Croatia Facts: I Bet You Didn’t Know This!

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Julio Fernandez

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Right off the bat, we are giving you 18 Croatia facts you might not know, and hopefully they will convince you to visit this amazing country.

Croatia Facts: Oldies But Goodies

1. The city of Vinkovci is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, with history that dates back 8,000 years. If you don’t want to look back so far, another interesting tidbit is that the novel “Murder on the Orient Express,’’ written by Agatha Christie, was about a murder that actually happened in Vinkovci!

2. The richest finding in the world of the Neanderthal culture is found on Husnjakovo Hill, where some 900 human fossil bones were found in the cave’s sandstone deposits. Visit the museum dedicated to this topic and learn more.

3. Once a venue for gladiator fights, the Pula Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheater to have four side towers and all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved. It dates back to the first century. Check out the Pula Arena.

4. The historical complex of Split, with the Palace of Diocletian, is protected under UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In addition, you can admire an ancient Egyptian sphinx that has survived several centuries. More about the palace find here.

Croatia Facts: Current Cool Happenings

If you’re a “Game of Thrones” fanatic, he world-renowned fortified city of Dubrovnik is the place where your favorite TV show is filmed. For all of you fans out there, if you visit Dubrovnik, you will be walking through King’s Landing. In addition to Dubrovnik, the show was filmed in Split and Sibenik as well.

Zadar is home to an art installation called the Sea Organ. Try to imagine how the synergy of man’s architectural creation and the force of nature would sound. Even better, discover Zadar and hear the music that the waves produce while crashing into the embankment. While doing that you can indulge in one of the prettiest sunsets in the world! Learn more about the Sea Organ here.

Croatia has more than 1,200 islands in the captivating Adriatic Sea, with one in particular standing out as the sunniest island in Europe. The island of Hvar has an average of 2,718 sunny hours yearly. If sea, sun, and sand is what you are looking for, look no further. Visit Hvar.

The city of Hum is the smallest in the world! It is 328 feet long and 100 feet wide, with a staggering population of 21. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities, Hum is a perfect getaway.
Have you ever watched “101 Dalmatians?” Well, the Dalmatian breed originates from Croatia. Spot your spotted dog on the streets of Croatia!

Croatia facts: The Finer Things

The longest truffle festival in the world is held in Livade. Lasting 10 weeks, it is a symphony for your taste buds. This is the region where one of the largest truffles in the world was found. Find out more about the festival here.
The Croatian coast is home to centuries old olive trees, hence the top-notch production of olive oil. The oldest olive tree in the world is found on the island of Pag, which has celebrated more than 1,600 birthdays. Croatian olive oil is a frequent winner of awards for being the best in the world.
Are there any wine aficionados out there? Croatia is abundant with wine, and whichever you try, you will not go wrong. It is most noted for Zinfandel, whose grapes originate from Croatia. Try Plavac Mali, Posip, and Malvazija. You will thank us later.

Thanks, Croatia

The necktie was introduced to the world by Croatian mercenaries that fought for the King of France. A red ribbon around their neck was part of their formal attire, which they called the Cravat. Next time you wear your suit and tie, remember this!
The mechanical pencil was invented in Zagreb by Mr. Slavoljub Penkala. This should not be disregarded next time you take a pen in your hand. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword.

Croatia facts

We will shed more light on this next invention, which is the flashlight. The popular Maglite was invented by a Croat named Mr. Anthony Maglica. Now you are en-light-ened!
Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest minds that has ever walked planet Earth, was born in Smiljan, Croatia. Among the plethora of inventions he provided to the world, alternating current is the one that gets the shout out. He comes from the region where the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park is.

Dactyloscopy, or the way they catch the villains in Hollywood movies by scanning their fingertips, was invented by a Croat named Mr. Ivan Vucetic.
The fastest electric car in the world is manufactured near Zagreb. The man behind the scenes is a young engineer named Mate Rimac. Try to catch a ride in concept car, and make sure to buckle up and breath deeply! Find out more here.

As soon as you arrive in Croatia, you can try to find out if the banana split originates from Split. Ask the locals in Korcula if Marco Polo was born there. Find out if it’s true that the stones from the island Brac were used to build the White House. The answers to all of your questions will be found in your exploration. Travel to Croatia and add things to your ‘I bet you didn’t know this’ facts list!