January 23, 2020 - The Olive Picking World Championship, which takes place in Postira on Brac in the autumn, has been named the most creative event at the Creative Tourism Network awards in Madrid.

RTL.hr writes that the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) is presenting its tourism offer again this year at the FITUR fair in Madrid from January 22 to 26. On the first day of the fair, Croatian Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli and HTZ Director Kristjan Stanicic visited the Croatian booth. They also met with Spanish partners, tour operators and agencies such as Jet2com, Beautiful Destination and others.

“After Utrecht, Stuttgart, Helsinki, Vienna and Berlin, this month's total Croatian tourist offer is presented at the most important Spanish tourism fair in Madrid. Speaking of Croatia, Spaniards' favorite destinations are Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Hvar and the Plitvice Lakes. This year, we plan to improve the network of the Croatian National Tourist Board representative office by launching all the necessary procedures for opening an office in Madrid because of the extremely important Spanish market for us and the fact that the leading international tourist institutions are based here. Spaniards often travel and discover new destinations, and this is exactly the opportunity we need to take advantage of in 2020,” director Stanicic said, adding that last year, 315,000 arrivals and more than 708,000 overnights were generated from Spain, which represents a 10 percent increase compared to 2018.

The Creative Tourism Network awards ceremony was also held as part of the FITUR fair, and the award for the creative event of the year was given to the Olive Picking World Championship in the municipality of Postira on Brac, which took place in October last year. 

The Creative Tourism Network is an international non-profit organization specializing in the development of creative tourism. Among 160 entries and events, their expert jury decided that this Postira event was the most creative of its kind in the world because it innovatively preserves the centuries-old tradition and brings it closer to locals and tourists alike. The event was launched to promote the traditional Croatian custom of picking olives, but also to learn about the traditions of other Mediterranean countries. Twelve teams participated in the competition.

"Spain, together with France, is the leading country for the UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Program, which will work with governments, destinations and tourism companies to reduce the environmental impact of tourism, which is also an important premise for Croatia to pursue as a tourism policy in the future. We used our stay in Madrid, the capital of one of the most visited countries in the world and the seat of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to exchange experiences in managing sustainable development policies, which are also the backbone of Croatia's EU Council Presidency in the field of tourism. The experiences and best practices we exchanged during our meetings with leading tourism authorities and officials will greatly benefit from the development of a new National Tourism Development Strategy based on quality and responsible and sustainable business, using modern technologies as creative solutions for the future,” Minister Cappelli said.

In addition to the Croatian National Tourist Board as its main exhibitor, ten co-exhibitors are represented at the FITUR fair, including the tourist boards of the City of Zagreb and Dubrovnik-Neretva County and Abacus Tours, Illyria - Camp Soline, Atlas, Olivari, Nave Travel, Uniline, Valamar and HUP Zagreb.

Research shows that the main motives for Spaniards' trips abroad are leisure, relaxation and recreation (54 percent), followed by visits to friends and family (26 percent) and business trips (14 percent). When traveling abroad, Spaniards usually go by plane, and Spain's direct air connection with Croatia improves from year to year, especially in the summer flight schedule. Currently, three airlines are operating in the winter timetable: Croatia Airlines, Iberia and Vueling Airlines on the route Barcelona - Zagreb, Madrid - Zagreb and Barcelona - Dubrovnik.

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

January 14, 2020 - Via Brattia, the new 135 km long hiking trail around the island of Brac, will connect almost the entire island. This excellent new tourist product will undoubtedly be the new trump card of Brac tourism.

The hiking trail will connect the 12 most attractive historical sites and most of the picturesque locations on the largest Central Dalmatian island. Via Brattia will be a challenge for recreationists and hikers, as well as for real adventurers in search of a new experience.

The trail will pass through the centers of Supetar, Mirac, Sutivan, Bobovisca na moru, Lozisce, Milna, Murvice, Bol, Sumartin, Povalje, Pucisca, Postir, Skrip, and along the parish churches, reaching some of the most beautiful bays on Brac, like Farska, Rasotica, Lovrecina, and Smrka. The trail is expected to be active from spring 2020.

Via Brattia is a project of all the tourist boards on the island of Brac together with the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board. Recall, Brac boasts seven tourist boards that have not yet cooperated until now. The synergy through this project is commendable. 

"With the support of all local self-government units on the island of Brac and the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, this trail around Brac is a joint project of all the tourist boards on our island and the municipalities of Pucisca and Nerezisca. The maps are nearly finished, and the markings have been taken over by the Mountaineering Association Profunda. After the areas are marked and the maps are printed, Brac will finally receive a beautiful hiking and tourist trail they have long dreamed of. Movement, learning and sustainability are new tourism trends that enrich travelers with invaluable experience, and the sun and the sea are just a bonus in this story,” said Ivan Cvitanic, director of the Supetar Tourist Board, where Via Brattia begins and ends.

You can find more information on the Supetar Tourist Board website.

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

December. 7, 2019 - Some local-self governments in Croatia have decided to lead the fight against new tourist apartments, like Bol on Brac, for example.

Namely, Jutarnji List writes that Bol is taking the initiative to limit the possibility of building tourist apartments so that the municipality does not experience the fate of some whose infrastructure has collapsed under the burden of ‘zimmer frei’, or vacant rooms. 

As Mayor Tihomir Marinkovic told Jutarnji List, the municipality plans to use the future construction zone in the area of its administrative unit for two specific types of construction - smaller apartments for workers and luxury villas with a ground floor and a maximum of one floor, while special construction conditions, which will not allow a high density of construction, would make this type of investment unprofitable for the builders of commercial apartments.

The idea came about after Marinkovic and the municipal council realized that they would soon have to adopt new spatial plans because their existing construction zones were more or less filled.

“The law says that we can prepare new construction zones when existing zoning plans reach the 80% level of construction. As we are very close to this percentage, the municipality will soon have to find new construction zones within which we will allow construction, but since we do not want these areas to give us the fate of apartments, the municipality has the opportunity to adapt the construction conditions to certain types of construction that we consider to be scarce,” says Marinkovic.

These are, therefore, apartments for workers, especially foreign workers, who today cannot find adequate accommodation in the municipality, and no investment has yet been made in the workers' hostel announced by the Bluesun hotel group in the Bol area.

Another form of construction Marinkovic sees in the plans for Bol is luxury villas that will be used for housing or rent, but which will require less construction on larger parcels of land to prevent a high density of residential space.

“We have not defined the figures here, but the idea is to allow the construction of buildings with a ground floor and a maximum of one more floor, and then strictly prescribe a construction ratio, which should in no way go at the expense of horticulture. So, this would give us smaller facilities with large green spaces and additional facilities intended primarily for guests of slightly higher spending power,” says Marinkovic.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, there were a total of 8,300 beds in the municipality of Bol in 2018, but we were unable to obtain data on how much of this relates to beds in private accommodation.

Since the Bluesun Hotel Group operates on Brac, especially in Bol, a good part of these beds are in hotels, and last year, the municipality realized a total of 102,000 arrivals and more than 600,000 overnights.

Bol, however, is not the first to decide to restrict the growth of a particular type of accommodation by special conditions. Recall, Stari Grad on Hvar boasted a similar initiative.

Admittedly, the problem was detected in hostels, so mayor Antonio Skarpa and the City Council passed the Amendments to the Stari Grad Spatial Plan, which now states that "hotels, guesthouses and other catering and tourist buildings can be built inside the settlement, apart from hostels," and "within hotels and tourist areas, only hotels, tourist resorts, camps and tourist moorings such as pontoons, jettys, quays, and berths can be built or renovated."

Stari Grad hopes to direct tourism to a slightly more luxurious level, which is why 200 beds in the existing two hostels were considered sufficient for the needs of current guests.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

December 3, 2019 - A closer look at the future ecovillage Blaca on Brac island.

The latest photos of the future ecovillage Blaca on Brac are truly breathtaking. Slobodna Dalmacija writes that the creator of the conceptual design of this ecovillage is Hrvoje Bota, a Bachelor of Architecture and permaculture designer, and also the director of the social enterprise "Održivo" from Split and Vice President of the Permaculture Association of Dalmatia.

In agreement with investors, Hrvoje Bota and the project team at Održivo have arranged everything needed for the eco-community using natural construction materials, energy systems from renewable energy sources, while enhancing and conserving biodiversity and ensuring a comfortable stay for guests. 

“The project task was to build five family farms (OPG) on ten hectares of farmland. Given that this area is further away from existing settlements, we proposed the concept of a small eco-community, which is independent of the infrastructure network.

We wanted it to be self-sufficient and to meet all the needs for water, food and energy, and at the same time, we wanted to blend in all the scenery and the view that stretches from this steep terrain. There is a growing awareness in the world of using healthy materials and preserving a healthy environment, and this eco-community on Brac is also a response to climate change.

Here we are working specifically to combat climate change, increasing biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems,” emphasizes Hrvoje Bota.

In keeping with Bota’s life philosophy, everything Održivo does is focused on socially and environmentally conscious business and environmental design.

Bota’s life philosophy is also evident in this future ecovillage. The whole space is conceived as one production unit, consisting of several parts.

“In addition to five units, each of which has a residential and economic part, there is also a common area for socializing, a tavern, a court for bocce ball, a space for children to play, and various facilities in the open-air lounge.

All OPGs will cooperate in olive growing, sheep farming, viticulture, growing fruits in a polyculture orchard and vegetables in their own vegetable garden for those who will live there and visitors who come to the ecovillage. Aromatic Mediterranean herbs and honey will also be grown in the village. There will also be chickens that will be in mobile homes (the so-called Chicken tractor),” Bota adds. 

Each OPG is designed for ten people, each cottage in the olive grove will have five rooms, and Robinson accommodation is planned renovated with stone, and glamping tents. There will be communal restrooms.

The land on which the ecovillage will be built is steep terrain, water washed away the soil, and the fires that burned on that part of the island contributed to the erosion.

How to regenerate the soil is one of the key questions that Hrvoje Bota answered through holistic management. He says the pioneer of such a smart management model is the globally renowned Savory Institute, whose methods have helped restore soil in many parts of the world.

“With holistic management, which means a combination of perennials and biomass, and with smart, controlled grazing, soil fertility is increased. We have a combination of durable trees, such as holm oak, black Dalmatian pine, we plant olives, carob, mulberries, cherries, almonds - everything must be drought resistant.

It is also important that the vineyard fits in the drywall, that the protection of the Dalmatian cultivated landscape is in place in the ecovillage. We have corridors to protect against wind, fire, erosion, and everything is designed according to the Keyline model, so anything planted follows the natural configuration of the terrain by contour lines,” Bota adds.

He further points out that the use of local and natural materials such as stone, which is not lacking on Brac, is envisaged to the greatest extent, followed by wood, lime, sheep's wool, and hemp.

“Natural materials have a positive effect on the health and quality of housing; these are all breathable, non-allergenic materials. For example, the houses will be stone outside, the inside will be blocks of hemp, while wood will be used for the roof, as well as the windows and pergolas,” Bota said. 

He adds that investors are interested in an independent energy model and the use of renewable energy sources, so the emphasis is on solar, low-wind wind energy, and biogas production from animal and vegetable waste.

Also, passive measures of solar design, i.e., natural cooling and the use of thermal mass, will maintain the optimum temperature in residential and commercial space.

There is no water supply in the area, so the goal is to collect as much rainwater as possible and store it in underground tanks.

“The eco village will have a common tank that will be filled from the large floodplain at the highest point, from where it will fill the tanks of residential and commercial buildings. They will also have smaller tanks along with objects to be filled from their roofs as well.

Furthermore, water will be collected in natural pools of biological and plant filter systems, and this water will also be used for irrigation. Gray water in households will also be purified and used,” explains Bota.

And when it comes to water supply and irrigation, mixed orchards and olive groves are designed according to the slope of the terrain so that their root systems absorb any excess rainwater or wastewater, thus preventing soil erosion and creating a resilient microclimate.

He also points out that the very increase in organic matter in the soil can be expected to significantly increase moisture retention, which will favor the development and survival of the crop.

“Each drop should be caught and retained, which is planned on several levels. Over time, as the system is established, it will affect the local microclimate and water will be a growing problem,” says Hrvoje Bota, pointing out that in designing and building such a system it is initially important to start designing the parts that are the most durable.

Thus, first, they must look at the climate, the configuration of the terrain, the water supply options, the road access, then the trees, buildings, fences, and soil, Bota concluded. 

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

The Korito tunnel, the first tunnel on the Croatian island of Brač, is a critical portion of an important bypass, and everything could be finished by the beginning of the 2020 tourist season.

In April this year, a contract with the company Strabag d.o.o., worth HRK 32 million, was signed for the construction of a bypass around the town of Ložišća on the island of Brač. As JutarnjiList reports on November 24, 2019; the contractual deadline is 18 months, which means that construction of the tunnel is expected to be complete by late October 2020, Hrvatske ceste (Croatian Roads) reported.

The 1560-meter-long bypass of Ložišća, along with the Korito tunnel, is the most significant construction project ever undertaken on Brač. The tunnel is the first ever built on the island of Brač and the first tunnel being built on Croatian state roads in six years.

The Korito tunnel will be 190 meters long with portal structures and involve 160 meters of excavation. Excavation of the northern precinct of the Korito Tunnel began on August 1, 2019 and the tunnel excavation itself began on September 5.

At the beginning of October, at the end of tourist season, work began on the excavation of the southern portion of the tunnel, which temporarily closed the local road which connects the town of Bobovišća with the rest of the coastal road network. Traffic for this settlement has been diverted to a temporary road in partnership with the town of Milna and Mayor, Fran Lozić. Temporary communal, fire and other services have been set up to operate effectively on this modest-sized detour road. The excavation of the tunnel is being carried out according to conservation guidelines to preserve the church of Gospe od Korita (Our Lady of Korita), which is close-by.

In order to re-open the seaside road to Bobovišća for traffic as soon as possible, completing construction on the southern concrete tunnel portal is the top priority and targeted for end of February 2020.

Work on the rest of the route is progressing well, and an early completion of the contractually agreed deadline is expected. In fact, it’s possible that the road will be in full use for the 2020 tourist season.

Hrvatske ceste, which operates a network of state roads with a total length of 7152 kilometers, is continually investing in the construction and upgrade of roads which connect the islands to the mainland. They are also improving the transport infrastructure of the islands, which is important for locals throughout the entire year and for tourists during the summer months.

Here is a video of the Korito tunnel project from Hrvatske Ceste:

And a recent aerial video of Ložišća on the island of Brač:

More information on Hrvatske Ceste (Croatian Roads) projects can be found on their excellent website here. For more information on infrastructure developments in Croatia, follow our lifestyle page.

November 20, 2019 - Brac, Hvar, and Korcula are currently in the process of developing a clean energy transition strategy.

Splitski Dnevnik reports that six European islands announced their clean energy transition strategies, making a significant step towards decarbonizing their energy systems with a strong focus on citizen engagement.

Six transition strategies to clean energy have already been announced as part of the program of the 4th Island Clean Energy Forum for the EU Islands, in Split and Hvar, where EU island community stakeholders meet from November 20 to 22 to discuss transitions, technologies, and opportunities for the active involvement of citizens in the European islands.

In the last 9 months, the following island communities actively developed Clean Energy Transition Strategies with a strong emphasis on the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders and putting citizens at the center of the transition: the Aran Islands (Ireland), the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago (Croatia), Culatra (Portugal), La Palma (Spain), Salina (Italy) and Sifnos (Greece).

• The Cres-Lošinj archipelago aims to decarbonize its energy system by 2040 completely. This will be partially achieved by local community-owned solar power plants.

• Culatra will work on 100% renewable energy owned by the local community.

• The Aran Islands will install community-owned wind farms, remodel homes and install heat pumps or other renewable energy sources for domestic hot water and space heating

• Salina aims to increase public awareness of energy and the environment. Salina will decarbonize its power generation plants, switch to 100% electrical/hybrid mobility on the island, increase efficiency in buildings, and decarbonize its maritime traffic.

• La Palma aims at full decarbonization and self-sufficiency in the energy sector. The island transition team is strongly focused on building a strong island energy system, actively including more than 100 local associations committed to supporting island transition.

• Sifnos wants to become 100% renewable and self-sufficient and has developed several different routes that the island could follow to achieve this goal. All plants will be co-owned by the local community and private investors.

"Thanks to the evolution of technology, the potential to reduce energy costs on the islands and the transition to energy independence has never been greater. In the context of the clean energy package for all Europeans, an essential Clean Energy Initiative for the EU islands is aimed at assisting and accelerating the transition process. Moreover, islands can be beacons for global climate action.

Whether it be the use of wind energy, the renovation of houses and buildings, the use of electric vehicles, the decarbonisation of maritime traffic or the use of renewable energy for hot water and heating, the decarbonisation solutions presented on these six pilot islands will drive them towards greater energy efficiency, the use of more renewable energy sources and low-carbon development routes,” says Ditte Juul-Jørgensen.

Energy transition strategies have been developed by island energy transition teams with the expert and advisory support of the EU's Clean Energy Secretariat. The readiness of these strategies will, in the coming months, guide the development of projects and strengthen local strategic frameworks that enhance the engagement and involvement of the local community. Additionally, they are currently in the process of developing a clean energy transition strategy for twenty other EU islands that will be published in the coming year, of which we highlight Brac, Hvar, and Korcula from Croatia.

Until now, island forums for clean energy have been held in different countries of the European Union - Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Croatia, namely Split and Hvar, has been selected as the fourth island forum.

Participation in the Forum in Croatia was confirmed by all levels of institutions, local and regional self-government units, ministry representatives, members of the European Commission and various other stakeholders from all over Europe. However, it is equally important that the Forum will be joined by representatives of more than 20 European islands in the process of transitioning to clean energy. The aim of the forum is to network island stakeholders from all over Europe and to foster dialogue with representatives of all decision-making levels in order to create a common vision for the transition of islands and to lay the foundations for its future realization.

On the first day of the conference, which will be held at the Le Meridien Lav Hotel, we will have opportunities to hear about the future of island policies from representatives from different EU and national institutions to create a common framework for further development. Considering that one of the activities during the Croatian Presidency of the European Commission is the creation of a long-term strategy for the further development of the EU islands, the panelists will present, through a moderated discussion, how the European islands will be provided with future support for their transition to clean energy.

During the second day, which will be held at the Hotel Amfora in Hvar, participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, learn about different technologies, but also learn about different models of islanders' involvement in energy transition investment projects. Leaders of energy transitions on the islands of Hvar, Brac, and Korcula will also present their views on the transition to clean energy.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

October 14, 2019 - After their third appearance among this years’ 12 national teams, the representatives of Montenegro picked the most olives and became new World Champions in olive picking.

Postira, Brač, October 10-13 – Their third appearance at the World Championship in Olive Picking, held in the olive grove of St Joseph in Postira on Island Brač, proved to be lucky and fully successful for the four-membered team of Montenegro. They managed to convincingly outperform their competition from other 11 participating national teams, by picking 77.6 kg of olives, as much as 20 kg more than the second positioned team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Team South Africa won the third place, by picking 56 kg of olives from the ancient Brač olive grove.

“We are very happy. We have progressed more and more every year. In the first year we made it to fifth place, next year we were second, and this year, finally, first! Our mission is accomplished”, proudly says Ivan Mirković captain of the winning team.

Members of this years’ Croatian VIP team were the captain-blogger Danijela Dvornik, journalist and editor of Croatian National Television Franka Jović, Split – Dalmatia County prefect Blaženko Boban and our handball golden medalist Petar Metličić. In the manner of good hosts, they turned over the title of World Champion to Team Montenegro, settling for the sixth place, with 50.4 kg of picked olives, following Team Slovenia on fourth, and Team Slovakia on the fifth place.

“Although we haven’t accepted the organizers’ idea of letting others win the title of World Champion and tried our best to keep it in Croatia, this year it just didn’t work out. If the organizers invite our next year, we will be ready and again try for victory”, promised Croatian handball player Petar Metličić, Olympic gold medallist and World Champion.

The Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County had already proven himself a passionate olive grower. Two years ago, he fell off a tree while picking olives and broke two ribs, but the accident hasn’t stopped him from supporting this event – then as a sponsor, and this year as a participant of Croatian National Team. “The captain has forbidden me to climb trees, so I was safe. As for the organizers, like all people from Brač they are very resourceful: first, they bring tourists to the island, and then they make them pick their olives. Very clever”, concluded the Prefect Blaženko Boban with a smile.

The third edition of the Word Championship in Olive Picking organized by the Postira Tourist Board, Municipality of Postira and the Postira Agriculture Cooperative, gathered as many as 12 national teams, which is the highest number of participating teams so far. 

The main aim of this competition is the promotion of olive-growing and products of Postira and the island of Brač, as well as meeting and getting to know the olive-growing tradition of different countries. The teams are competing in two disciplines, the main one being traditional olive picking by hand in a designated time limit. The second discipline is a quiz where the teams test their knowledge in the field of olive growing and olive oil production. The most successful in solving the quiz was Team Belgium, which won a special prize.

The last in olive picking, but winning in personalities were the members of Team England. With only 22.6 kg of harvested olives, they haven’t managed to improve their last position from last year, which had been the teams’ main goal. “All year we’ve been saying: the technique is - pick the right tree. And then Johnnie drank a little bit too much last night and he picked the wrong tree. Again”, explained Mark Fitzpatrick the reason of their fail with a smile. “But this was one the best weekends of my life”, adds Mark, who loves this event, the island of Brač and Croatia.

The director of Postira Tourist Board Ivana Jelinčić is very happy and proud of this years’ edition of the Championship. The atmosphere and the participants’ impressions were fantastic. “We want to show that in Postira tourism and agriculture are walking hand in hand. I am so happy that our citizens and participants accepted this competition so well, and that it’s getting all the media attention it deserves. The story of our World Championship has travelled the World”, she proudly concluded once the competition was over, medals handed out to their winners and teams returning to their homes happy and full of great memories and impressions from her island.

Now that the World Championship is over, Ivana and her fellow citizens can finally concentrate on the activity they’re best at - on their island, and when they decide it, also in the World - picking olives.

Results:

1. Montenegro 77,6 kg
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina 57,6 kg
3. South Africa 56 kg
4. Slovenia 53,4 kg
5. Slovakia 53 kg
6. Croatia 50,5 kg
7. Poland 43,8 kg
8. USA 41,8 kg
9. Germany 40 kg
10. Belgium 37,6 k
11. France 32,8 kg
12. England 22,6 kg

A look back at last year's event by video.  

October 6, 2019 - As those dark winter nights approach, a look back in time to an autumn of yesteryear - Brac in 1957. Delightful!

I often wonder what I would have made of living in Dalmatia 60 years ago. A lot less modern conveniences, but a lot more authenticity and unspoiled nature. 

And then I see videos like this, a reminder of what a true paradise it was in terms of nature and beauty, but also how life was pretty tough for those trying to make a living off the land. 

A really, really nice video of life on Brac in the autumn of 1957, complete with grape and olive harvests, a trip to Split, plenty of donkeys and fishing nets. Truly the Mediterranean as It Once Was. 

"Autumn on the Island of Brac" is a documentary directed by Branko Belan and cinematographer Jure Ruljančić a film about life, people and customs on the island of Brac.Made in 1957 was Belan's first color film.

One of the most beautiful ever made documentary about island Brač a long time ago.

To learn more about Brac today, check out the Total Croatia Brac in a Page guide. 

September 1, 2019 - World-renowned classical pianist Lola Astanova released a new music video called “Inspirit,” which was filmed on Zlatni Rat beach in Bol while she was in town performing during finals weekend at the WTA Croatia Bol Open. The video was released on July 31, 2019 and already has 179,191 views on Youtube. 

Filming on Zlatni Rat was an impromptu idea put together during Astanova’s flight to Croatia. WTA Croatia Bol Open tournament director Feliks Lukas helped Astanova’s management team organize the shoot.

Planning a music video on the of the most beautiful beaches in the world during a prime summer month was not an easy feat. The Municipality of Bol closed part of Zlatni Rat beach to the public during filming. The whole project was filmed in under three hours. 

Astanova performed her new original composition on a grand piano usually housed in the Dominican Monastery in Bol, where she performed at the tournament’s gala dinner for sponsors and VIP guests. Eight men carried the 1,500-kilogram piano onto the beach by hand, careful to not damage the instrument in transit. 

“In Spirit” shows spectacular views of Zlatni Rat both from the beach and from above, proving why the beach is rated the best beach in the world by sites like Big 7 Travel. Astanova was so grateful to film on Zlatni Rat, she even included a special thanks to Croatia Full of Life, the WTA, and Lukas Sport at the end of the video.

Astanova’s time in Bol was highly anticipated and widely followed by her fans. She shared stunning photos and videos from Bol with her 541K Facebook followers and 629K Instagram followers. Her Instagram stories alone from the trip generated 3.6 million views. 

The Uzbek-American started touring as a classical pianist at age eight. Since then, she has played in some of the most prestigious venues in the world like Carnige Hall and the White House. Astanova has also headlines countless high-profile corporate functions and private events for brands including American Express, Bentley Motors, Tiffany & Co., De Beers, Neiman Marcus, Krug Champagnes, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Steinway & Sons. 

In addition to high profile performances, Astanova has collaborated with top names in the music industry including Andrea Bocelli, 2Cellos, David Foster, and Marc Anthony. Such noteworthy performances and collaborations have landed Astanova’s name in the pages of Vogue Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, CNBC, the New York Post, Haute Living, Sputnik, and the Chicago Tribune. 

This fall Astanova is taking her talent on the road with a solo tour through Europe. The tour will begin with visits to countries in Eastern Europe, including Ljubljana, Slovenia, Zagreb, Croatia, Belgrade, Serbia, Skopje, Macedonia, and Sofia, Bulgaria. She will then perform at Smetana Hall in Prague, the Philharmonie in Berlin, Muskiverien in Vienna, and the Philharmonie im Gasteig in Munich. 

For more information about her upcoming Europen tour, visit her website.

To learn more about Brac, check out the Total Croatia Brac in a Page guide.

We recently reported on the absolutely horrible story of some French tourists having paid over 6,000 euros for a stay in a villa on the island of Hvar, only to turn up to find no villas, merely a dirt road and a few trucks. 

This isn't the first time this has happened after tourists were duped into paying for their accommodation on online booking platforms for accommodation, but 6,000 euros is a huge amount of money to vanish into thin air, and being left stranded on an island in a foreign country with ''nobody wanting to help'', as the tourists claimed on Twitter themselves, is hardly a wonderful summer break on the Adriatic.

As the only saying goes: For every bad comes something good, and as Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 22nd of August, 2019, the group of duped French tourists have been offered a free stay in a villa on the nearby island of Brač, the owner of which had his photos stolen to make the fake Booking.com advertisement on Hvar, which of course turned out to be nonexistent.

The owner of the Brač villa claims that despite the fact that it isn't his fault at all, and that he isn't obliged to have to do anything at all, he feels that the incident is a horrendous bit of publicity for Croatia, and wanted to make things right for the group of tourists from France.

Namely, since both the group of French tourists and Mr. Vuić, the owner of the Booking.com ''Hvar villa'' which is actually not even on that island at all, were fooled, the owner of Villa Marteline decided to offer the French group two free nights at the villa they saw on the photos on Booking.com before being duped out of 6,000 euros, writes Jutarnji list.

''This is a really awful bit of publicity in my opinion, and I'm not the one who is guilty, nor am I obliged to do anything. But, I'm an honest renter who pays for absolutely everything that is required by law. As both of us are deceived, let them at least see that it's not everything is so bad here with us in Croatia,'' Vuić said when he called in the editorial office of Jutarnji list and asked them to contact the group French tourists who, as expected, accepted the offer readily.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.