March 11th, 2022 - Did you know that Rijeka once used to host an all-female car rally?

Rijeka and Opatija have a long tradition of motorsport racing, going back to the early 1930s when a race course named Opatija Circuit first started hosting auto races.

Also known as the Kvarner Circuit (Circuito del Carnaro), the race course was 6 kilometres long and had a starting point in Preluk bay between Rijeka and Opatija. The circuit used the streets of Opatija and its environs, offering splendid views of the Adriatic Sea.

The circuit’s claim to fame was the 1939 Adriatic Grand Prix, when the Italian team decided to compete in Opatija instead of the French Grand Prix in Rheims. Luigi Villoresi won the race driving a Maserati 4CL, essentially turning Opatija into a prestigious racing venue overnight.

It soon became apparent that the narrow roads along the coastline, complete with plenty of roadside obstacles, didn’t exactly make for safe driving conditions. On more than one occasion, races on the Opatija Circuit ended in tragic deaths of drivers; although the track remained popular for decades in spite of all issues, auto races were discontinued after the Formula 3 Gran Premio Adriatico in 1968.

The end of auto races kicked off a golden era of motorcycle racing, after the Adriatic Grand Prix became a round of the FIM Motorcycle World Championship.

The 1977 Grand Prix was held in spite of an order from the FIM to improve the safety of the track. No modifications were made prior to the event and the race ended up with 19 injured and 2 fatalities, prompting the FIM to ban all road races from the World Championship schedule. The Opatija Circuit fame came to its end, and a modern replacement circuit was created on the other side of Rijeka - the Automotodrom Grobnik.

A lesser known fact about racing on the Kvarner coast is that Rijeka also used to host an all-female car rally. Named Rijeka Women’s Auto Rally, the racing event was held every year from 1971 to 1999.

Back in 1971, as Auto Club Rijeka was celebrating its 25th anniversary, the club’s executive board decided to hold an all-female race in honour of International Women’s Day.

Held on March 7th 1971, the first rally drew a lot of interest, with 60 drivers registering to take part in the race. The 41 km circuit took the racers from the starting point in Preluk to Lovran, Jušići, Krnjevo, and back to Preluk.

Preluk bay / visitrijeka.hr

They competed in three classes: 850 ccm, 1250 ccm, and 1250+ ccm, won in the first year by Inga Kren, Radmila Valković and Vesna Grgurina respectively.

The Rijeka Women’s Auto Rally soon became an attractive racing event which, together with the international Zagreb rally, formed the basis for the establishment of the national championship for women.

Women were flocking to Rijeka from other parts of Croatia to show off their racing skills. Some of the notable winners were Sonja Kezele and Mirjana Bučić from Opatija with ten victories each, Nađa Cenov from Rijeka who won the race eight times, and Olga Bebić from Split who won seven times.

After a while, 41 drivers who had won in some of the classes or in the overall standings earned the right to compete in a racing event called the Champions’ Cup.

In 1996, Auto Club Rijeka marked its 50th anniversary with a grand 25th edition of the women’s rally, held under the motto ‘50 hours of rallying’ and complete with an entertainment programme that featured something new with each passing hour.

All-female rallies were held in Croatia until 1999. The last, 28th women’s rally in Rijeka was won by Auto Club Rijeka, represented by racers Palmina Alijanović, Smiljka Pavić, Luisa Božićević, Dajana Aračić and Ljiljana Kamenar.

March 9, 2022 - Rijeka topped Osijek in the final minutes of a thrilling extra time to secure a spot in the Croatian Cup final against Hajduk on May 26! 

Rijeka and Osijek met in the Croatian Cup semifinal at Rujevica on Wednesday. In the other semifinal played last week, Hajduk beat Gorica for a spot in the final at Poljud on May 26.

Rijeka reached the semifinal by eliminating Pitomača (0:7) in the last 32, Oriolik Oriovac (0:6) in the round of 16, and knocking out Dinamo in the quarterfinal at Maksimir. Goran Tomić's team celebrated 3:1 and it was also the last game for coach Damir Krznar on the Dinamo bench.

Osijek did not concede a goal on their way to the semifinal. They defeated Bednja Beletinec 0:3, then Rudeš 0:2 in the last 16, after which they hosted Slaven Belupo in the quarterfinal. Osijek and Belupo played for 120 minutes before a penalty shootout which Osijek won. 

Before this Cup match, Osijek played 0:0 against Lokomotiva on Friday in the Croatian First League, while Rijeka beat Slaven Belupo 3:0 on Saturday, separating these two teams by only one point.

Lineups

Rijeka: Labrović, Velkovski, Čestić, Krešić, Bušnja, Čerin, Pavičić, Selahi, Vukčević, Vučkić, Drmić

Osijek: Ivušić, Cheberko, Škorić, Lončar. Grgić, Žaper, Kleinheisler, Leovac, Fiolić, Caktaš, Mierez

Recap

Rijeka took the 1:0 lead in the 20th minute with a goal by Krešić. Gnezda Čerin sent a freekick into Osijek's penalty area, which Krešić headed into the goal for the lead. 

Osijek equalized in the 42nd minute for 1:1 thanks to Mijo Caktaš, scoring the 11th goal of his career against Rijeka and the first in the Osijek jersey.

Josip Drmić put Rijeka back in the lead in the 77th minute for his 18th goal of the season. In the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Mance equalized for Osijek to send the match into extra time! 

While the first half of extra time went without a goal, with the nerves of penalties on the horizon, Merkulov scored in the 188th minute for the Rijeka lead and ultimate win for a spot in the Croatian Cup final against Hajduk on May 26! 

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

March 7th, 2022 - Written in English by Igor Rendić, the novel paints a picture of Rijeka as you’ve never seen it before, drenched in magic and inhabited by mythical creatures

The town of Rijeka makes an appearance in many works of literature: some are set in it, some inspired by it, but rarely does it happen that the port city plays a major part in a fantasy novel.

Late last year, Croatian writer and translator Igor Rendić published a novel entitled ‘A Town Called River’, written in English to introduce international readers to the captivating local folklore. Described as an urban fantasy novel with a Slavic twist, the story follows the protagonist Paul as he returns to Rijeka after his grandmother’s passing and soon finds himself in the world of mythical beings, friendly and malevolent spirits.

To quote the synopsis:

'Paul finds out he got more than he expected in terms of inheritance—way more than just a stuffy old apartment downtown.

The legacy of his grandmother’s work as a krsnik—a traditional magic user tasked with keeping the thin line between the humans and the things that prey on them—falls on his shoulders, threatening to change everything he thought he knew about life, the city he left behind so long ago, and himself.

As the line keeps getting thinner, it’ll soon be up to Paul, with help from some unexpected (and witchy) places, to prove worthy of his legacy while fighting for the city’s humanity, and trying not to lose his own along the way.'

The novel is the first part of a trilogy of the same name, with the author currently writing the second part set to be released in late 2022.

Interested? Head over to Shtriga publishing house to read the first chapter for free, available in epub, mobi and pdf formats.

The novel can be purchased as an e-book or paperback, the latter available on Amazon and Book Depository.

March 7, 2022 - The 26th round of the Croatian First League was played from March 4 to 6, 2022. Osijek and Hajduk recorded draws in this round, while Dinamo and Rijeka booked 3:0 victories. Here is our HNL round 26 recap. 

Lokomotiva v. Osijek (0:0)

Lokomotiva and Osijek opened the 26th round on Friday, March 4, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 884 fans. 

Neither team was able to score, and the match ended 0:0. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 5th place with 33 points, while Osijek has dropped to 2nd place with 53. 

Dinamo v. Sibenik (3:0)

Dinamo and Sibenik met on Satuday, March 5, 2022, at Maksimir in front of 2,421 fans. 

Bockaj scored Dinamo's first goal for 1:0 in the 16th minute. Petkovic increased Dinamo's lead with a goal in the 58th minute for 2:0. Finally, Baturina secured Dinamo's victory with a goal for 3:0 in the 76th minute. 

Dinamo has moved back to first place with 53 points and a game in hand, while Sibenik is in 8th place with 26 points. 

Rijeka v. Slaven Belupo (3:0)

Rijeka and Belupo met on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Rujevica in front of 3,421 fans. 

While the first half went without goals, Vuckic scored for the Rijeka lead in the 55th minute for 1:0. Drmic increased Rijeka's lead to 2:0 in the 70th minute, before Čerin made it 3:0 9 minutes later, which was the final score. 

Rijeka is currently in 3rd place with 52 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 29. 

Gorica v. Hr. Dragovoljac (4:0)

Gorica and Dragovoljac met on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Velika Gorica. 

Though Kalik missed a penalty in the 10th minute for Gorica, Atiemwen scored the second-awarded penalty for Gorica in the 22nd minute for 1:0. Subaric received a red card for Dragovoljac in the 45th minute, forcing them to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. Muhammed scored for 2:0 Gorica in the 47th minute, followed by Da Cruz for 3:0 in the 52nd and Kalik for 4:0 in the 59th. 

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 32 points, while Dragovoljac is in last place with 10. 

Istra 1961 v. Hajduk (1:1)

Istra and Hajduk closed out the 26th round on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Pula. 

Nikola Kalinić scored his first goal for Hajduk since he's returned in the 30th minute for 0:1. Drena Beljo equalized for Istra in the 54th minute for 1:1. Hajduk scored one minute later though it was ultimately recalled thanks to VAR. The match ended 1:1. 

Istra is currently in 9th place with 23 points, while Hajduk is in 4th with 48 and a game in hand. 

You can see the full HNL standings HERE. 

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

March 3rd, 2022 - Special attention was paid to the restoration of original decorative elements on the facade

After a two-year renovation, the main railway station in Rijeka has been restored to its original splendour.

The 19th century edifice had been neglected for ages until it was finally decided to renovate the historical building, starting with a facade restoration. The project is worth HRK 25 million in total, and works should be completed by the summer of 2023, according to RiPortal.

Conservators and restorers have been working on the building since March 2020, and are now putting the finishing touches on the facade. Scaffolding was taken down earlier this week to the delight of Rijeka locals, who are happy to see one of the main landmarks in the city finally getting the long-awaited makeover.

The railway station is the work of Ferenc Pfaff, a Hungarian architect who also designed the central railway stations in Zagreb and Osijek. The project was financed by the Hungarian State Railways with construction completed in 1891.

Special attention was paid to the restoration of original decorative elements on the facade, painstakingly carried out by a team of 20 experts from the company Terracotta from Zagreb. Weathered elements that were too heavily damaged had to be removed entirely and replaced with identical replicas: molds made from the originals were used to cast new terracotta elements.

The facade was also repainted and the exterior woodwork replaced. Interior works were also supposed to be nearing completion, but were delayed after the restorers uncovered original architectural sculpture in the vestibule. Conservators now need to draw up an interior design plan before works are allowed to continue. Once this is done, the next stage of the project can begin, namely renovation of the waiting rooms, staff offices and restrooms.

And while some are poetically calling the renovated building a rhapsody in white, others have pointed out that it wouldn’t take too long for vandals to tarnish the fresh facade with graffiti. Sadly, it wouldn’t even be the first time: as Novi list reported a while ago, several graffiti had been found on a renovated part of the facade back in December 2021.

They’ve been painted over in the meantime, and the facade was reportedly covered in special anti-graffiti coating that will prevent spray paint from permeating the wall surface and make cleanup easier.

February 28, 2022 - The 25th round of the Croatian First League was played from February 25 to 27, 2022. This round saw two of Croatia's biggest derbies - between Hajduk and Rijeka, and Osijek and Dinamo. Here's our HNL round 25 recap. 

Slaven Belupo v. Hr. Dragovoljac (1:0)

Slaven Belupo and Dragovoljac opened the 25th round in Koprivnica on February 25, 2022, in front of 753 fans. 

The only goal of the match came in the 64th minute from a Brkovic penalty. 

Belupo is currently in 6th place with 29 points, while Dragovoljac is in last place with 10. 

Lokomotiva v. Gorica (2:0)

Lokomotiva and Gorica met on Saturday, February 26, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 319 fans.

Kulenovic scored Lokomotiva's first goal for 1:0 in the 18th minute. Pivaric missed a penalty in the 60th minute, though Dabro increased Lokomotiva's lead to 2:0 in the 72nd minute, which was the final score. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 5th place with 32 points, while Gorica is in 7th place with 29. 

Hajduk v. Rijeka (1:3)

Hajduk and Rijeka met in the Adriatic Derby at Poljud on Saturday, February 26, 2022, in front of 11,453 fans. 

Drmic put Rijeka in the lead in the 17th minute, before Vuckic made it 0:2 for Rijeka in the 33rd. Livaja put Hajduk on the board in the 69th minute for 1:2, though Kresic secured Rijeka's 1:3 victory in the 86th minute.

Hajduk is currently in 4th place with 47 points and a game in hand, while Rijeka is in 3rd with 49. 

Sibenik v. Istra 1961 (2:1)

Sibenik and Istra met in Sibenik on Sunday, February 27, 2022, in front of 776 fans. 

Drena Beljo scored moments before the halftime whistle for 0:1 Istra. Marin equalized in the 53rd for 1:1, before Delic scored for 2:1 and the Sibenik win in the 63rd minute. 

Sibenik is currently in 8th place with 26 points, while Istra is in 9th place with 22. 

Osijek v. Dinamo (1:0)

Osijek and Dinamo closed out the 25th round with the highly anticipated match for first place on Sunday, February 27, 2022, in front of 6,676 fans. 

The only goal of the match came in the 77th minute thanks to Osijek's Mance. 

Osijek has now jumped to first place with 52 points, while Dinamo is in 2nd with 50 and a game in hand. 

You can see the HNL standings HERE. 

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

February 25, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Flyr Oslo-Dubrovnik flights will run this summer, and Condor increases capacity on its Dusseldorf-Rijeka line.

Flyr, a new Norwegian airline based in Oslo, has announced a new line between Oslo and Dubrovnik this summer, reports Croatian Aviation.

Namely, Flyr will introduce its third flight to Croatia and the first to Dubrovnik Airport this summer. The new Oslo-Dubrovnik line will start operating on June 13 and end on August 12 this year. Two flights a week have been announced, every Monday and Wednesday, while the number of weekly rotations will increase to three from July 1, with the introduction of regular flights every Friday.

On 25 return flights in the mentioned period, Flyr offers a total of 9,450 seats between Oslo and Dubrovnik. The new route will be operated by B737-800 aircraft with a capacity of up to 189 seats in the cabin. 

Recall, this airline has already announced two lines to Zadar Airport.

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that Condor Airlines is introducing two routes to Rijeka this summer, from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. In the meantime, there has been a change of aircraft to offer a significantly larger number of seats from Dusseldorf! 

Instead of the previously planned A320 aircraft, which has a capacity of 180 seats, B757-300 aircraft with a capacity of 275 seats will fly to Rijeka every Wednesday, from the end of May to the end of September. This is a significant increase on the line that will soon start operating. On the second weekly flight between the two cities (every Saturday), A321 aircraft with a capacity of 220 seats will operate.

From May 21 to September 28, Condor Airlines offers 21,560 seats on the line between Dusseldorf and Rijeka.

In addition to the Condor, German Eurowings will also operate on this line from May to October. In the peak summer season, three weekly flights are expected on which A319 and A320 aircraft will operate. In addition, Eurowings offers 16,500 seats between Dusseldorf and Rijeka in the upcoming summer flight schedule.

In total, these two carriers will offer 38,060 seats between Dusseldorf and Rijeka, and direct flights are available from May to October.

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

February 21, 2022 - The 24th round of the Croatian First League was held from February 18 to 20, 2022. This round saw a Livaja hattrick for the Hajduk win, a last-minute goal for Osijek over Istra, and a 0:0 draw a Maksimir to shake up the top of the standings. Here is our HNL round 24 recap. 

Gorica v. Slaven Belupo (0:3)

Gorica and Slaven Belupo opened the 24th round on Friday, February 18, 2022, in Velika Gorica in front of 285 fans. 

Caimacov scored an early first goal of the match for 0:1 Belupo in the 2nd minute. Zvonarek increased Belupo's lead to 0:2 in the 10th minute. A Jovicic red card forced Gorica to play with a man down from the 56th minute, after which Marina scored a penalty for 0:3, the final score. 

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 29 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 26. 

Hr Dragovoljac v. Hajduk (0:3)

Dragovoljac and Hajduk met on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 1,650 fans. 

Hajduk was awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute, which Marko Livaja scored for 0:1. Livaja was solid on another Hajduk penalty in the 74th minute for 0:2, before a Biuk assist found Livaja for the final 0:3 in the 79th minute. 

Dragovoljac is currently in the last place with 10 points, while Hajduk is in 3rd with 47 and a game in hand. 

Istra 1961 v. Osijek (2:3)

Istra and Osijek met on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Pula in front of 762 fans. 

A Caktas goal put Osijek ahead in the 27th minute for 0:1. Zaper made it 0:2 13 minutes later. Then, Beljo scored for 1:2 in the 57th minute before Galilea equalized in the 84th minute. Finally, Mance scored in the 6th minute of stoppage time for the 2:3 Osijek win. 

Istra is currently in 9th place with 22 points, while Osijek is in 2nd with 49. 

Rijeka v. Sibenik (4:2)

Rijeka and Sibenik met on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at Rujevica Stadium in front of 3,084 fans. 

Selahi scored for 1:0 Rijeka in the 16th minute. VAR called Sibenik's goal offside in the 23rd minute. Vuckic made it 2:0 for Rijeka in the 34th. Muric and Vuckic made it 4:0 by the 66th minute, before Sibenik scored two goals in the 70th and 84th for the final 4:2. 

Rijeka is currently in 4th place with 46 points, while Sibenik is in 8th with 23. 

Dinamo v. Lokomotiva (0:0)

Dinamo and Lokomotiva closed out the 24th round on Sunday at Maksimir in front of 1,886 fans. 

Neither team was able to score, and the match ended 0:0.

Dinamo is currently in first place with 50 points and a game in hand, while Lokomotiva is in 5th place with 29 points. 

You can see the HNL standings HERE. 

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

February 17th, 2022 - The storytelling workshops are designed to help kids develop their language skills

Staying in Rijeka long-term and looking for activities for your little ones? The American Corner Rijeka at the Trsat branch of Rijeka City Library is hosting a series of storytelling events named Story Garden. The workshops will be held in English and are intended for kids aged 5-6.

The first Story Garden event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23rd with a 6pm start. Six workshops will be held, each 45 minutes long, taking place each Wednesday at 6 pm until March 30th.

Children aren’t required to have an active knowledge of English to partake in the storytelling events, as the workshops were designed to help kids learn and develop their language skills through an active but relaxed interaction that’s appropriate for their age.

Applications are required to attend the workshops. Parents can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., message the American Corner Rijeka on Facebook, or apply directly at the library counter in Trsat. 

Participation is free for all members of Rijeka City Library.

American Corner Rijeka, supported by Public Affairs Office at USA Embassy in Zagreb, is a part of the world-wide network of library spaces dedicated to American culture and lifestyle. The American Corner at the Rijeka City Library was devised as a lively library corner hosting a large variety of activities, information resources and tech gadgets for everyone to test. A place to learn and play!

Rijeka City Library - Gradska knjižnica Rijeka

LOFebruary 17th, 2022 - Adding a splash of milk to a cup of coffee is an act so simple in itself, we tend to forget how much work and effort was once required to supply a single town with dairy produce. Meet the milkmaids of Grobnik, the women who travelled unimaginable distances on foot each morning to ensure every household in Rijeka had fresh milk on the table

Historically, the city of Rijeka has never been known for thriving agriculture. The urban area of Rijeka takes up a strip of land between the Kvarner gulf in the south and a mountainous hinterland in the north; the hustle and bustle of the industrial port city is not exactly an environment optimal for growing food and raising cattle.

And so, when it came to fresh produce, the populace of Rijeka used to depend on settlements in the wider area of this Northern Adriatic town. The Grobnik Field, as the name might indicate, was a particularly prolific land in this regard, with the crisp climate providing ideal conditions for livestock farming. Many people living in the Grobnik area, specifically in the municipalities of Grobnik, Cernik and Jelenje, raised cows and sold dairy products on the market in Rijeka.

Back in the day, before the two areas were connected with public transport, moving large quantities of dairy from Grobnik to Rijeka was far from an easy feat. It was an awe-inspiring undertaking, one that us lovers of convenience of the modern day can barely begin to fathom.

Milkmaids returning to Grobnik

The women of Grobnik, known as milkmaids (mlikarice in the local dialect), would get up in the dead of night, stoke the fire, prepare morning coffee for the household, and milk the cows. The fresh milk was stored in tin containers called lata. 

And then, before the crack of dawn, they’d travel 15-20 kilometres to Rijeka on foot, hunched under the weight of milk containers they carried on their backs, a petroleum lantern in their hand to light the way before sunrise. Every single morning, only to sell their products in Rijeka and walk the same distance back home in the afternoon.

Canvas backpacks used for milk transport

The tin containers, transported in wicker baskets at first and later in special backpacks, typically held 2, 5, 8 or 10 litres of milk each; you’ll find different figures in various sources, but it’s safe to say that every milkmaid carried 20-30 litres of milk on average, with the added weight of containers and other dairy products such as cheese or butter.

Day in and day out, rain or shine, no matter the season. It was a superhuman effort, even more so when you add up all the time these women spent on the road, all the weight they carried, the distance they travelled over the course of their lifetime. It was common for the milkmaids to toil well into their old age; their weary faces and hunched backs speak of the toll of this hard work.

A lovely feature on Fiuman dedicated to Grobnik milkmaids pays homage to the (unnamed) author’s grandmother, who first started selling milk in Rijeka in 1914 when she was 16 years old. She made the trip every single day, save for a few days of rest after each of the four times she gave birth. Over 34 years, the woman carried over 238,000 litres of milk on her back and walked roughly the same mileage.

Another milkmaid remembered by the local population, mentioned on Lokalpatrioti Rijeka, was Tonka from Cernik who started working even younger, at the age of 12. She made the trip every day until she turned 75; given that she sold an average of 20 litres of milk a day, Tonka carried a mind-boggling total of 432,000 litres in the 60 years she spent hard at work, having trekked a distance of some 390,000 kilometres - equal to some 10 trips around the equator. Tonka died aged 80, having received no pension or health insurance. 

And then the local bus services were introduced, convenience stores started popping up around town, and so the last of the milkmaids made their final trips in the 1990s. A footpath connecting the villages of Hrastenica and Orehovica was named the Milkmaid’s Trail to honour the women who walked the road to Rijeka each morning.

There’s a small square in the Old Town in Rijeka dedicated to the Grobnik milkmaids, named Mljekarski trg (the Milk Square). A statue of a milkmaid adorns the square, a woman in bronze carrying a lantern in one hand and supporting the weight on her shoulders with the other. A similar sculpture is displayed in Dražice near Rijeka. Both are solemn reminders of the pain and hardships endured by these women only to make a humble living, all the while ensuring an entire city was supplied with essential foods.

 Milkmaid Toncica Reljac unocovering the sculpture on Mljekarski square in Rijeka

All images used in this article were sourced from the Lokalpatrioti Rijeka forum.