Travel books about Croatia

Over the coming weeks we will be uploading book reviews.....

Title: The Croatian Adriatic - Tourist Guide Editor: Radovan Radovinović Publisher: Naklada Naprijed ISBN: 9789531785730, 392pp - colour. Probably the best guide of all the coast, from Istria to the most southern Dalmatian areas. Features excellent descriptions of all the cities, towns and many villages. What to see, when to be there, how to get there as well as their histories. It features individual maps of major towns, ferry links and marinas, the laminated cover folds out to show the whole of the coast so you can place the cover inside the text pages so there's no need to keep rifling back through the book. Each major tourist attraction is illustrated (although the quality and age of the photographs need to updated). The back of the book features a brief guide to Croatian wines and cuisine. For me this book was indispensable when I first visited the country. All you need more is a good phrasebook/dictionary and a guide to places to stay. MM

Title: Apsyrtides Author: Branko Fučić Publisher: Tourism Offices of Cres and Lošinj ISBN: 9539667739, 206pp, 1995 - colour. In ancient classical times the Cres and Lošinj archipelago were known as the Apsyrtides - a possible twist on the name of Apsyrtus - a Greek hero. He was lured by his sister Medea into a trap and was killed by Jason who together had stolen the Golden Fleece and then took flight on the boat Argo with his crew the Argonauts. Medea then scattered his bodily parts into the sea which then became the islands of the archipelago. A fantastic story worthy of the myth and legends that the islands hold. This book is a travelogue written by one who truely holds the love of these islands close to his heart. It's a journey starting at the northern part of Cres and ends at the southern tip of the isle of Ilovik. Not just a list of places to see or visit but a personal wander through the beauties and history of each settlement with stories and memories. There are many photographs and drawings (some by the author himself) and the inside cover is a detailed map with notes relating to the text so you can easily make the same journey as he does in the book. A great little guide book of the islands which as many from the period could do with a quality reprint and updated design but if you can find a copy - keep hold of it! MM

Title: Black Lamb and Grey Falcon Author: Rebecca West Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2007, 1,232pp ISBN: 014310490X ISBN: 978-0143104902 Dame Rebecca West was a travel writer who visited Yugoslavia in 1937. This book is the result of her visit and was highly praised as being a seminal piece of travel writing after it was first published in 1941. In it, it describes her impressions of the folk she encountered on her journey through the various countries and regions that made up Yugoslavia as it was at that time. Written before the days of political correctness, it is a long book [1150 pages] that often comes out with some grand statements [e.g. ‘The Germans have always hated the Slavs’ p.51]. And perhaps it is because of its apparent direct tone that since the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia this book has experienced something of a ‘re-birth’. A number of commentators have proposed that it offers a useful background account to what happened in the 1990’s. I would suggest that the importance of this book is that its successfulness is a study in what western audiences are looking for when they read a book about this region. SC

Title: Living Archipelago in Croatia Publisher: Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia - www.hhi.hr/archipelago English, German, Italian, Croatian languages 500 × 350 mm 3 folders, 82pp, maps and charts Although not technically 'books', these are three folders (sold separately) that describe sailing in the northern, central and southern coasts of Croatia. The North Adriatic folder covers the area from Istria to Pag, the Middle Adriatic folder from Zadar archipelago to Split, and the South Adriatic folder, which is just out of print, includes the coast from Split to the southern border of Croatia. Each folder consists of three parts: The first part offers a general description of the natural heritage of Croatia, as well as general tourist information. It also lists all authorized agents that sell nautical charts and publications published by the Croatian Hydrographic Institute in Split. Essential geographic, hydrographic, oceanographic and meteorological information are given, regulations indispensable for mariners when sailing in these waters are included, as well as all harbour master's offices and branch harbour offices on the Croatian coast of the Adriatic. The second part includes nautical charts of 50x35 cm format and 1:100000 scale. Each chart is accompanied with a description of the area by the Swedish sailor and journalist Ebbe Gustafsson, and describes places and sights worth visiting. The third part includes useful information on a number of tourist services as well as those who provide essential sailing services or where to find them. SC

Title: Walking in Croatia: Day and Multi-day Routes (Cicerone Mountain Walking) Author: Rudolf Abraham Publisher: Cicerone Press, 221pp, 2004 ISBN: 185284406X ISBN: 978-1852844066 This book offers its readers a number of walking routes around Croatia. It covers walks on the mainland [Zagreb, Gorski Kotar, Velebit, Mosar, Kozjak, Biokovo, Peljesac] and on some of the islands [Brac, Cres and Losinj]. Some of the walks only take one day, whilst others last for a few days. SC

Title: Tajne Jadrana - The Diver's Guide Through the Wrecks of Croatia's Adriatic Author: Jasen Mesić & Daniel Frka Publisher: Adamić d.o.o. 210pp, 2003 ISBN: - This book takes the form of a diving guidebook for wrecks in the Adriatic. However, due to the large number of colour photos it could also be interesting to non-divers who want to know more about the history of wrecks in the Adriatic. SC

Title: Rijeka and the Rijeka Region in Old English Travel Books Author: Veselin Kostić Publisher: Adamić d.o.o, Rijeka, 2006 ISBN: 953-219-294-8 This book, written in English and Croatian, explores the writings of British travellers who visited the Rijeka area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Inside, one has a lively account of the experiences of those who came to ‘explore’ this part of Europe. My own personal favourite is the one about George Grieg who was robbed in Gorski Kotar, and then went to recuperate with the then owner of the Paper Factory. The value of this book for anyone interested in the Rijeka area is that since it offers a more personal account of the scrapes and adventures of the authors, one gets an insight into everyday life in the Rijeka that is perhaps not so visible in more ‘official’ history books. Also, as it says in the foreword, it provides as much of an insight into the characters of those who were doing the travelling as it does about the Rijeka area in this period. Thus, it would also appeal to anyone who is interested in finding more about how the British considered this part of the world at the end of the 18th and 19th centuries. SC

Title: British Travellers in Dalmatia 1757-1935 Author: Sonia Wild Bićanić Publisher: Fraktura, Zaprešić, 2006 ISBN: 953-7052-96-6 This book examines the different experiences and writings of five British travellers to Dalmatia: the architect Robert Adam, the Egyptologist Sir John Gardener Wilkinson, the geographer and historian A.A. Paton, the architect T.G. Jackson and the novelist Ann Bridge. Filled with photos and illustrations, this book also gives an insight into the history of Dalmatia for those who want to learn more. It also devotes a chapter to the island of Vis and explores the island of Vis’s connections with Britain, firstly as a naval base in the Napoleonic wars and later as a command centre in the Second World War. For any British traveller who wants to know more about Dalmatia this book really is a must-read. SC

Title: Cres Lošinj - Croatia Impressions Author: Dario Žagar Publisher: NAVA DLG d.o.o., Zagreb www.croatia-impressions.com 2008 ISBN: 978-953-958301-7 This glossy book is beautifully illustrated with the author's own colour photography, with Croatian, English, German, Italian and French texts. It details the islands of Cres and Lošinj and their neighbours through the author's own travels, thoughts and love of them. This is a very special edition and an excellent update and introduction to some very special places in the Adriatic. MM

Title: Pag - Croatia Impressions Author: Dario Žagar Publisher: NAVA DLG d.o.o., Zagreb www.croatia-impressions.com 2008 ISBN: 978-953-95830-0-0 Another superb glossy book from Dario Žagar. This one details the island of Pag, one of the Adriatic's most curious islands - half desolate rocky landscape and half lush green valleys. As with his Cres edition this is beautifully illustrated with his own colour photography and has text in Croatian, English, German, Italian, Czech and Polish languages. Pag of course is famous for its non-stop beach parties, its cheese and lace, but I'm glad to see that Dario acknowledges the existence of its most strange attraction - the Pag Triangle (Paški trokut) - a bizarre rock formation only discovered in 1999 and still unexplained. I've visited Pag a few times and after reading through this book I had the urge to head back there to explore more. MM

Title: How to Survive and Even Enjoy Croatia Author: Jakov Buljan Publisher: Jakov Buljan www.croatiaguidebook.info 2006 ISBN: 953-95387-0-X A lighthearted look at life in Croatia for the smart foreigner. Details history, customs, language and much more in an easy to read format and charmingly illustrated by Dubravko Mataković. It's available as a free pdf download at: www.croatiaguidebook.info MM

Title: Maro Polo's Isle Author: Michael Donley Publisher: Spencer & Glynn, UK, 2005, 172pp ISBN: 0954-989-406 Smith Settle Ltd The author offers an in-depth view of one particular island, but at the same time captures the spirit of Dalmatia as a whole. Although Marco Polo fought on the side of the Venetians, Korčula claims – with a fair amount of evidence – that it, not Venice, was his birth-place. Using this theme as a connecting thread, the author brings to life from the inside the people, traditions, language, history, music and festivals of Marco Polo’s Isle, one of the most beautiful in Dalmatia. Anyone who has visited this lovely island will want a copy of Marco Polos Isle on their bookshelf. It is not just a once-off read but a beautifully written treasure trove of information in which to dip again and again. Those who have not yet visited Korčula will be booking their passage well before the last chapter. korculainfo.com

 

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