Croatia tourist attractions

Zagreb

Zagreb, the capital since 1557, is finally coming into its own as an intriguing combination of Eastern and Western Europe. The sober Austro-Hungarian architecture in the town centre houses newlyd boutiques displaying the latest fashions from France and Italy.

The twin neo-Gothic spires of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (formerly St Stephen's Cathedral) were built in 1899, but you can still see elements of the medieval cathedral that was once on this site. Particularly interesting are the 13th century frescos, Renaissance pews, marble altars and a baroque pulpit. North-west of the city centre, climb the Lotrscak Tower for a sweeping 360° view of the city, or visit the Galerija Klovicevi Dvori, which hosts superb art shows. Also in the area is St Mark's Church, with its colourful painted-tile roof and sculptures by Ivan Mestrovic, and the Natural History Museum, Historical Museum of Croatia and the City Museum, housed in a former convent.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik's appeal lies in the old town of Stari Grad, with its marble-paved squares, steep cobbled streets, tall houses, convents, churches, palaces, fountains and museums, all cut from the same light-coloured stone. Although Dubrovnik was heavily shelled in 1991 and '92, it has been largely restored.

Dubrovnik's city walls were built between the 13th and 16th centuries, and are still intact today. Arguably the finest city walls in the world, they are 25m (82ft) high, with 16 towers. You can't beat the view, and a walk along the walls will probably be the highlight of your visit to Dubrovnik.

Rovinj

Relaxed Rovinj is a picturesque town of cobbled streets on the coast of Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in Croatia's northwest which borders Slovenia. Wooded hills punctuated by low-rise hotels surround the town, while the 13 green islands of the Rovinj archipelago provide perfect sea vistas.

Split

Split is the heart of the province of Dalmatia. Located 150km (95mi) north of Dubrovnik, it's the largest Croatian city on the Adriatic coast. It became a popular retirement destination in the 4th century for Roman Emperors such as Diocletian who had run out of Christians to feed to his lions.

When the nearby Roman colony of Salona was abandoned to the barbarian hordes, many of its inhabitants fled to Split, enjoying the safety of its high palace walls. Now an industrial city, the old town, the air of exuberance and some great sights make this one of the most fascinating cities in Europe.