ZAGREB, 26 Jan 2022 - Pupils at School No691 in Saint Petersburg's Nevsky District can learn six foreign languages, including Croatian.

Since last year, the school with more than 1,500 pupils is home to the Croatian Club and wants to be an exclusive place in the city when it comes to Croatia and its language and culture.

Zagreb and Saint Petersburg have been friends since 1968 and their cooperation has covered various areas, including culture and education.

The cooperation gained new momentum in 2015 thanks to the Zagreb Russian Language and Culture Association and the enthusiasm of No691's headmistress Irina Leonidovna Karpicka, a big lover of Croatia.

Her students can learn Croatian three times a week for a month or two throughout the school year. The groups have numbered 15 to 20 students to date and they have been taught by volunteer Russianists and Croatists.

One of them is Mato Špekuljak, a Russian language and literature professor and president of the Russian Language and Culture Association, who has described School No691 as "one of the most beautiful and technically most equipped I have seen in my life."

The school is new and has a big library, a swimming pool, a toy museum, and computerized classrooms.

It has a Croatian library with some 300 books and multimedia content donated to the Croatian Club by the Zagreb Russian Language and Culture Association.

Other Russianists and Croatists from Zagreb have also guested in the school, including Russian language teachers at Zagreb's Trnjanska Primary School, which cooperates with School No691, as well as in Zagreb's Tin Ujević Primary School, which cooperates with School No351 in Saint Petersburg's Moskovsky District.

Besides the language, the students in the two Zagreb schools are also taught about Russia and its culture, and the students in the two Saint Petersburg schools about "Croatia as a friendly Slavic country," Špekuljak said.

The schools sometimes hold video conferences. "In Petersburg, that proved to be especially interesting to Russian students who spent summers in Croatia with their parents and those who are interested in football and admire the Croatian national football team and its successes," he added.

The Croatian-Russian school cooperation has been disrupted by COVID-19, but both sides hope it will resume and expand once the pandemic is over.

Headmistress Karpicka said one of the post-pandemic plans was to bring together the Croats living in Saint Petersburg and their families. Speaking to Hina, she invited all Russianists and Croatists from Croatia interested in volunteering in her school and making guest appearances in the Croatian Club to write at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Russian Language and Culture Association hopes the cooperation will expand between schools in Zagreb's Donji Grad and Trešnjevka districts and Saint Petersburg's Moskovsky and Novsky districts.

For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 26 Jan 2022 - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Tuesday it had opened accession discussions with Croatia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Romania, and Bulgaria.

"There is no deadline for completion of the accession processes. The outcome and timeline depend on each candidate country’s capacity to adapt and adjust to align with the Organisation’s standards and best practices," the OECD said.

The process will include an in-depth evaluation by more than 20 technical committees of the candidates' alignment with OECD standards, policies, and practices.

"Croatia is ready to start OECD membership negotiations. Besides the Schengen Area and eurozone, our priority is OECD membership whereby we will strengthen our economy and Croatia's international standing and influence," Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Twitter.

The OECD's main values are individual liberty, democracy, the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and open, trading, competitive, sustainable and transparent market economies. The OECD also promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth and climate change.

OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann pointed out that "candidate countries will be able to use the accession process to promote further reforms for the benefit of their people, while also strengthening the OECD as a like-minded community committed to a rules-based international order."

The technical reviews will focus on open trade and investment, public governance, anti-corruption efforts, and the effective protection of the environment and climate.

Once all the technical committees have completed their reviews, a final decision will be taken by unanimity of all OECD member countries.

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.

January 26, 2022 - As part of the construction of the new Cycling Information Center on the hill of Mađerka, a lookout tower will accompany it to offer visitors a vantage point that will allow them to enjoy a privileged view of the natural beauties of Međimurje, and the bordering countries.

The works on the construction of the new Cycling Information Center with a lookout tower on the hill of Mađerka will be completed soon, reports HrTurizam.hr. The idea of ​​the lookout tower came from the choice of a location that can present the natural beauties of upper Međimurje and its geographical position.

Mađerka is a hill above Štrigova, towards the border with Slovenia, at 341 meters above sea level, and only three meters lower than the highest point of Međimurje. The advantage of Mađerka is that you can see as many as four countries - Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia, and in good weather, you can see Sljeme.

Photo: Međimurje County

"With the desire to raise the entire tourist offer to an even higher level, to offer tourists top tourist content, the municipality of Štrigova in cooperation with Međimurje County has designed a project to build a lookout tower with the aim of being a visitor center, cycling resort and presentation/tasting center for the Međimurje Wine Road", said Međimurje County Prefect Matija Posavec.

After its completion, which will give Međimurje another tourist destination, the final works in the new Cycling Information Center and its equipment will follow. At the location, visitors will have access to information about the tourist offer of the whole of Međimurje, and cyclists will have at their disposal a rest area equipped with a service station, adapted to e-bikes.

The new Cycling Information Center with a lookout tower is one of the components of the CycleSeeing Attractour - CSA project, co-financed from the cross-border program, implemented by the Municipality of Štrigova in partnership with the Tourist Board of Štrigova and the City of Nagykanisza.

"As there were no open tenders from national funds at that time, we applied for the cross-border program Interreg Croatia Hungary, and the project was assessed as very high quality and received the approval for co-financing of 85% of the total project value of 7,395,000 kuna," Posavec added.

Photo: Međimurje Bike

In order to attract as many tourists as possible, not only for short-term visits but also for longer stays, three tourist packages have been designed - a bicycle package, a health and wellness package, and an eco-tourist package. These packages will contribute to making the project area a more attractive tourist destination, not just a transit one. Tourists will get acquainted with the newly built attractions, but also with the existing cultural and natural heritage of the destination.

"The project is in the development phase and we expect it can be completed by May this year. Terme Sveti Martin is close to Štrigova and all this is important for further development of the overall tourist offer of Međimurje, since I believe that it will awake the great interest of domestic and foreign guests, and will further present the beauties of Međimurje and develop continental tourism.", explains Posavec.

The new Cycling Information Center with a lookout tower is located on Pušipel's bicycle route. It is a circular trail that connects Štrigovo with Čakovec and passes through the wine-growing area of ​​the county, so it is ideal for e-bikes.

Međimurje abounds in attractive and well-kept bicycle paths and is located at the crossroads of international bicycle routes. Recreational and fun cycling is ideal for family vacations, but also for socializing. Međimurje offers something for everyone, easier and more demanding sections, road and off-road routes, and there are also customized terrains for XTC and cross driving.

"We were the first in Croatia to introduce Cyclist Welcome Quality, a brand accepted by neighboring Varaždin and Zagreb counties, and applied in Hungary. Accommodation facilities are fundamental to the quality of the overall cycling offer of a destination and therefore their services are classified into five quality classes up to five gears", emphasizes the director of the Tourist Board of Međimurje County, Rudi Grula and adds that in Međimurje, in addition to groomed trails, there are a number of equally arranged rest areas, charging stations for e-bikes and other facilities that attract cyclists from all over Europe.

The emphasis, as he says, is on foreign guests, but also those from nearby destinations from which they can come to Međimurje by bicycle, and the e-bicycles, which are becoming more and more popular in Europe. For example, guests from Graz, which is 70 to 90 kilometers away, can cross the section by e-bike in one day, and then cycle around Međimurje, neighboring counties, or cross to Slovenia and Hungary. Namely, the desire is to make Međimurje a kind of base in which cyclists would spend several days and explore the whole area.

''Our plan is to connect the Goričan Border Crossing with a bicycle path along the Trnava River, with Čakovec, and then Varaždin. The bicycle path would avoid road crossings and move along the river bank.", Grula announced.

Cyclists aim not only to ride but also to rest, and such visitors are the target group of the tourist offer of Međimurje County. Ecological sustainability, reduction of carbon footprint, the offer of local producers... this is something that cyclists take special care of when choosing their holiday destination, and Međimurje is a region that can provide them with that.

If you want to learn more about everything Međimurje County has to offer on your next trip, be sure to check out Total Croatia's guide, Međimurje in a Page.

For more, check out our travel section.

January 26, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as British Airways London-Zagreb flights in February have been canceled. 

Croatian Aviation reports that British Airways has canceled all flights between London and Zagreb in February this year. 

Namely, British Airways has canceled 15 return flights in February between London and Zagreb, justifying the move by low demand, which is directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways is currently planning to return to Zagreb on the last day of February, from which four flights a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, have been announced again. As a reminder, as of January 27, the United Kingdom will abolish most of the strict measures, and testing on the second day after arriving in the country will no longer be mandatory. The easing of austerity measures is expected to allow more passenger movement, but it is hard to expect demand to rise so drastically in these winter months, which were mostly bad even in the years before the pandemic.

Irish Ryanair currently connects London Stansted and Zagreb 5 times a week, every day of the week except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while Croatia Airlines connects London Heathrow and Zagreb 4 times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Regular British Airways operations between Zagreb and London can be expected only in the summer flight schedule, but then the focus of this airline moves to the coast, to Dubrovnik, Split, and Pula.

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reported earlier this week that Eurowings drastically cut the number of flights to Zagreb Airport since the beginning of this year due to reduced demand. January and February are traditionally the two worst months of the year regarding air traffic in Croatia and the region. This year, demand is adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and the world.

For this reason, Eurowings has canceled numerous departures to and from Zagreb International Airport. 

On the Stuttgart - Zagreb - Stuttgart line, Eurowings made its last flight on January 9 this year, and there are no regular flights between the two cities until February 7. Furthermore, 14 return flights were canceled in the mentioned period, which is 4,368 fewer seats to and from Zagreb.

On the Cologne - Zagreb - Cologne route, Eurowings operates regularly, twice a week, but some weekly flights have been canceled, as many as 10, which is 3,120 seats less than planned!

The Dusseldorf - Zagreb line last operated on December 28, 2021, as all flights for January and February were canceled. The next flight is announced for March 1. Zagreb lost an additional 6,120 seats from 17 canceled rotations.

The Prague - Zagreb line was supposed to start operating in the winter flight schedule this year, but it did not happen. Eurowings has already extended the start of operations on this line several times, and the first flight has been announced for March 8. A total of 6 rotations planned for January and February were canceled, which is an additional 1,872 fewer seats.

From the beginning of the year to March, Eurowings canceled 47 return flights on four international routes, which caused Zagreb to lose 15,480 seats.

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

January 26, 2022 - The 17th Croatian Museum Night will be held on January 28, 2022, across the country. A look at what we can expect this year and the Split program. 

Museum Night began in 2005 with several Zagreb museums and has grown into the most important event of Croatian museums in recent years.

The Croatian Museum Association has organized the Museum Night event in Croatia since 2005. The initiators are the author of the program concept and project leaders, Vesna Jurić Bulatović and Dubravka Osrečki Jakelić, who in December 2005 launched it as a city pilot project with six Zagreb museums. Since 2007, Museum Night has grown into a national event involving more and more museums and cities.

The 17th Museum Night will be held on January 28, 2022, in conditions that are more or less similar to those of last year. This means in circumstances in which cultural institutions have "adapted" to the new reality, when a large part of the program takes place in controlled conditions and circumstances with mandatory Covid certificates, when the number of visitors to cultural events is significantly reduced, and group and tourist visits to museum exhibitions are almost completely absent in the statistics of museum visitors.

Most of the events moved online, which contributed to the wide availability of museum content. However, on the other hand, the immediate experience of the museum space, content, atmosphere, and people is irreplaceable when it comes to the true experience. The visitor is looking for a way to best meet their needs, and that is a true and real experience of a cultural event.

Thus, in uncertain circumstances when it has become almost impossible to plan museum programs, and it is especially unknown to which target audience certain programs are intended, in conditions when museums and other institutions balance between the real and possible, the real and digital, and many difficult conditions due to the great damage they suffered in the earthquake, it is important to continue the beautiful tradition of this event.

The existing zeal, enthusiasm, and great Museum Night programs and atmospheres will be given to the loyal audience throughout Croatia for the 17th edition. After consultations with the Croatian museum community, the 17th edition will be organized with live programs, in compliance with prescribed epidemiological measures, while all programs will also be available through digital channels.

The 16th Museum Night, which was held on January 29, 2021, organized by the Croatian Museum Society, included 188 museums, heritage, educational, scientific, and religious institutions that participated for the first time through digital communication channels. Numerous live programs were also held, where possible and in accordance with epidemiological measures.

In recent years, this national event has been marked by a massive number of visits to museums, which exceeded 300,000 visits during one night. Last year's Museum Night was realized almost entirely on a digital level - online, except in those locations and facilities that can take place outdoors, again in accordance with the prescribed measures of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia. It is precisely this interest in the Museum Night event that confirms the vitality and strength of museums and other cultural communities, despite the given circumstances.

The participating museums in Split this year include:

Archaeological Museum in Split || Split Ethnographic Museum Split || Meštrović Gallery || Split Gallery School || Split Art Gallery || Croatian Maritime Museum Split || Museum of the City of Split || Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments - Split || Prokultura - Observatory of Cultural Policies - Association || University of Split / University Gallery || Star Village Mosor 

You can find all the programs for Museum Night in your city HERE. 

All programs must be completed by 24:00 due to the measures for holding professional cultural and artistic performances, programs, and events.

For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

January 26, 2022 - The new Croatia national team basketball coach, Damir Mulaomerović, was presented at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Aristos Hotel in Zagreb. 

The president of the Croatian Basketball Federation, Stojko Vranković, the vice-president, Nikola Rukavina, and the general secretary, Josip Vranković, were also present at the conference.

"Congratulations to the coach Damir Mulaomerović and I thank him because it is not a great situation in terms of results. However, knowing Damir, not only as a player but also as a man, knowing his character, I think he will do his best to do a good job and get good results," said HKS president Stojko Vranković in the introductory speech.

HKS vice president Nikola Rukavina, as well as the president, congratulated the new coach: "I would like to wish Damir and the entire Federation success in the coming period, and I hope that we will return basketball to some more successful paths. Damir, congratulations, and I wish you much success!"

General Secretary Josip Vranković also joined the congratulations: "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Damir on his new position at this difficult time. At the same time, I would like to clarify a few technical details. As you know, the Federation has always insisted in its ranks, given all the circumstances, but at this point, we had to respect the current situation. Thus, Damir will continue to work as the Cedevita Junior coach at the same time as the Croatia coach. This is not the first time - and last year, when Zadar was in a specific situation, there was understanding, and HKS met Zadar in a certain way. However, on this occasion, the situation went in the opposite direction." 

Coach Damir Mulaomerović thanked the media representatives for the great response, as well as the HKS leadership for the opportunity and trust, and continued: "I must also emphasize that Veljko's decision should be respected and he should be thanked for what he did. We will try to mobilize and do what is best in exactly one month until the games against Sweden. I have already started some conversations with the players, and I think it will be quite good. I know there will be a lot of questions, there will be people for and against, that is normal. However, you all more or less know me as a player and now as a coach, and you know that I am a man of character and that I will do my best for the best possible results."

Asked if he was hesitant when the call came, coach Mulaomerovic replied: "The conversation went quite well. It was a logical sequence given that I know the material and the players, and I must emphasize that I am thrilled that these people sitting here believe in me and what I do. It would be ungrateful to leave them, especially in this situation, I think it is clear to everyone.

We will all do everything in our power to win these two games and restore hope and everything after that. The deciding factor was that I know these players best since most of them will be from the domestic championship; we are all aware of the problems with the players. Of course, we will try to get players from outside, talk to everyone."

"As for the players' response, we will call everyone, give everyone a chance to express themselves. We are interested in players who want to play, who will be there for Croatia, especially in moments like this. I think we all need to forget what happened and get the best out of it for what we have.

Another thing, look at the situation in handball with COVID-19; we have to take care of that as well. I want all the players healthy. As for the game itself, I do not doubt those guys. They will be asked to do their best. I will try with my knowledge and energy to create a good atmosphere and for the guys to come out and show everything they know. First of all, we are focusing on that first game, which is the most important at the moment."

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 26, 2022 - Dimensions Festival 2022 headliners have been announced as the 10th anniversary of the underground music festival returns to Tisno in September! 

Dimensions marked a stunning start to the new chapter at The Garden Resort of Tisno last year, and in 2022 the acclaimed underground festival builds on that legacy with a 10th-anniversary edition from 1—5 September 2022. It goes down with a tastefully curated list of headliners, back-to-back exclusives, label parties, UKG celebrations, Detroit specials, debut sets, and much more.

Croatia’s Garden Resort is nestled in a natural paradise on the Dalmatian coastline with glistening seas, a sweeping beach, and pine forests forming the backdrop. During the festival weekend, it comes alive with an array of hugely popular boat parties, baking sunshine and beach-side sessions by day and starlit skies for open-air dancing at the cult Barbarella's Discotheque by night – a famous site with views over the bay which will host a rich array of afterparties, for which line-ups will be revealed soon and passes are already on sale.

Since 2012, Dimensions is famed for its attention to production details like light and sound, as well as its hard-earned musical heritage, seriously music-loving crowd, and diverse, community-minded spirit. All of which will return once again this summer with another musical programme that covers all shades of bass, house, techno, electro, garage, disco, and plenty in between. 

Amongst many highlights, Detroit lands in Croatia this summer with Detroit In Effect, Marcellus Pittman, and DJ Stingray 313 making appearances from the Motor City. There are plenty of exciting partnerships lined up this year with revered party crew Trommel and tasteful minimal associates such as Raresh, Sonja Moonear, Quest, Vlada, Anthea, and Unai Trottil, while ISAbella’s MARICAS party is also returning and Electronic maestros Steevio & Suzybee host a special Freerotation presentation. D. Tiffany and Roza Terenzi go head to head alongside a Planet Euphorique partnership, Dutch crew VBX join forces with Slapfunk for a special takeover, while cult crew Dr Banana is back with friends Eliza Rose, Helena Star, Jeremy Sylvester and T Dunn for a special celebration of UKG and beyond. 

Meanwhile Karenn, Sansibar, Sweely, Soichi Terada all present special live performances, Bradley Zero returns with his diverse, multi-genre sounds, and long-standing party-starters Butter Side Up are back alongside pals The Ghost, Gene On Earth, Youandewan, Huerta, Sugar Free, Truly Madly and more. Mala is back with his much loved bass-heavy selections, and after being postponed from 2021 Francesco Del Garda, LSDXOXO, Peach, Zakia, DVS1, and Malika will finally join the party. 

In terms of debuts, Eris Drew & Octa Octa present a T4T LUV NRG takeover, Jossy Mitsu, Sherelle, and LCY all play for the first time, Slow Life makes an appearance with founders Laurine and Cecilio, and on top of that Paula Tape, Adam Pitts, Azu Tiwaline, Russel E.L Butler, Club Fitness, Jamie Tiller, Jeremy Sylvester, Marie Montexier, Quest and Vlada all arrive at Dimensions for the first time. 

You can also expect thrilling sets of drum & bass from Calibre, Djrum and DJ Storm, slick minimal from scene-leaders Raresh, Sonja Moonear, Quest, Vlada, Anthea, and Unai Trotti, carefully curated eclecticism from BeatPete, Jamie Tiller, Zakia, Nabihah Iqbal, OKO DJ, Jaye Ward, and Ruf Dug. 

On top of this are plenty of mouth-watering back to backs that have come to define Dimensions with Helena Hauff b2b DJ Stingray 313, Dr Banana b2b Alec Falconer, and Gene On Earth b2b The Ghost and there will be live electro from The Exaltics, Radioactive Man, DMX Krew and plenty of standout sets from the likes of Peach, Nabihah Iqbal, Saoirse, ISAbella and LCY. 

The countdown is on to what promises to be a historic 10th edition of this most cultured underground music celebration. Festival tickets are on sale now from £140, After Party passes from £35 or customers can choose to spread the cost with their payment plan option, securing their space at this year’s event from £25 + fees. 

Artists A—Z:

ADAB, Adam Pits, AhZ & Annita, Alec Falconer, Aletha, Anatolian Weapons, Andy Luff, Anthea, Azu Tiwaline, Batu, BeatPete, Binh, Blawan, Borut Cvajner, Bradley Zero, Bugs Groove, Calibre, Christian AB, Ciel, Cleymoore, Club Fitness, David Martin, D. Tiffany b2b Roza Terenzi, Detroit In Effect, DJ Evan, DJ Storm, Djrum, DMX Krew Live, Doudou MD, Dr Banana, Driss Bennis aka OCB, DVS1, Eliza Rose, Eris Drew b2b Octa Octa, Francesco Del Garda, Freakenstein, Gene On Earth, Hamish & Toby, Harri Pepper, Heels & Souls, Helena Hauff b2b DJ Stingray 313, Heléna Star, Huerta, Ikonal, ISAbella, Jamie Tiller, Jan Kincl, Jaye Ward, Jeremy Sylvester, Joe Delon, Joe Gill, Josh Bayat, Josh Tweek, Jossy Mitsu, Junior, Junki Inoue, k means, Karenn Live, Kiara Scuro, Kira Robin, Kirsti, KRN, Laurine & Cecilio (Slow Life), LCY, Liquid Earth, LSDXOXO, Maja Pa, Mala, Malika, Marcellus Pittman, Marie Montexier, Matthew Neequaye, Midge Thompson, Minus Kendal, MLE, Mor Elian, Nabihah Iqbal, Nastik, NikNak, OKO DJ, Pariah, Paula Tape, Peach, Quest, Radioactive Man Live, Raresh, Rey Colino, re:ni, Reiss, Rubi, Ruf Dug, Russell E.L Butler, Samuel Deep, Sansibar Live, Saoirse, Sean OD, Selfhood, Sherelle, Simon Scott, Soichi Terada Live, Sonja Moonear, Soraya & Villella, Steevio & Suzybee Live, Sugar Free, Sweely, T Dunn, Tama Sumo, The Exaltics Live, The Ghost, Tho & Loren, Tony Neptune, Truly Madly, Unai Trotti, Vlada, Wes Baggaley, Youandewan, Zakia

For full information and tickets, head to https://www.dimensionsfestival.com.

For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

January 26, 2022 - One of Croatia's most gorgeous islands, a film set for Bliss starring Own Wilson and Salma Hayek, and the 35.5m Lopud transmitter that is enraging local residents, tourists, and foreign investors. 

Bliss. I can't think of a better word to explain my state of mind when I visit the island of Lopud, a short ferry ride away from Dubrovnik. 

The 2021 sci-fi movie of the same name, starring Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek, showcases this unique slice of Dalmatian island heaven to the world, and you can learn more from my first visit in Lopud: Carless, Timeless, Carefree Dalmatian Sunset Heaven.

But a change in the Lopud skyline is causing considerable local anger, the renovation, and expansion of a transmitter tower from its current size of 13 metres to a whopping 35.5 m. 

While it may look like a prop from the Bliss film set, the tower is real - and perfectly legal. 

The existing complex is being renovated and many people assumed that this would mean a renovated tower at the same height. And when construction began a few months ago, the local backlash was swift and vocal, including from globally-recognised names who have invested on Lopud. 

Baroness Francesca von Thyssen-Bornemisza, formerly Francesca von Habsburg-Lothringen, is an art collector and owner of the renovated monastery, which has become one of Croatia's leading boutique hotels. 

"This is exactly the kind of thing that gives Croatia a bad name. Over the years I have seen foreign investors come and go, because of the chronic application of double standards on multiple levels. The whole group of us have not only transformed the Northside of Lopud over the last decades, but have also actively contributed to the revitalization of the island in numerous ways, and we continue to do so. All restoration of monuments and buildings have been executed according to the strictest standards imposed by the Institute of conservation, and we feel profoundly betrayed by them allowing a monstrosity of this size to be built in such close vicinity of so many heritage buildings. It's not possible to forbid adaptations to these properties that are in keeping with modern living, and tourism requirements, with great attention to aesthetics, on the basis that it's "not in keeping" with the historical fabric of a place when this obscenity is allowed to overshadow all the authenticity that we have all fought so hard to preserve.

"I am sure that Mr. Bače, the newly appointed Head of the conservation institute is intimately familiar with the urban regulation rules of the City of Dubrovnik, which is also valid for Lopud, that no antenna and similar infrastructure should be built in the vicinity of the listed cultural monuments and protected natural areas, so how he allowed this to happen is seriously problematic.  In this regard, Toto Bergamo Rossi and  I are in touch with UNESCO where we both have very good relations because of our good standing in the cultural field, and we are taking this dispute up to the highest authorities, otherwise, nothing will ever improve here.  For my part, this is the drop that makes the vase overflow."

A press release from the residents of Lopud has more:

Residents of Lopud are asking investors, the Odašiljači i veze company, to suspend work on the construction of a 35.5 meter high new transmitter, which is planned to be located in the immediate vicinity of the most densely populated part of the island and legally protected monumental heritage.

Residents of Lopud are unpleasantly surprised by the plans that inside residential area, which until recently was uninhabited and neglected, and now abounds with renovated houses and holiday villas, as well as protected historical buildings and cultural monuments that are under special protection of the Republic of Croatia, and are an attractive backdrop for film and television hits, a new transmitter is being built, which, due to its monumentality, will completely disturb the view of that part of Lopud.

Residents of Lopud initially thought that the started work was related to the reconstruction of the existing transmitter, but it soon became clear that instead of a simple renovation, an even three times larger facility is being built.

"Particularly problematic, we estimate, is the fact that the new tower will be 35.5 m high, and even 2.73 times larger than the existing transmitter that needs to be replaced. Given its size, it is to be expected that additional antenna system equipment will come to it, so it is logical to conclude that this will lead to more electromagnetic radiation, about which no one has informed us so far," said Ivo Mihajlovic, a resident of Lopud.

Residents of Lopud are therefore asking the investor, the Odašiljači i veze company, the provider of national strategic communication infrastructure for transmitting and transmitting signals, to suspend work on the existing location until another suitable solution is found, ie to move the tower outside the residential area where it will have less impact on the health of residents and will not permanently disturb not only the view of zero category monuments, but also the tourist valorization of facilities located in the area.

An online petition has also been set up (you can sign it here)

As residents, visitors and admirers of Lopud, its unique harmony of nature and living historical sites, we would like to hereby express our opposition to the replacement of the existing  13 m antenna in Lopud with a new antenna of 35.5 m.Such a drastically greater change directly next to the inhabited, oldest urban part of the place (moreover, outside the prescribed construction zone!) imposes a strong industrial impression on the whole village which is contrary to the touristic idea of Lopud and its image as a natural and historically and culturally significant destination. As one of the most visited day trip areas for guests of the city of Dubrovnik, Lopud is important for the overall image of the city and how it wants to present itself as a tourist destination.The health impact of such a powerful antenna on us islanders, within the edge of the settlement, is also questionable. 90% of the island's inhabitants live exclusively from tourism, so it is of the utmost importance for all of us to preserve and further develop the right image of Lopud and to be transparently informed and involved in such invasive and other, positive projects that may affect the quality of the island.

Appeals to the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Frankovic, to intervene, have been heeded, with Mayor Frankovic writing to the company, requesting them to stop.

More on this story as we get it, with no further comment from our side required. 

To learn more about the incredible and (so far) unspoiled Elaphite islands of Lopud, Kolocep and Sipan, check out the dedicated Total Croatia guide.