February 8, 2021 – "The rules are awful," "You will die without tourism," commented Italians on the cafe and restaurant ban in Croatia.

The Italians, our loyal guests who are getting out of the lockdown, were asked by the journalists of Glas Istre what they think about the ban on the work of cafes and restaurants in Croatia.

The Italian government has determined the rhythm of vaccination by region. The region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, visited by Glas Istre journalists a few days ago when cafes and restaurants reopened, is due in mid-February. The plan is to vaccinate the population older than 80 years first, then the younger age group, but still older than 55.

Italians' opinions regarding vaccination are divided. The older population believes in the effectiveness of the vaccine. About two million Italians have been vaccinated so far.

"If the vaccines are free, then I will get vaccinated, and if not, I will carefully think about it," one middle-aged Italian told them.

"No, I'm not going to get vaccinated. I just don't trust the vaccine," one young Italian told them.

"When it's our turn, we'll get vaccinated," one married couple told them.

With masks required, reporters enjoyed a walk around town. If you do not have a mask, passers-by will immediately warn you that it is mandatory to wear. By doing so, they automatically realize that you are a foreigner unfamiliar with their law, but also with draconian punishments.

Thus, in a walk through the city, they witnessed a lively and loud discussion of two gentlemen, typical of Italians. After concluding their political discussion, they introduced themselves to them, and the conversation began.

"Your Croatian rules are awful now. It's unbelievable that without a test I can't go to Umag, that beautiful city whose bars and restaurants overlook the sea, and those same bars and restaurants are now closed. You will die without tourism, my people. I even called a Croatian consul, I protested, but he is also powerless. We can buy tests here for 25 euros in a pharmacy. Your government is really not normal, because even when I get tested, what should I do in Umag when everything is closed," said retiree Paolo.

The Italian government intends to vaccinate the entire nation by June, citizens claim. Then we guess there will be a final normalization, both for them and us.

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February the 7th, 2021 - The Southern Istrian cluster of Tourist Boards are set to join forces as we head towards 2021's summer season, which will roll around more quickly than we currently imagine.

As Barbara Ban/Novac writes, the Southern Istrian cluster of Tourist Boards, so those of Pula, Vodnjan, Medulin, Fazana, Liznjan and Marcana, have all decided to further intensify their cooperation before what will hopefully be a good tourist season rolls around this summer and as such have signed an Association Agreement in order to jointly implement activities aimed at developing a tourist product and promoting the Southern Istrian region as a destination.

For 2020, two projects were prepared for which the desire, according to financial possibilities, was to be implemented in the entire destination: to brand it as pet friendly - and to properly arrange, mark out and promote trails and tracks across the wider Southern Istrian region.

''As 2020 was marked by the coronavirus virus, this plan failed to be realised. Back at the end of 2020, the Croatian National Tourist Board passed a decree distributing funds collected to the Association Fund in 2020 to all associations, and 178,335 kuna was paid to us. With regard to the funds received, the Southern Istrian cluster has decided to start with the implementation of the pet friendly project, for which a visual identity will be created, and interested accommodation and catering/hospitality facilities will be branded.

All available services and all available infrastructure across the destination for pets will also be properly recorded. After collecting all of the relevant information, it will be placed on the websites and social media platforms of all tourist boards which belong to the Southern Istrian cluster and promotion will be launched, initially, towards nearby markets, ie towards those who will be interesting as potential guests according to the whole situation related to coronavirus.

They also hope that a call for the allocation of funds for the United Fund for 2021 will be issued soon, and that they will be able to invest in the infrastructure for pets with the additional cash.

''We'd like to invite all interested accommodation facilities to contact their tourist boards in the Southern Istrian cluster and fill out a questionnaire that will define their orientation towards pets. We're also inviting all catering and hospitality facilities to contact us if they accept pets so that we can brand them and list them as pet friendly facilities, we're also reaching out to all other entities that provide services for pets so that we don't miss anyone,'' they stated from the Southern Istrian cluster of tourist boards.

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January 28, 2021 - Red bull has promoted cycling tourism in Croatia on its official website, inviting cyclists to experience a winter adventure on Croatia's most beautiful bike trails.

Namely, HRTurizam reports that the energy drink brand known for its sponsorship of a range of sporting events and teams has announced cycling in Croatia, which is a great advertisement for the country and destinations located on selected bike routes. The trails marked as the most beautiful in Croatia are located in Istria, Krka National Park, on the island of Brač and the Zadar archipelago.

Deservedly, two trails recommended by the Red Bull brand are located in Istria, one in Grožnjan, the other in Rabac, which is a recognition that Istria deserves because they have invested in the development promotion of cycling tourism for years. Today, it is reaping the results. The development of cycling tourism in Istria County has been of strategic importance for many years for the stakeholders of the Istria County Tourist Board, the Istria County Tourism Department, large hotel companies, and local tourist boards. The same has been systematically coordinated since 2014 within the Bike & Outdoor Department at the Istrian Development Tourist Agency.

Today, one-hundred-forty-five objects have the Bike & Bed label. 

Zadar County also turned to cycling tourism and, in 2015, launched a program for the development of the cycling-tourist destination Zadar Bike Magic. On the website www.zadarbikemagic.com, in addition to bike paths, destinations are promoted. The Zadar Bike Magic application is an excellent tool that certainly contributes to the fact that this county is recording increasing interest from bike guests. The app is handy and is related to destinations and stories that cyclists need to experience. 

Krka National Park in the spring of 2019 expanded its tourist offer by arranging fourteen cycling routes that connect the most attractive parts of the park. All the advantages of cycling in Krka National Park can be found in one place on the website specializing only in cycling tourism Krka Bike.

Cycling or cycling tourism is a form of sustainable tourism that has been developing more and more in almost all countries. In addition to including day trips that regular tourists or locals take during their holidays or weekends, it also applies to long-distance cycling on cycling routes.

The development of cycling tourism on the continent could be the main driver of guests' increase in continental Croatia. Good examples come from Međimurje County, where they are working on the CycleSeeing Attractour - CSA project, thanks to which the Cycling Information Center with the Goričko Sviralo lookout will be built and equipped on Mađerka Hill. As part of the project, a bicycle information center with a lookout tower, "Goričko sviralo," will be built and equipped. At Nature Parks such as Kopački rit and Papuk Nature Park in Slavonia and Medvednica in central Croatia, many interesting bike trails lack promotion and projects that we witness on the coast. Almost every county in Croatia is working on cycling tourism, but many are not yet close to the final goal.

Croatia is also integrated into the EuroVelo network of bicycle routes that connect the entire European continent. The EuroVelo network includes 15 cycling routes through 42 European countries with a planned more than 70,000 km when the network is fully completed. The Coordination Body's establishment for the Development of Cyclotourism in Croatia enabled the accession to the ECF (European Cycling Federation), which is the holder of the EuroVelo project, a network of European cycling routes connecting the countries of the European Union. 

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January 27, 2021 - Some positive corona news today, as Istria becomes a COVID-19 orange zone according to the EU. 

Jutarnji List reports that as of today, Istria is in the orange zone concerning the number of COVID-19 cases, according to European statistics. The Istrian Civil Protection Headquarters is thus asking the National Headquarters to enable the opening of gyms, sports halls, and individual outdoor sports training in Istria from Monday.

"Looking at the trend of the last 14 days, the incidence of infections in Istria County has fallen below 100 people per 100 thousand inhabitants. Following the share of positives on the number tested, which fell to 3.1 percent last week, and according to the number of tests according to EU criteria that the number of tests must be above 300 every week in the county, we have concluded that Istria County, according to European criteria, enters the orange zone," said the director of the Istrian Institute of Public Health, Dr. Aleksandar Stojanovic. The situation is also better at Pula General Hospital, where the number of hospitalized dropped from 80 at the end of December to 30 today.

"We reiterate that we want gyms, fitness, sports, and recreation centers to be open from Monday and that it is possible to train individual sports outdoors immediately. That is what we are asking from the National Headquarters. We have heard that it will be possible for all catering establishments to sell coffee for outside and ready-made food, which we absolutely support. We want to consider mitigation measures in February that would be current by activities as assessed. We are in daily communication with the National Headquarters, so we will see how the whole situation regarding easing the measures will go in February. Everyone is burdened with the region's situation, that is, a new strain of the virus. Experts say that it is already in Croatia and that it should be discovered as soon as possible," said the head of the Istrian Headquarters, Dino Kozlevac.

Stojanović believes that the current epidemiological situation in Istria would enable the opening of restaurant and cafe terraces, but that it would be OK to wait for the National Headquarters' decision on that topic.

As for schools' opening from next week, the Istrian Headquarters will decide by the end of today or tomorrow morning.

Istrian County Prefect Fabrizio Radin and Pula Mayor Boris Miletić are also satisfied with the situation in Istria and thanked the citizens and the system for the good epidemiological picture. But Miletic said they would like decisions on measures to be lowered to the regional level.

"Many times we have been asked what is the phenomenon of a green oasis in Europe. But when we stressed the need for regional decision-making back in March last year, few looked at us strangely. However, timely decision-making has enabled Istria to develop a tourist zone and become a green oasis. That is why difficult decisions had to be made. We see that now the proposals coming from the regions, specifically Istria County, are viewed differently. Why is that? If our citizens have shown responsibility, if our experts have proven that it knows how to manage the battle with this pandemic and make timely decisions, I do not see why this regional approach would not be applied in our country," said Miletic. He added that entrepreneurs should be allowed to work if the preconditions are created.

"Therefore, an appeal to the National Headquarters - listen to the experts and accept the regional approach," concluded the mayor of Pula.

Fifteen newly infected people were registered in Istria today based on 266 samples. There are currently 90 active COVID-19 positives in the County, and two seniors died today. Thirty people were hospitalized, 4 of them on a ventilator.

To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

January 26, 2021 – After Istria was declared the best olive growing region in the world for the sixth time in a row at the end of 2020, the beginning of 2021 was marked with a special award from Lonely Planet for Istria as a community destination.

As Istria Tourist Board reports, Lonely Planet, a globally popular travel guide, first discovered the Croatian peninsula to its readers in 2011 in the Best in Travel edition, as one of the "Ten Most Interesting Regions in the World". Istria then took a fantastic second place, along with the far more famous Scottish Shetland Islands, the American West Coast, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

In a series of attractive titles that followed over the years, Istria was crowned with the title of "Ten best European destinations" in 2019. In 2021, Istria was greeted by a big surprise, receiving the Best in Travel award according to readers' votes.

The prestigious awards that Lonely Planet has been awarding destinations worldwide for many years are the result of an editorial selection created based on the suggestions of numerous eminent authors of this guide. The Reader's Choice Award is based solely on the votes of users on the Lonely Planet website.

Also, the awards chosen by the editors for 2021 were awarded in as many as 30 categories, while according to the audience's choice, only three categories were announced: Toronto took the title as a destination of diversity, Japanese Wakayama sustainability, and Istria as a community destination.

Namely, at the end of last year, the editors sent an invitation to their audience, the Lonely Planet community, to nominate destinations that they believe successfully guide tourism as a driving force in the field of sustainability, community, and diversity. In a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic, which radically affected the travel domain, and tourism experienced its most significant decline, the Lonely Planet Awards also underwent a considerable transformation. And while Best in Travel usually celebrates countries, regions, and cities, some new awards have shone in this year's edition.

"The people living here are genuine and welcoming," one reader told Lonely Planet. "Istria offers authentic and unforgettable experiences, each of which gives back to the local communities," added another reader in recommendations, pointing to numerous experiences, especially in the field of active tourism and gourmet offerings.

"This is another great award for Istria – it came from an eminent, globally known publishing house in tourism. I would say it came at the right time, at the very beginning of another certainly challenging tourist year," said Istria Tourist Board director Denis Ivošević.

"Right now, when you can't travel, people often browse key tourist portals. On the one hand, they travel mentally, because they can't physically, and on the other hand, they prepare their travel plans for the moment when it will be possible. In the choice between the editors' and journalists' award or the award according to the reader's choice, we prefer the latter. It reflects a much more complex way of selection, as well as many more decision-makers who have paid attention to us, whether they have already been to Istria or are motivated by texts and images of Istria," says the director.

He added that, at the end of 2020, Istria was declared the best olive growing region in the world for the sixth time in a row, according to the guide Flos Olei for 2021.

"With this new award from Lonely Planet, I would say that Istria already at the very beginning of 2021 aroused great media interest and won two big titles. Also, this is the third award from Lonely Planet, which only speaks that Istria is an extremely creative and innovative tourist destination, ready to offer something new every year and to arouse interest and motivate guests to visit us again," said the director.

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January 18, 2021 – The Visnjan Observatory Crowdfunding Campaign has been successfully completed. With 1.300.000 kuna collected, new generations of future Croatian scientists will get a new geodesic dome, accommodation facilities, and a location for testing robotic telescopes.

One of the most prominent Croatian organizations that have been educating future Croatian scientists for several decades will soon be adorned with new equipment and accommodation facilities for many students who have been coming to Višnjan for years to learn about astronomy.

Monitoring and detecting asteroids, but also educating future scientists

The Višnjan Observatory has been at the very top of the world for more than 40 years when it comes to tracking and detecting asteroids, these potentially hazardous and mysterious celestial bodies. According to that, this small observatory in the heart of Istria is ahead of the American NASA. It is one of the five most important observatories for measuring the position of newly discovered objects that could pass close to the Earth.

Its founder, award-winning Croatian astronomer Korado Korlević, is one of the most successful asteroid hunters globally and, according to Minor Planet Discoverers, is the 18th most productive asteroid hunter of all time.

Višnjan Observatory / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

Between 1995 and 2000, the Observatory discovered over 1,400 new asteroids and two comets. Monitoring and detection of asteroids is undoubtedly an important scientific activity of the Observatory, but perhaps even more important and invaluable for Croatia is the educational function of the Observatory.

The Višnjan Observatory hosts many highly motivated and gifted primary and secondary school students in its practical science camps every year. Some of the former attendees are now scientists at NASA, JPL, and other world-renowned scientific institutions, and some of them are yet to become so.

'Investing in children is the largest and only profitable investment'

In early December last year, TCN reported on a crowdfunding campaign launched to improve the educational capacity of the Visnjan Observatory. Already then, at the very beginning of the campaign, they raised 50 percent of the targeted funds, or 306,000 kuna (the first goal was to raise 635,000 kuna). This enabled them to ensure a beautiful geodesic dome, resembling a habitat on Mars, in which lectures will be held.

Aco Momčilović, the campaign's project manager, says the speed of collecting the donations somewhat surprised the team. However, given the very positive feedback from all who donated, they decided to raise the ultimate goal.

Višnjan Observatory / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

As they soon achieved the first goal, they continued to increase it over the next month. At the end of the campaign, on January 15, 2021, they collected as much as 1,300,000 kuna, or almost ten percent more than the ultimate goal of 1,185,000 kuna.

This now enables them to build bungalows, accommodation facilities for children, but also their professors, mentors, and other supporters. Since the educational camps last for several days, the Višnjan Observatory wants to make everyone feel comfortable during that time.

With the donations received, Korado Korlević plans to establish a location for testing robotic telescopes and additional accommodation facilities for students. Investing in children, he says, is the largest and only profitable investment.

Construction of new facilities expected this year

Even after the campaign officially ended, people still donate money, which is an excellent indicator of the Višnjan Observatory's influence, as well as the respect for Korado Korlević's hard and dedicated work.

"I also see this campaign as a mini-movement, an initiative that unites different segments of society – entrepreneurs and their companies, scientists in Croatia and abroad. I already know that this action has encouraged some to launch similar campaigns aimed at improving education for young people and promoting science and other long-term most valuable aspects of society," says Momčilović.

Now follows the less visible but even longer part of the job – completing the administration and transferring money, and then launching and achieving the listed goals.

Hopefully, part of the necessary bureaucracy for construction works will be completed by the middle of this year so that the construction of new facilities could start as soon as possible. Depending on the suppliers, the construction works should begin within six months.

Apart from being known for the Observatory, the small town of Visnjan is rich in historical heritage / Photo: Istrian County Tourist Board

Biggest donators to enjoy gala dinner with Korado Korlević

At the start of the campaign, no one could have predicted that numerous donations would have to be targeted at the quake-hit area by the end of December. Despite that, the desired amount of 1,185,000 kuna was successfully collected for the educational purposes of the Višnjan Observatory.

Organizers believed that support for science would not lack even in the challenging 2020, when science, critical thinking, and the knowledge of future generations are particularly under attack.

"December was an interesting choice. We couldn't do the campaign earlier because not everything was ready. In late December and early January, most of the donations were certainly diverted to earthquake-hit areas. Still, it was interesting to see that we continued to receive donations and that some people obviously donate in more places or still see educational projects as a goal," says Momčilović.

In those six weeks, how long the campaign lasted, about 2500 people donated funds, proving how many people are willing to support science and youth education. To thank the donors, the organizers decided to provide them with "rewards."

Namely, the most generous donors will enjoy a gala dinner with Korado Korlević this year. In contrast, others will be able to participate in his exclusive lectures in the inspiring environment of the Višnjan Observatory, where they will look through telescopes and learn about observing the night sky in Istria in search of asteroids. Some will meet Korlević and ask everything about the universe through the online webinar "Ask the Astronomer," planned for the first half of 2021.

All donors had the opportunity to make electronic thank you notes. A plaque with all major donors' names will be printed in Višnjan on the new facilities' opening day in late 2021 or 2022.

Višnjan Observatory / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

After this campaign, they want to realize another technological improvement in the Višnjan Observatory, but they still have time to decide on a new campaign.

'The smarter the children, the more society progresses'

As Momčilović explains, this campaign is unique because it does not solve one individual problem at a time but invests in the long-term improvement of children's educational opportunities.

Unfortunately, there will always be a need for humanitarian actions, but he and the core team got involved in this action because they believe that in this way, they support the broader system.

"The smarter and more educated children we have, the more society progresses. With this campaign, we did not aim to solve one of the many burning problems, especially in this post-earthquake time, but to create a part of the system that will give the greatest return on investment in the long run," Momčilović points out.

Unfortunately, most of the donation resources are spent inefficiently, and only about 1 percent of the 'smartest' donations make up almost the entire total global contribution. Therefore, Momčilović says, perhaps the Višnjan Observatory crowdfunding campaign is "the beginning of a smarter and more thoughtful view of humanitarian work."

January 13, 2021 – Given the developed sports and accommodation infrastructure, as well as the organization and sports tradition, does Istria have the potential to become the leading sports tourism destination in the southern part of Europe?

With cities that regularly count the highest numbers of tourist overnight stays each year, Istria has been a top tourist destination for a long time. After a recent endeavor to brand Istria as an attractive region for top IT professionals, Istria is also promoted as a favorable sports tourism destination.

Favorable climate, vicinity to Europe

According to Glas Istre, due to its favorable position, mild climate, and developed sports infrastructure and tradition, Istrian cities on the west coast are often hosting many international clubs and national teams that come to the preparations and camps.

For example, the Croatia national handball team recently made preparations for the 2021 World Handball Championship in the Istrian city of Poreč. Their coach Lino Červar said two years ago that the national team in Poreč feels at home.

Football fields in Medulin / Gat travel agency

Comparative advantages of Istria, such as the proximity of major European cities and favorable climate in the winter months, give it a unique opportunity to compete with other warmer destinations, such as the famous Antalya in Turkey, one of the most attractive sports tourism destinations. However, it is necessary to use those advantages, adequately adjust the infrastructure, and increase and improve the offer.

The corona crisis has certainly benefited Istria, which has logically imposed itself as the best option for sports clubs' semi-seasonal winter preparations. However, once the corona crisis becomes a thing of the past and the borders open, the question is whether Istria can compete with the best.

Well-known Istrian sports destinations - Medulin, Pula, Porec, Rovinj, and Umag

Football fields near the Belvedere Hotel in Medulin traditionally attract football clubs. All six football fields are 100 to a maximum of 500 meters apart. About 200 clubs from all over Europe pass through Medulin annually, and this year it was chosen by the football clubs Lokomotiva, Šibenik, Međimurje, Slaven Belupo, Gorica, and domestic Istria 1961.

Apart from Medulin, sports tourism also thrives in the four largest Istrian cities – Pula, Poreč, Rovinj, and Umag, which also generate the largest tourist traffic. The famous Poreč sports hall Žatika, one of six halls in the city, was built for the 2009 World Handball Championship in Croatia, and as a result of many years of investment in sports, a football camp will soon be built in Poreč.

Currently, football clubs Rijeka, Slovačko from the Czech Republic, Budafoki MTE from Hungary, and Sturm Graz from Austria are preparing in Umag. The City of Umag says that they have been continuously working on raising the quality of football fields for years, especially in the Stella Maris sports center.

Tennis center Stella Maris in Umag / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

Umag is already recognized as a base for the winter preparations of many European first leaguers. The current situation with the coronavirus has only further increased the number of inquiries from foreign football clubs. By the end of February, numerous first-league and second-league clubs are expected to spend their winter preparations in Umag, culminating in a series of traditional Umag Trophy youth football tournaments, for which Juventus and Bayern Münich have already confirmed the arrival.

"We have recognized all the comparative advantages of Istria. Ten years ago, we decided to develop this type of tourism, together with the Umag Tourist Board and the hotel company Plava Laguna. We notice that the potential is much greater than what we can currently satisfy with the existing infrastructure, so the sports center and additional fields are also planned," they say from the City of Umag.

Marko Kuže: Rovinj is Dinamo's winter base

Dinamo and Osijek football clubs are currently preparing in Rovinj. It seems that the corona crisis, in this case, was not crucial given that the clubs of the first Croatian football league, as well as the Croatian national football team, chose Rovinj in previous years.

Rovinj / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

When asked whether Rovinj can compete specifically with Turkey, the City reminds that Dinamo players declared themselves on this issue last year. They said that, given the quality of the terrain and accommodation, Rovinj is no weaker than Turkey, where they had the opportunity to make preparations before. Last year, the conditions offered by Rovinj were praised by the then Dinamo coach Nenad Bjelica, who returned here this year to prepare with the Football club Osijek.

Marko Kuže, technical director of Dinamo, says that in Rovinj, the conditions for preparations are excellent, from accommodation to the training ground.

"On behalf of the club, staff, and players, I must express my satisfaction with the hospitality. We are always pleasantly welcomed here, and this is very important in choosing a location for such a serious work process as preparations. Considering that Rovinj is already Dinamo's winter base, we have a good experience this year. There was no need to look for a location for preparations outside of Croatia because we have everything here. We see that other teams have preparations in Istria, which is also very good for domestic tourism," says Kuže.

January 12, 2021 - Continuing our look at Croatia as it once was in the distant past through 3D animations, daily life in the impressive Pula Forum during the Roman Era.

As beautiful as the Croatian coast is today, can you imagine what it must have looked 500 - or even 1000 - years ago?

An era long before mass tourism and the apartmanisation of the Adriatic, leaving the magnificent historic cities and stone buildings which comprise major tourist attractions today.  

A coast which is dominated by historic Dubrovnik in the south, the walls of Ston, great island settlements such as the towns of Korcula, Hvar and Stari Grad. Diocletian's Palace in Split, Salona in Solin, the old town of Trogir, and the magnificence of Zadar and Sibenik. 

And not forgetting Istria.

A cursory walk around the city of Pula indicates the sense of history and heritage that exists in the Istrian capital, and it was a great civilsation in the Roman era.

The most obvious remnant of those golden days is the Roman amphitheatre, the Pula Arena, which dominates the waterfront of the city, and which we visited 2000 years ago yesterday in the form of Stipan Ujgur's excellent 3D animated construction, which you can see above. 

The amphitheatre was the seat of entertainment for the Roman city, but the seat of power was a short walk away in the Pula Forum, where today's authorities continue that tradition. The local administration and mayor's office are located in Forum, and it is one of the city's most popular squares. 

It was also very vibrant many years ago, as one can see from the latest 3D animation from Stipan Ujgur in our series.

Now take a look at how life was in Dubrovnik before the 1667 earthquake, an age when the Republic of Dubrovnik ruled supreme. 

life in Dubrovnik before the 1667 earthquake.

January 11, 2021 - Pula Arena dominates the city's centre these days, but how impressive was the Roman amphitheatre in the past? A stunning 3D animation of the Roman era.  

It is almost 8 years since my first visit to one of Croatia's most interesting and versatile building, the Pula Arena in Istria. 

The year was 2013, and the Croatian National Tourist Board invited me to cover the opening night of Outlook Festival, which was being held in one of the world's largest remaining Roman amphitheatres for the first time. 

The concert was just one of the innovative uses by the Pula authorities of its considerable heritage, as I reflected in my article for a Canadian Google News portal in Preserving heritage through tourism: The case of Pula in Croatia.

Leonard Cohen, Joe Cocker, Sting and a host of other global stars would grace the Pula Arena, and it was also the scene of some quite unusual sprting events, including a football match with Bayern Munich veterans, and even an ice hockey match. 

Reminders of its former use were introduced by the tourist board, as gladiator fights became a popular spectacle during the season. 

An impressive building today, but wondered how it must have looked during the era of the Roman Empire. 

Help is at hand, in the form of modern technology recreating the heritage of the past. 

Yesterday, we featured a wonderful 3D animation by Stipan Ujgur of life in Dubrovnik before the devastating 1667 earthquake, which you can view here. 

In today's feature of Stipan's work, we head even further back in time to Pula during Roman times, when the Pula Arena dominated the city skyline even more than it does today, giving not only an insight in how the arena stadium looked, but also what the warren of rooms and corridors below the surface were used for. 

For more features on Pula, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

January 10, 2021 – Still only 15-years-old, Pula's Rocco Zikovic is following in the footsteps of football megastars Sadio Mané and Erling Haaland with his record teenage transfer to Red Bull Salzburg

Although inside the country Croatians enjoy a wide variety of sports, to outsiders there is only one sport for which Croatia has become known around the world. Football.

The glittering international careers of Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Ivan Perišić, Mario Mandžukić and others have in recent years advertised Croatia as a factory of top-flight footballing talent. Their combined efforts in reaching the final of the most recent World Cup sent that reputation into the stratosphere.

Croatian footballing talent has become so well known that the scouting of Croatia's young players is beginning earlier and earlier. However, Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg's recent purchase of promising Pula talent Rocco Zikovic breaks several records. The transfer fee - rumoured to be in the region of an initial €2 million – is the highest ever made to Zikovic's former team, Istra 1961. It is also the highest ever paid for a Croatian player of Rocco Zikovic's age; he is still only 15-years-old.


Rocco Zikovic © NK Istra 1961

But, by all accounts, Red Bull Salzburg have here done a particularly shrewd piece of business in their acquisition of the player. Rocco Zikovic captained Istra 1961 cadets to the top of the national league last year. He has also played for the Croatian National Football Team in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 age categories. Playing in midfield, he was the captain of the Croatian National youth team that recently won the international Vlatko Marković tournament in Osijek, where Rocco Zikovic was judged player of the tournament. It is during his performances there that Red Bull Salzburg are rumoured to have finally decided on making their move.

Rocco Zikovic is following a long line of youth talent to have been picked up by Red Bull Salzburg

Red Bull Salzburg have a strong reputation for scouting international youth talent and picking them up at the right time. They bought Senegalese player Sadio Mané for €4 million while he was only a teenager before selling him on into the UK Premier League for €13.5 million after just two years. Red Bull Salzburg bought Norwegian international Erling Haaland, one of Europe's most exciting young players, before selling him to Borussia Dortmund in 2019 for a fee reported to be in the region of €20 million. Haaland completed the move having become the first teenager ever to score in five consecutive UEFA Champions League matches

Erling Haaland playing for Red Bull Salzburg in 2019. The club sold him to Borussia Dortmund later that year for a fee reported to be in the region of €20 million © Werner100359

Rocco Zikovic's move to Red Bull Salzburg is all but a done deal. He still has to undergo a final medical and wait until 21 January before he can be announced – that's his 16th birthday. Additional fees earned by his former club Istra 1961 could bring their total from the sale to as much as €3.5 million. It may be too early to place too much expectation on the young player's shoulders just yet, but something tells us that we'll be closely watching this young Croatian footballing talent for many more years to come.

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