October 15, 2021 - From Venice and Baku and Mosocw and Istanbul, where are the best congress destinations in New Europe in 2021? Many are in Croatia, it seems. 

After the devastation of the pandemic on the congress industry in 2020, events are slowly getting back to a semblance of what they were pre-pandemic, although there is obviously a long way to go. 

But it seems that Croatia is more than ready to meet the demand. The 2021 Meeetings Experience Index (MTLG - MEETAOLOGUE) was published recently, a comprehensive analysis of 118 congress destinations in 'New Europe', nad there was a very strong showing by a number of Croaita's congress destinations.

MTLG defines New Europe as:

The answer to this question is something of an unsolved conundrum. A clear definition of New Europe doesn’t exist, the most general definition being that these are the countries of Eastern Europe that were once behind the Iron Curtain. Technically, this means 24 countries of Eastern Europe, adding Greece and Turkey to them. In our Editorial, we include the fresh, energetic and lesser-known European destinations in New Europe.

There was a particularly good showing for Zagreb and Dubrovnik. Zagreb was named 5th best destination overall, as well as third in the category of large congress destinations, with Dubrovnik coming in 7th. 

It seems that Croatia's niche is perhaps in the medium sized category, where no less than 4 Croatian congress destinations featured. Dubrovnik topped the list, followed by Split in second, Opatija in 5th, Rovinj in 7th, and Sibenik in 8th. 

And there was good news for the island of Hvar as well, which came second in the category of small congress destination. 

This is what they had to say about Zagreb:

A great congress future awaits Zagreb. It is well established in the international congress market and in addition to Ljubljana and Belgrade, it represents the future backbone of the continental meetings industry of the region. All three cities are progressing steadily on the charts of developed meetings destinations; the final breakthrough of the entire region is intertwined and dependent on the marketing of major regional congress cities in the international market.

About Dubrovnik:

Dubrovnik is the flagship of regional tourism and is commonly the first association of meetings organizers we meet daily. It is the closest in the region to renowned Mediterranean convention destinations Cannes and Monte Carlo. The modern and well-equipped centres at hotels such as Dubrovnik Palace, Excelsior, Bellevue, Grand Villa Argentina, Importanne Resort, Dubrovnik President, Valamar Lacroma and Radisson Blue are all great for hosting a variety of events. Well-developed is the entire conference infrastructure including destination management and creative agency scene. The city is safe and one of the tourist icons of the Adriatic and justifiably the most painted tourist skyline with unprecedented experiential diversity for conference guests.

About Split:

Among the Adriatic congress destinations Split has become serious competition to Dubrovnik in the last years. The main disadvantages of the destination are bad cooperation between the service providers, lack of air traffic connections to key markets and not enough destination marketing. If Split gets a real convention centre in the future, it could become one of the leading congress destinations in the Mediterranean. New and excellent hotel capacities, good road connections to Europe and wonderful surroundings, with islands offering numerous incentive programme opportunities, all bolster this proposition. Split is still one of the most unexploited congress destinations in the Mediterranean.

About Hvar:

None of the more than 1,000 Croatian islands has such karma and recognition as Hvar. Definitely, a “must” Croatian destination, right behind Dubrovnik. Distance from the mainland gives it a touch of boutique smallness. On the beauty of the island, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, there is no point in wasting words, since there is no shortage of various urban legends and superlatives. Among other things, it used to be called Austrian Madeira. In Hvar, the urban has been coexisting with the rural for centuries.

About Opatija:

Opatija is without a doubt the ultimate meetings destination. Why? Because few destinations provide such a rich assortment of luxury accommodation in such a small area, whilst Opatija provides 33 hotels offering over 2700 rooms and more than 50 meeting and conference halls along the 3 km of the coastline. At the beginning and the end of the Opatija Riviera, there are two boutique hotels that contribute to the exclusivity of Opatija.

About Rovinj:

If at the destination you have owners who have clear goals and who look at congress tourism strategically, then in a short time you can do a lot. It is possible to revitalize the old factory premises and build a superior conference hotel. Maistra in Rovinj has undoubtedly left its mark. Taking into consideration the geographical location of Rovinj as one of the closest Mediterranean congress destinations for Central and Western Europe, the future of this industry is guaranteed. Missing is only a convention bureau, which would know how to step out of corporate governance of the destination and would be able to serve as attorney of the meetings industry. Otherwise, forecasts of mayor Sponza that Rovinj will be more exclusive than Dubrovnik, can be realized.

About Sibenik:

Šibenik very rarely raises any association with the meeting industry. In the process of transition from an industrial city into a tourist destination, it has not yet asserted its image among competing cities. Despite this, it is a fact that it has excellent conditions and is somehow considered to be a hidden jewel of the Croatian congress offer. For ease of accessibility, it may be a suitable location for small association conferences as well as a variety of incentive programmes.

Regarding the methodology, Kongres Magazine explained the criteria assessed:

The Meeting Experience Index is one of the most complex destination evaluations that is not only based on the number of congress events but delves deeper analytically. The methodology addresses all key meetings industry segments and thus all key MICE products. 75 evaluation criteria are used to determine the final destination score. That is why the Meeting Experience Index has become the bedrock for selecting destinations for meeting planners.

All destinations are evaluated based on fieldwork and thorough research of individual criteria with the objective to come as close as possible to the real situation. Moreover, the editorial board of Kongres Magazine strives to present up-to-date information that is objective and transparent. Each year, the destination scores are revised and corrected with timely information.

You can see all the results on Kongres Magazine's website.

October 11, 2021 - United Airlines flights to Dubrovnik have been extended until the end of October next year!

After an extremely successful summer season in which United Airlines launched a route between New York and Dubrovnik (from July to early October), they have announced more flights to Dubrovnik Airport next summer, reports Croatian Aviation.

United introduced a regular line between Dubrovnik and New York in early July this year. Three flights a week were announced which quickly increased to four times a week from the beginning of July to the beginning of October this year.

Encouraged by the great interest, the airline has already announced the continuation of traffic between Dubrovnik and New York in the summer flight schedule next year.

Unlike this year, next summer, United Airlines plans to launch the first flight between Dubrovnik and New York at the end of May (May 27, 2022). This summer season, the last flight was at the very beginning of October, and for next year, United plans regular operations until the very end of October (October 26, 2022). Thus, this line will be in traffic for a full two months longer next summer compared to this season.

Unlike United, Delta Air Lines, which also operated regularly between New York and Dubrovnik this summer, has not yet released tickets on this route for next summer season. If this route doesn't relaunch, United may increase its capacity to Dubrovnik, either by introducing a larger type of aircraft or by increasing weekly rotations.

With the announcement that Croatian citizens will no longer need visas to visit the USA from December 1 this year, and with 8 weekly operations between Dubrovnik and New York this summer, another regular line from the United States to Croatia may be announced for next summer season, concludes Croatian Aviation.

For more information about flights to Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.

To learn more about Osijek Airport, click here. 

ZAGREB, 11 Oct 2021 - As part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs on Monday held, in cooperation with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, a panel debate on the EU's future global and regional role.

The panel debate was held at Dubrovnik's Lazzarettos buildings, once used as a quarantine station during the Ragusa Republic era.

The aim of the panel debate, entitled "Preparing for tomorrow: The European Union's Global and Regional Role," was to encourage discussion, particularly among young people, on the EU's geopolitical and strategic issues.

The European Commission Vice President for Democracy and Demography and the co-chair of the executive committee for the Conference on the Future of Europe, Dubravka Šuica, underscored that it was essential to talk with citizens because of new technologies and digitization were changing democracy.

"We want citizens to be involved, not just for elections but during this opportunity too, to state their ideas which will be examined on a multi-lingual digital platform which is the heart of the conference. They will participate in European and local panel debates which will be followed by a large plenary conference and its conclusions will be presented to the presidents of the European Union's three main institutions," Šuica explained. 

She added that there was a gap between politicians and citizens and that citizens needed to feel that they can create European policies.

"Citizens need to be active because our future depends on them. Young people aged between 16 and 25 in particular because they are creative and they will live that future. Naturally, older citizens can help too. This is the EU's preparation for a new generation, but with them," she said.

She mentioned that more than 3.5 million EU citizens had registered with the multi-lingual digital platform but underscored that so far citizens had not acquainted themselves sufficiently with that complex project.

Spain's State-Secretary for the EU Juan González-Barba said that he expected the most from young people in the panel debate because it mostly concerns their future.

For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

October 10, 2021 - Up to 100 nudist beaches and bathing spots around the world were evaluated in a survey conducted by the My Dating Adviser portal, in which the island of Lokrum ranked first for its quality and accessibility, and is thus considered the best nudist beach of the world.

As many as 100 nudist beaches and bathing places around the world were evaluated in a survey conducted by the My Dating Adviser portal, in which the island of Lokrum came first as the best nudist beach, reports Turističke Priče. The quality of the beach, safety, weather, and the price of the hotel were evaluated, and Lokrum received the best evaluations for the safety and quality of the beach.

Lokrum is the closest to the historic city center of Dubrovnik, and centuries of rich history, legends, and stories, the magic of the sea and nature renew old loves or bring new ones. But apart from that, Lokrum became famous after the Game of Thrones series. Lush vegetation, intoxicating scents, and the song of crickets "played" the gardens in the Game of Thrones where "those of pure blood" ruled. Numerous tourists walked the trails walked by Khaleesi and her powerful host Xaro Xhoan Daxos. And while on the island, you can also sit on the  Iron Throne, which is located in a Benedictine monastery. 

On the list of the 100 best nudist beaches, Lokrum is located above the beach Spiaggia della Lecciona from the Italian province of Lucca, and the Australian beach Maslin Beach .

In the description of the beach, My Dating Adviser states that if you spend time in Dubrovnik, the island of Lokrum is a great place to visit, only 10 minutes away by ferry and that it is a small, uninhabited island, which provides a haven for nudists.

''Here you can enjoy the impeccable landscape, national parks, and clear sea. The island consists mainly of rocks, so be careful with pieces of stone. This island also has a natural salt lake where you can relax like a jacuzzi'', the text explains about the now considered best nudist beach in the world.

In addition to Lokrum, this list includes three other destinations from Croatia: Punta Križa on Cres in 13th place, then Valalta near Rovinj in 16th place, and Sovinje Beach in Tkon in 21st place, which was rated the best in the beach quality category.

Nudist beaches in Croatia have been popular for a long time now. The country with such an abundance of hidden bays and beaches is nothing short of perfect for all those looking to get in touch with nature on their holiday. For more about the history of nudist beaches in Croatia and detailed information, be sure to check Total Croatia's guide here.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

October 7, 2021 - Fresh details about the terrible accident of Jennifer Welsh, the 22-year-old British tourist in a coma after falling from a Dubrovnik balcony.

This article has been updated at 15:30 on October 8 - see below.

After British media reported the story of Sara Walsh launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her sister Jennifer after a horrific accident in Croatia, more details are emerging about the incident. 

Ms Walsh had apparently fallen from a balcony on Saturday, October 2 while on holiday in Dubrovnik and was left with a bleed on the brain, two skull fractures, a broken collarbone, a punctured lung, broken ribs and a fractured wrist. According to the GoFundMe campaign launched, she did not have travel insurance, and an initial appeal for £30,000 (which has now increased to £35,000) has met with big success, with £32,507 pledged at time of writing. 

Curiously for a story of this nature, it did not appear at all in the Croatian media until this morning, some 24 hours after being reported in the UK. Also a little strange were the almost complete lack of details about the case, with the only source of information being the GoFundMe appeal and some social media posts from her sister. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jennifer Walsh (@jenniferwalsh_)

After asking a few contacts in Dubrovnik what they knew, I was surprised that nobody had heard about the incident at all. I checked with the British Embassy, who repsonded immediately:

“We are aware of a UK person being hospitalised in Dubrovnik and we have offered consular assistance.”

I called the Dubrovnik police, who were able to give me an update. 

The police confirmed that Ms Walsh had fallen from a Dubrovnik balcony, as reported. This happened at about 20:00 last Saturday in a private apartment. It was not the one she was renting, but one rented by two British citizens.

The apartment was in the popular Ploce area of town, very close to the historic old town.

(Ploce Gate, entrance to the old town of Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Tourist Board)

She fell about 3.5 metres and unfortunately landed on her head. She was immediately transferred to hospital and has been in a coma. 

The police are treating the incident as an accident for now, but their investigations are ongoing, and they will make more information available as things are confirmed. The police had no comment when I asked if alcohol was involved. They wanted to convey the facts as they have been established so far. 

I asked if her parents were with her. The police had heard that they were, but referred me to the hospital for more information on that and her current condition. 

Some encouraging - but unofficial - news has just emerged with regard to her condition, as reported by local portal Dubrovacki Vijesti:

-When she was brought to the hospital, the condition was critical, she had a very difficult operation with an uncertain outcome, but in the end everything ended well. She is awake, but after such severe injuries it all takes time, the operation was difficult, demanding and time consuming. Although complications are still possible, it is out of danger, but it will certainly have consequences. She has a long recovery ahead of her - Dubrovacki finds out unofficially.

Update on October 8, 2021 - Dubrovacki Vijesti has also just published a little more detail about the night the accident happened in an update to the story. According to this Dubrovnik portal, Ms. Walsh was not actually staying in Dubrovnik, but in Zupa close by. She was attending a party at the rented apartment of friends (there is a photo of the apartment in the link in the previous sentence). While standing on the terrace, she dropped something off the balcony. When she tried to retrieve it, the tragic accident occurred, and she fell 3.5 metres, as the police stated above. 

There has been a fantastic response to the GoFundMe campaign, which has now reached £35,259, thereby meeting the £35,000 target.

October 6, 2021 - Kings Landing to some, Pearl of the Adriatic to others, Dubrovnik to others, but one of the world's top 5 cities at the 2021 Conde Nast Traveler Readers Awards. 

It really is one of the most stunning cities in the world.

And more than 800,000 readers of presigious Conde Nast Traveler appear to agreee. 

Dubrovnik has been voted in the top 5 cities in the world.  

Each year, readers weigh in on their favorite international cities, big and small, and it’s always exciting to witness which trending locales can rise to the top and compete with the old stalwarts. As the world has begun to reopen, the results of our 34th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey reflect the kinds of places you longed to visit when you couldn’t travel and the ones you returned to first once you could. Over 800,000 of you filled out our survey, and while we’re always curious about where you’ve been and where you’re going, we’re especially excited to learn about the truly memorable cities that sparked your imagination and stayed with you when your next trip seemed out of reach. Here are the cities you loved most this year. 

Here is what the 2021 Conde Nast Traveler Awards had to say about Croatia:

5. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik saw a massive spike in tourism after being featured as the filming location for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, and while you won’t find any mad kings (or queens) here in real life, the beauty of this city at the edge of the Adriatic is very real. Wander the limestone streets and walk along the ancient city walls, or take a short ferry ride to the island of Lokrum. Here, you can hike through the botanical garden, catch a glimpse of the wild peacocks, and climb to the top of an abandoned 11th-century monastery for stunning panoramic views.

Dubrovnik was beaten only by San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, San Sebastián, Spain, Salzburg, Austria, and Siena, ItalySan Miguel de Allende, Mexico, San Sebastián, Spain, Salzburg, Austria, and Siena, Italy. See the full list here.

Dubrovnik's recognition mirrors Croatian love among Conde Nast readers:

Croatia Makes Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 Top 20 Countries in the World

Conde Nast Traveler Votes Hvar Best Island in Europe (Again!), 6th in World

To learn more about Dubrovnik, check out the TC Dubrovnik in a Page. 

October 5, 2021 - Croatia's busiest airport will not be in the capital city this year, as Split Airport is set to transport the most travelers in 2021.

In September 2021, Split Airport accepted and dispatched more than 328 thousand passengers, which is 253 thousand more passengers than last year, and only 141 thousand fewer passengers compared to the record-breaking September 2019!

A few months ago, it was clear that Split will be the champion in the number of passengers transported in the Republic of Croatia this year, and this was confirmed on Monday by the publication of Zagreb airport statistics, which, despite the introduction of 15 Ryanair routes, remained below 200,000 passengers.

From January to the end of September, Split accepted and dispatched 1,363,413 passengers, which Zagreb is unlikely to achieve in the whole of 2021. However, given the number of weekly operations and available lines, a significant number of passengers in Split is expected in October.

Split Airport will deservedly take the title of the busiest Croatian airport at the end of the year after Zagreb Airport carried it for years.

By the end of 2021, Split will probably accept and dispatch more than 1.5 million passengers, which is less than in 2019, when there were 3.3 million, but there is no doubt that Split is on the right path to recovery and that will cross 2 million passengers again next year.

In other news, Dubrovnik Airport had more than 200,000 passengers in September this year. 

Namely, 207,558 passengers passed through Dubrovnik Airport in September, as many as 166,000 more passengers compared to the same month in 2021. On the other hand, compared to September 2019, there were 50% fewer passengers (405,924 at the time). The largest share in traffic is made up of passengers from traditionally dominant markets - Great Britain, the United States of America, and France.

From January 1 to September 30, a total of 787,590 passengers traveled through Dubrovnik Airport, while in the same period last year, there were only 306,949. 

Given that Dubrovnik will be well connected to several European destinations in October, a significant increase in the number of monthly passengers is expected to continue. Dubrovnik Airport will thus reach one million passengers by the end of this year. 

Source: Croatian Aviation

For more information about flights to Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.

To learn more about Osijek Airport, click here. 

October 3, 2021 - United Airlines Dubrovnik flights will continue next year from May 27 and run even longer - until October 26!

Great news for Dubrovnik Airport as United Airlines announced they would continue on the New York (Newark Airport)-Dubrovnik route next summer, citing an incredible season this year, reports Ex Yu Aviation. 

The United Airlines 2021 summer schedule ended on Saturday, October 2, though the airline will resume flights from Newark from May 27, 2022. The route will run 4 times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and the schedule will run even later next year, until October 26. United operated this route using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

“We feel really bullish about Europe for next summer. We had a look of that this summer. We started in a few new markets. In fact, we loaded those for sale very late. And those new markets are actually, some of our top performing city fares, because Croatia and Greece in particular, made it clear to the world that they were open for business. And in fact, our customers responded to it immediately, and our new flights degrees did incredibly well," said United’s Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, emphasizing that the service was launched for American citizens and residents as they were allowed to travel to Croatia throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Flights from the US performed well above our expectations. These incoming tourists stay in Dubrovnik, which serves as a base for them to explore other places - nearby islands and Dalmatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, these flights are important as they have enabled cargo transport to the United States. As a result, each aircraft departs with around ten tons of exportable goods to the States," said General Manager of Dubrovnik Airport, Frano Luetić. 

Recall, both United and Delta Air Lines launched flights from New York this year, though Delta operated from JFK Airport. Ex Yu Aviation adds that Delta likely won't restore flights to the Croatian coast next summer as the airline has already scheduled all of its European routes introduced this year.

For more information about flights to Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.

To learn more about Osijek Airport, click here. 

September 27, 2021- An ecologically sustainable project called Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate is being developed in Brsečine, including a parking lot with a pier and a boat connection to Lopud and Šipan.

HRTurizam reports that Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate is a concept of connecting Dubrovnik with the Elafiti islands, especially Lopud and Šipan, with docks for small boats and additional infrastructure in Brsečine.

This concept, presented to the representatives of the City of Dubrovnik by the author and architect Željko Katalinić, is based on the existing idea of ​​activating Brsečine as a link with the Elafiti islands and is complementary to numerous strategic and development documents. Furthermore, the concept is based on the use of renewable energy sources. Therefore, it represents a significant contribution to the relocation and diversification of the tourist offer with numerous benefits for the local population and all citizens of the City of Dubrovnik.

According to the presented concept, the goal is to offer additional parking spaces (120 spaces) at the current rest area, located along the highway, and connect with the new dock for small boats on the newly built road.

All the energy needed to operate this multifunctional project based on eco-technologies would be drawn from self-sustaining sources, including the energy required to charge electric vehicles and small electric ships/ferries with a capacity of 10 to 35 vehicles and up to 150 passengers, which would drive to Elafiti. 

In this sense, there are plans to cover all parking spaces with solar panels, and wind energy (windmills) and wave energy obtained through a movable breakwater would be used. In addition, the concept includes the arrangement of a lookout and recycling yard as a representative example of such plants, and kiosks would be set up for the tourist and sales needs of local family farms, an info center for Dubrovnik's Gornja Sela and Elafiti.

For irrigation of green areas and the need for fire protection, rainwater obtained by biological wastewater treatment would be used. The drop-off/on zone by the sea would be arranged as a park of Mediterranean plants.

In nature, the implementation of the Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate project connects parts of Gornja Sela and the entire city area with the Elafiti. It provides a new basis for the development and exchange of goods and services. In addition, the existing road to Brsečine beach is relieved, which would become a pedestrian zone passable for emergency services, which is not the case so far.

Such a multidimensional and complex project, which is now still at the concept level, will continue to develop to be ready in time to apply for EU funds. Namely, in the new budget period of the European Union, investments from 2021 to 2027 will be focused on five main goals, of which two specific goals are related to the energy transition, renewable energy sources, and the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility, according to City of Dubrovnik.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

September 23, 2021 -The Dubrovnik-Bulgaria Connection stretches through centuries. A lecture by the Ivo Pilar Social Research Scientist Vinicije Lupis reveals some interesting details on their shared art and history.

Connections between Dubrovnik and Bulgaria date back to as early as the 13th century. These connections weren't just in a common, political sense, but also in the sense of art and cultural exchange, as noted by Georgius Bulgarus, a Bulgarian blacksmith that stayed in town back in 1218. 

This fun fact is the opening of an invitation from the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute to free up your schedule on September the 23rd for a lecture on the connection between Dubrovnik and Bulgaria by Vinicije B Lupis. The event starts at 19:00 at the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute's Dubrovnik location, at the address: Od Kaštela 11.  

Vinicije B. Lupis graduated in history and archaeology back in 1992 as well as in art history and theory in 1995, both times at Zadar University. Along with his MA on Ston's liturgy silver (1998) and his Ph.D. on the topic of the skull relics in the reliquary of the Dubrovnik Cathedral (2004), Lupis began his professional work in 1992 as a conservatory archaeologist in Split and then moved to work in Dubrovnik's Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.

''Since 2007, Lupis has worked for the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute, and from 2008 on, he has been the Head of the institute's Dubrovnik location. He has published hundreds of scientific papers and several books on the topic of sacral heritage, the art history of Dubrovnik and Boka Kotorska (Montenegro). He is the editor of multiple magazines and almanah's, and as an outside associate of the Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), he gave his contribution to documentary series on Dubrovnik's history and heritage,'' reads the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute on its website. 

With the lecture being held in Croatian and as such not being very accessible to non-native-speakers, its worth noting some of the interesting key facts about Dubrovnik and Bulgaria that will be the subject of Lupis's lecture.

Lupis analyses the Renaissance painting of the Lady with Christ from the St. Kevork Armenian Church in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He dated the picture to be from the beginning of the 16th century and connected it to the Dubrovnik painting circle (which is additionally interesting since this painting is the first renaissance painting in all of Bulgaria). The same church also holds the Engolpion (a medallion with an icon in the centre worn around the neck by Orthodox and Eastern Catholic bishops), which is close to the Dubrovnik-style of production at that time. This is just one example of Dubrovnik's influence on Bulgarian artistic heritage. 

''The (Bulgarian) National gallery in Sofia holds the work of Croatian painters from the Dubrovnik area such as Vlaho Bukovac and Mato Celestin Medović. Dubrovnik as a place of inspiration is especially important for Bulgarian painters such as Bencho Yordanov Obreshkov and Mario Zhekov. Zhekov, the most significant Bulgarian marinist, painted an entire series of Dubrovnik landscapes,'' explains the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute.

This should come as no surprise as the City of Dubrovnik, throughout its history, nurtured relations with various kingdoms and states. These include, as noted by the online edition of Croatian Encyclopedia, the then-Croatia, the Venetians, the Normans, and many others. Dubrovnik also became an independent republic, and history remembers the state for its great diplomacy ( which is valued by Croatian diplomats even today) and for abolishing slavery as early as 1416.  

As TCN previously wrote, the Ivo Pilar Social Research Institute's scientists also made excellent connections with the Slovakian science community and explored the history of relations between the two countries. It has also since expanded its connection in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in Montenegro with regards to the ethnic Croats of Boka Kotorska.

Learn more about Croatian Art Galleries in Zagreb, Dalmatia, Istria & Slavonia on our TC page.

For more about history in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.