|Places| A Tale of Two
|Places| A Tale of Two Towns Go off the beaten path in Croatia to experience the heart of the country in Opatija and Rovinj. By John McNamara The view from the plunge pool of a Grand Park Hotel Rovinj room across to the old town I n recent years, the buzz around Dubrovnik and the beautiful Croatian islands in the Adriatic has been at fever pitch but, increasingly, attention is turning to other regions where the country’s rich, history, bountiful natural splendour and strong independent spirit shine through. This is especially true in the northwest towns of Opatija and Rovinj, two settlements with very different histories. What they share, however, are beautiful locations on the coast and, thanks in part to the efforts of high-end hotel developers, a very bright future. Where once kings and emperors trod, these firms are establishing their own fairy-tale hospitality kingdoms. Opatija, on the Kvarner Riviera, is a product of Habsburg times. Emperor Franz Joseph I was himself an early visitor. He was so taken with the healthy sea air and the restorative nature of the coastal retreat that he declared Opatija the first official Seebad – a climatic seaside resort – in 1889. Attracted by the town’s new moniker, the great and the good – and many innovative doctors – headed to Opatija to reap its health-improving benefits. As a result, today’s Opatija remains suffused with Viennese architecture, and the best way to enjoy the revitalising air is still to stroll down the Lungomare, a 12km promenade that runs along the seafront from the pretty fishing village PHOTO © MAISTRA 36 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
