of President Zoran Milanović and with the financial support of the Culture Ministry.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

June 19, 2022 - The Hvar wedding industry is booming - why wouldn't you get married (and honeymoon) in Paradise?

When I first moved to Hvar 20 years ago, having discovered it quite by accident, I realised what a wonderful and romantic island I had landed on. It truly was the most beautiful place I would ever live. 

I met lots of tourists in those initial years, who were also blown away by the island's beauty - it would be a wonderful place to get married, commented more than one loved-up couple. 

Back then, foreign weddings did take place, but they were the exception rather than the rule. Our old friend, Croatian bureaucracy, was always on hand to blunt Cupid's arrow when it came the idea of a happy 'I do.'

And things started to change slowly. Some enterprising locals started businesses as wedding planners, offering a bespoke service for foreign couples who had fallen in love with Croatia and wanted to celebrate their own love there in front of family and friends. 

Organising a wedding in a foreign country was not without its challenges, especially in the early years, but the bureaucratic obstacles were slowly overcome, stunning wedding videos appeared online, and it seemed that the concept of getting married in idyllic Croatia was a very realisable dream. 

Especially on Hvar, where leading hotel group Suncani Hvar have turned the opportunity into an occasional wedding into an impressive part of their already impressive portfolio. With so many outstanding in-house locations for weddings, the full hospitality facilities of a leading hotel group, and gorgeous Hvar as the perfect backdrop. 

Over the years, there has rarely been a summer Saturday when newlyweds cannot be found having their photos taken on the main square and in other Instagrammable spots. The Hvar wedding industry has been one of the quiet growth areas for tourism in recent years, helped perhaps by the high costs of weddings back home in the UK. And where better to continue the wedding than on honeymoon on a gorgeous island, with many of your friends and relatives enjoying a holiday to keep the party going.

It is almost 5 years since I interviewed the Suncani dedicated Hvar weddings coordinator, Nikolina Pijanovic, on the rise of Hvar weddings (you can read that interview here), and the options and popularity have only grown ever since. With capacity to cater for weddings up to 400 guests, as well as much smaller numbers, the Suncani team is able to cater to almost all wedding requests. 

And the locations are outstanding.

There are few places on the island that can match the elegance of Beach Club Hvar, a spectacular colonnade in front of Hotel Amfora which can seat 250 and house a reception for 350. And with the island's main family hotel just a few steps away, no need to worry about and drink-drive issues. The colonnade is one of the island's most iconic buildings and adds a touch of class and style to that special day. 

Gorgeous by night, gorgeous by day, as well as an essential part of your post-wedding detox, with luxury private cabanas with cabana service and massage on offer to kick start married life in style. 

More than 250 guests? Not a problem, and you can invite up to 400 guests who will trade being on the water for magnificent views of the Pakleni Islands on the terrace of Hotel Amfora. 

With space for 600 to the reception party, the walk home to the hotel room is even closer. Amfora's legendary cascade pools are just below the terrace, only adding to what is truly a magical setting. 

There are also other location options for smaller gatherings and lesser budgets, with the Splash Restaurant and Bar (by Hotel Amfora) offering a private and intimate setting on the water.  

Capacity is for 100 guests to sit, and a reception maximum of 150. The views to the Pakleni Islands are divine. 

Or perhaps you prefer the historic inside of the first 5-star heritage hotel on the island, Palace Elisabeth, hvar heritage hotel, which has quite a history. Did you know that organised tourism in Europe began on this very spot, with the founding of the Hvar Health Society back in 1868? Share your memorable day with up to 80 guests. 

Each wedding location comes with a range of packages, or you may of course devise your own. 

As any stressed bride will tell you, the big day is only part of the wedding planning, and the range of additional services that have been developed in recent years has really added a touch of class to the Hvar wedding offer.  

Get set for your big day stress-free, with style, class and glamour. Our team is ready to spoil your taste buds with a delicious rehearsal dinner combined with a world-class wine and services with soul and sunsational style. Our Sensori Spa will be your safe haven of relaxation and rejuvenation and treatments with locally produced plants and oils will make you glow inside and out.

With special discount codes for wedding attendees, what a great way to prepare for your big day in the company of your closest and dearest. 

Your special day may be over, but the fun is only just beginning. Whether or not you have chosen Hvar as your honeymoon destination (why would you choose anywhere else?!?), take a few days to enjoy your new-found status and relax with friends and family who have come to share in your special day. 

The post-wedding services are just one more reason to consider this amazing island, with your dedicated wedding coordinator and team of local partners on hand to continue delivering the magic:

The amazing smell from fields of blooming lavender; the sumptuous taste of spectacular wine that has been cultivated here for more than 2000 years; the stunning view of an ancient stone village surrounded by olive groves; the rush of wind as you race across the sea!

This is Hvar, not just the Mediterranean as it once was, but the essence of island life. An island of adventure and hedonism as well as intimacy and legend. The chosen destination of the rich and famous and commoners alike. From bottles of bubbly, to in-room spa treatments and picnics in the nature or surrounding islands, live it up with lots of luxury delivered right to your room.

And don't forget another essential part of your special day - the photos! There is no more beautiful island in the world in my opinion, and your expert hosts know exactly where to take you for those shots which will stay with you forever. Lavender fields, anyone?

Still need a little convincing? A little video overview perhaps?

For more information about getting married on Hvar, click here.  

To learn more about this gorgeous island, check out the Total Hvar in a Page guide.