Hello everybody!
Croatia is a really small country, but full of people as it gets warmer through the year. But that comes with no surprise. With its natural beauty and relaxing lifestyle, especially at the coast, Croatia is a popular tourist destination for people around the globe. However, this Mediterranean country has many more tales and stories to share. Today, I am going to share some facts about it. So if you are interested, keep reading and discover more with me!
An Experiment Gone Right
Croatia is a beautiful country and all, but did you know some of its more recent architectural innovations? Yes, that’s right. Zadar, a city so stunning that even Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t resist saying that it has one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world – is known for its Sea Organs. This experimental musical device is an enormous instrument that plays notes based on the angle in which the sea waves hit the coast. This results in peaceful, harmonic tunes during calmer springs and summer, and more violent and loud noises during rainy and storm fall and winter. You can see, or rather them hear for yourself here.
Croatian – It’s Complicated
Let’s not also forget the Croatian language itself. Croatian belongs to Slavic languages, and although its speakers occupy a really small country, it is actually quite diverse. Most noticeably, in its three main super-dialects (narječja): shtokavian (štokavski), kaikavian (kajkavski) and chakavian (čakavski). How to recognize them? Well, the only thing you need to know is how they say WHAT. Shtokavian speaker says ŠTO, kajkavian KAJ, and a person from chakavian parts ČA. There are also many differences in vocabulary among these super-dialects, so much so that speakers of two completely different regions of the country could have a hard time in understanding each other – or not understanding each other outright!
Effects of History on the Language
Our language is very much a result of a fascinating history. Nowadays, a lot of our words originate from, besides English, German (northern parts), Italian and Turkish (different coastal parts). Croatia was not always a complete country. Back in the 15th century Middle Ages, Croatia was under constant threat from the Ottoman Empire and Republic of Venice, who managed to occupy large chunks of the coastal territory. On the other hand, the northern continental regions, known back then as Croatia, were already in a personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary. Croatia had to give up most of its autonomy for almost a millennium until the end of the First World War.
Ancient Romans Liked Us
Speaking of history, if we look at it more deeply, Croatia nowadays is a place of numerous archeological and cultural sites dating back to the Roman Empire! Things like aqueducts (water pipes still used to this day), ancient roads, ruins of the Roman Forum in Zadar, and the amphitheater in Pula (photo below) are only a few of these sites. Most of them are under UNESCO-s protection as places of historic significance.
Ivan Meštrović
Speaking of which, have you ever heard of Ivan Meštrović? Can’t blame if you didn’t, but he is a big deal in Croatia. He was an architect and sculptor, one of the few of his time that managed to reach international recognition. Besides many detailed sculptors and decorations in the most prominent buildings in Croatia, he also contributed to places in the US. Syracuse University and the University of Notre Dame are some of the places which he enriched with his detailed sculptures and reliefs. He also has two statues in Chicago, portraying Native Americans on their horses – appropriately named “The Bowman” and “The Spearman”, as you can see below.
Nature and Parks
But let’s see…you have heard of Plitvice, right? If you’ve been in Croatia, my guess is that you were probably there to absorb nature and the beautiful waterfalls and lakes. Plitvice or Plitvička jezera (Plitvice lakes) is but one of many national parks in Croatia. The country has 8 national parks in total. Not much, but don’t forget that we also have 11 nature parks that are just as beautiful. And to add to that, we also have 2 strict reserves, just for good measure.
International Mood
Lastly, did you know that a lot of Croats can speak English? In fact, half of our population is estimated to be able to speak this cosmopolitan language. But what about the other half? Well, it doesn’t matter. Think of the half that speaks English as the one that you will most likely meet in travel agencies, stores, and other services as you travel and enjoy the beauties of Croatia! 🙂
Your friend from Croatia,
Marko Matas
