CROATIA CRUISE - Gulets (Sailing ships)

If you want to get away from your daily routine, then take advantage of Croatia’s treasures and embark on an unforgettable CROATIA CRUISE. Why? Because CROATIA CRUISE means more than just spending time on a boat and enjoying the clear sea – it means a stress-free holiday, enjoying and experiencing more than a thousand islands and islets and countless coves. Every cove, beach and stone will make you want to touch it and become part of that place. And that is exactly what can happen – become part of the beautiful small villages on the islands, meet the local inhabitants, their customs, way of life and centuries old traditions.

You can sail even further into the past on GULETS: old-fashioned sailing ships.

CROATIA CRUISE (Sailing ships)

GULETS are beautiful, wooden sailing ships which served as merchant and cargo ships in the past, and have been completely renovated for your pleasure, with their comfort, facilities, appearance and interesting history.

CROATIA CRUISE is a luxurious vacation intended for you and your family or friends. A gulet can accommodate 10 - 12 people in 5 – 6 cabins with their own toilets and showers and a personal crew. As well as accommodation, a crew and a several hours of sailing every day, a gulet cruise allows you to try indigenous Dalmatian dishes, with the choice of full or half board. Although the menus and routes are set in advance, you can discuss your own ideas with the captain, tailoring your dream holiday to your own requirements.

If you want to experience the same atmosphere while meeting new people, you can book a cabin charter on a gulet (6 – 15 cabins). You will enjoy the large cruiser social experience in an intimate way.

Gulets are available departing from several harbours, (Sibenik, Zaton, Trogir, Split and Dubrovnik) so you can experience different parts of the Croatian coastline.

GULET BASES

SIBENIK – a city with a rich history, located on the central Croatian Adriatic coast, on the estuary of the River KRKA, which is also a national park, with a pleasant Mediterranean climate. Our gulet, the Agora, takes you on a pleasant trip with the opportunity of visiting the unique archipelago of the Šibenik area and Kornati National Park - a unique group of Dalmatian limestone islands and rocks.

ZATON – situated deep in a bay where the sea is calm and the village tranquil, Zaton is the location of a small fleet of gullets: Blue Star, Morning Star, Kraljica Jadrana, Ser, Ostro, Siroko and Pulenat. You can enjoy a pleasant Adriatic cruise in each of them, accompanied by a professional crew and top quality chef. Another reason for choosing to cruise out of Zaton is Mother Nature herself - not far from Zaton is the splendid River Krka, with an abundance of flora and fauna, and the fascinating limestone archipelago of Kornati National Park.
If you want to see the central Dalmatian islands (Brac, Hvar, Vis) or even go all the way down to Dubrovnik, our gulets can take this route.
Even closer is TROGIR, from where the central Dalmatian archipelago is within easy reach.

TROGIR – a small town, but a big tourist destination, with a rich, lively history. The historical old city of Trogir was declared a cultural monument in 1997, making it an even bigger tourist attraction. Split airport is close by, which is certainly an advantage.
The beauty of Trogir is enriched by numerous gulets which will take you from Trogir harbour on your Adriatic cruise: Andi, Andi Star, Blue Nose, and Nostalgija are just a few of them. You can also set out gulet cruising from Split.

SPLIT – is the largest city in Dalmatia, and the second largest in Croatia. Situated beneath Marjan Hill, within the walls of a 1700 year-old palace, is a city which many regard as the “most beautiful city in the world”. The beautiful greenery of Marjan and the nearby Jadro and Zrnovnica Rivers, bathed in a warm Mediterranean climate, make Split forever young.
These gullets are based in Split: Fortuna, Fortuna Dalmata, Sinbadsan, Libra, Jadranska Kraljica, Barbara, Angelica, Atlantia and many more. The most common route taken is through the central Dalmatian islands: Solta, Brac, Hvar, Vis, or further, to Lastovo, Korcula, Mljet, or all the way down to Dubrovnik.

Flotilla sailing Croatia

A flotilla is a group of boats sailing together under the supervision of a lead boat operated by the charter company.
Flotillas are arranged so that singles, couples and small groups who don’t know each other can join together and form a flotilla of 5 to 10 boats. Lead boat crew is always nearby in case someone needs assistance during trip and also to recommend the best anchorages, harbours, restaurants and places to visit. Although there is an experienced skipper on the lead boat, at least one person on each boat is required to have an internationally recognized sailing certificate.
Every morning a briefing takes place in which all skippers together discuss route of that day, flotilla leader gives useful tips about it and weather report. Flotilla leader is more of a nautical companion and source of information than an entertainer. On the way a lead boat can be contacted by VHF, an easy-to-handle sender/receiver radio transmitter.
All boats follow the same route which provides the opportunity for swimming, snorkelling, relaxing and sunbathing. They are sailing independently but can always refer back to the lead boat. Evening can be spend without the group because they are no social obligations, but often the group finds itself together to eat and drink and share experiences of the day.
For many the social element of meeting up with likeminded crews from the other flotilla yachts is both reassuring and fun.

More info Flotilla sailing Croatia

Team building on the sea

Since ancient times, unity of spirit has characterised the sea and fearless sailors, and team building programme on the sea offers co-existence with colleagues and with nature.

Although it is a special experience sailing the Adriatic alone or with your closest friends, experiencing its beauties with your colleagues and business partners can be a completely new challenge. Prepare your team for their next business challenge by experiencing this unique combination of the sea and nature. Exchange your work space for a beautiful yacht or gulet and the crystal clear Adriatic. Transform your tedious business conversations into more pleasant ones through socialising and the challenges offered by the sea.

Depending on the goals you have set for your team, you have option to spend your team building on the yacht or on the gulet.

Yachting team building is more active and physically demanding, full of real challenges. Arrive knowing little about sailing and leave with a full understanding of how great teamwork makes a yacht move better and faster.

Gulet is luxurious wooden motor sailor boat, designed specifically for cruising. With gulet team building you leave the sailing responsibilities to the crew and dedicate time to yourself, your team and the goals you have set.

Besides Adriatic sailing, team building project might also include some interesting active excursions: rafting, canyoning, canoe safari, trekking, hiking, free climbing, paintball, riding… Also, there is possibility to include in the team building visit to a farmhouse where you can help in the preparation of traditional Croatian dish „soparnik“, learn to play bocce, or just enjoy sitting by a fireplace and drinking wine from a wooden jug.

If your goal is to improve relationships between groups and to improve business efficiency spending time together in the nature – team building on the sea is one of the best options for your team. Contact Orvas Yachting and start you adventure!

Hallowind 2008 - 31.10. - 02.11. Premantura

Hallowind 2008 - 31.10. - 02.11. Premantura
Kamenjak, AC Stupice
In Premantura, one of the most preferable windsurfing destinations, the Hallowind will blow again this year.

Apart from the central and the most attractive sport event - European Championship Windsurfing Free Style finals, other contests such as mountain bike race, free climbing, skateboarding and windsurfing formula for Adria and Croatia Cup will take place daily.

And to avoid sportsmen taking all the credit for having a good time, the music part will take place every night according to the 'something for everybody' wise formula.

Everything will end in the traditional Hallowind way - with a techno party!
Kamenjak, AC Stupice
In Premantura, one of the most preferable windsurfing destinations, the Hallowind will blow again this year.

Apart from the central and the most attractive sport event - European Championship Windsurfing Free Style finals, other contests such as mountain bike race, free climbing, skateboarding and windsurfing formula for Adria and Croatia Cup will take place daily.

And to avoid sportsmen taking all the credit for having a good time, the music part will take place every night according to the 'something for everybody' wise formula.

Everything will end in the traditional Hallowind way - with a techno party!
Kamenjak, AC Stupice
In Premantura, one of the most preferable windsurfing destinations, the Hallowind will blow again this year.

Apart from the central and the most attractive sport event - European Championship Windsurfing Free Style finals, other contests such as mountain bike race, free climbing, skateboarding and windsurfing formula for Adria and Croatia Cup will take place daily.

And to avoid sportsmen taking all the credit for having a good time, the music part will take place every night according to the 'something for everybody' wise formula.

Everything will end in the traditional Hallowind way - with a techno party!

Kroz Istru - Tour d'Istrie cycling races

Kroz Istru - Tour d'Istrie cycling races
19.09. - 21.09. Pula
19.09. I. etapa: Pula - Buje (93 km)
Pula - Fažana - Bale - Lim - Poreč - Vižinada - Buje

20.09. II. etapa: Umag - Labin (100 km)
Umag - Oprtalj - Livade - Pazin - Pićan

21.09. III. etapa: Rabac - Pula (103 km)
Rabac - Raša - Žminj - Dvigrad - Lim - Bale - Pula


Not many cycling races in the world can boast of having such a magnificent structure as the amphitheatre of Pula for their starting point. One of these is the International junior stage race Kroz Istru, held for the first time back in 1949, so that this year's race is its 49th edition.

Top cyclists from Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Poland, Australia, Canada, Nigeria and many other countries compete for points of the World cup (junior category) in several demanding stages. Apart from being a sports event, this race is known for its friendly atmosphere, enabling both participants and visitors to enjoy the untouched natural beauties and hospitality of hosts.

Owing to the natural diversity of the Istrian peninsula there are great possibilities for bike trails. Organizers of the legendary Giro d'Italia recognized such possibilities, so in May 2004 Istria hosted two stages of one of the world's most prestigious sports events.

The race is listed on the calendar of the World Cycling Federation (UCI)

Tied around the Pula Arena

After two years' preparation, in the afternoon of Saturday 18th October the knot of the largest cravat in the world was tied around the Pula Arena. The creator of this grandiose art installation was prof. Marijan Busic, the head of the non-profit making establishment "Academic Cravatica", which promotes the cravat as part of the Croatian and world cultural heritage. The coordinator of the technical execution of the installation was Mladen Marinovic, the head designer of the firm Potomac-Croata. The designers of the idea and feasibility study were mr. Sc. Damir Corko (for the part of the Cravat around the Arena) and dr. sc. Bruno Calic (for the construction of the knot and the load bearing construction outside the Arena). Academia Cravatica was responsible for the entire art installation project, and the City of Pula was the co-organizer.

This world scale "mega-tie" is of incredible dimensions: it is 808 m long, and at its widest it measures 25 m. The knot of the cravat is 15 m long, at its widest it is 16.5 m wide and at its most narrow point it is 5.4 m wide. The height of the cravat from the narrowest to the widest part is 3.5 m. The execution of the art installation began on Tuesday morning, when members of the Split mountaineering society "Spirit, by climbing up around the Arena, began setting up a net around the Arena, so that they could then fix the cravat to it.

This job took two days, then more than a hundred Pula high-schoolers, standing around the Arena, held the cravat whilst the mountaineers gradually lifted it up to the top of the Arena. The most difficult part - tying the knot of the cravat - began on Saturday morning. In the late afternoon, more precisely at around 5.30 p.m., the knot was tied and the cravat spread out to its full width of hundreds of meters across the Pula Karolina car park. The entire unusual event was followed from the early morning with great interest by hundreds of local people and tourists, and in the afternoon there were several thousand watching. This world scale cultural media spectacle aroused a great deal of attention from the local and world media, including about ten television companies, including CNN and ARD.

The tying of the knot

The tying of the knot of the Tie was recorded several times from the air (by helicopter from the Ministry of Defense) and what was probably the most beautiful sight of the entire event began when, in order to spread out the lower part of the Tie (below the knot), hundreds of local people became involved in a long chain to take part in the installation, holding the Tie up. On the recordings from the air, the Arena truly resembled the giant neck of Veli Joze, as the creator of the installation Marijan Busic has said, and the Cravat around the Arena was impressively similar to a normal cravat with a tied knot.

The sponsors

The sponsors of the art installation were HEP (the Croatian electricity company) INA, Potomac-Croata and Adria Lada. Croatian national television (HRT) will make a documentary about this unique event. The importance of the art installation project "A Cravat around the Arena" as a world scale cultural project by which the Arena, Pula, Istria, Croatia and Croatian tourism have been promoted on a world scale, has been recognized and given support by the Croatian Ministry of Culture, the Ministries for European Integration, Tourism and Defense, the Croatian Tourist Board, the Tourist Boards of the City of Pula and the Istarska County and Croatia Airlines. The official cultural and artistic program with the presentation of the installation was attended by the vice-president of the Croatian Government Dr. Goran Granic, the assistant minister for European Integration Davor Cilic, diplomatic representatives from the embassies of France, Greece and Denmark, a representative of the Japanese cultural institution "The Japanese House" Jassuo Yamamoto, who is also a member of the Board of the Academia Cravatica and many other important guests.

The official program

At the beginning of the official program (run by Lejdi Oreb) the mayor of Pula dr. sc. Luciano Delbianco spoke on the significance of this event for the city of Pula and Croatia as a whole. The coordinator of the technical staging of the installation Mladen Marinovic spoke about how this exceptionally complex project, in a technical and technological sense, was realized. The creator of the installation Marijan Busic spoke about the motives for his preoccupation with the cravat and the message of this art installation and amongst other things said, "While I was still in high school I realized that Croatia, the home of the tie (cravat), could best be presented to Europe and the world by means of the tie, as a worldwide symbol of dignity, formality and success. In time I discovered more and more the symbolic potential of the cravat as a medium. So the art installation "A Cravat around the Arena" primarily draws attention to the cravat as a world phenomenon of communication, a medium which communicates emotion, value and identity. Today in the conditions of globalization, with the tendency to iron out cultural differences, through this installation which brings together the ancient and the modern era with Croatia, I would like to emphasize directly the value of different identities. The red color of the tie, as a sign of love, which is also the color of the Croatian coat-of-arms, and the red soil of Istria, underlines the Croatian cultural identity and at the same time its openness and belonging to the wider European cultural circle. The metaphor of circles is also close to me (of Pula, Istria, Croatia, Europe and the World), circles, which do not obliterate each other, but rather complement and complete one another. The extraordinary size of the art installation is conditioned by the size of the Arena, this magnificent symbol of the Greek and Roman world. Since it is located here in Istria, I spontaneously associated the Arena with the giant Veli Joze and I imagined it as his gigantic neck."

The official program began at 3 p.m. with a parade by the brass band and majorettes of the City of Pula. Also included in the program were members of the "Uljanik" folk club and the women's klapa singing group "Teranke" who for the first time performed the song "Vez" (written by Daniel Nacinovic, music by Bruno Krajcar) which was especially written for the occasion.

The composition "Balun" was also performed (by Bruno Krajcar) which popularizes the unique Istrian musical scale and the traditional Istrian dance. The dance was performed by the "Stellium" dance group (choreography by Tatjana Samuele).

Six couples danced in costumes based on stylized Istrian folk costumes made by the firm Potomac, who also are owners of the Croata brand. After the program there was a reception and a happy time of socializing, for the guests, the participants in the program and representatives of the media.

The young couple Danijela and Denis from Pula also took part in the official program, dressed in formal wedding outfits. Their presence was a kind of living presentation of a "wedding in the Pula Arena" the basic motif of the picture book "The Cravat of Veli Jože or the fairy wedding in the Pula Arena". This new, illustrated literary work (written by Daniel Nacinovic and Ivan Gregov) was produced to mark the art installation and was inspired by it. The young couple was also honored by the accompaniment of members of the "Turopolje Honorable Guard" a historical Croatian unit from Turopolje. Turopolje is incidentally, the home of the man's formal neck scarf the "podgutnica", which according to some researchers is the oldest Croatian cravat (the original cravat).

The realization of the art installation also gave rise to other cultural and artistic events. On Friday 17 October an exhibition of works by twenty artists was opened on the theme of the tie. They donated all the works of art exhibited to the non-profit making institution Academia Cravatica. There is a book, as mentioned before, to be launched next week (a picture book) entitled "The Cravat of Veli Joze or the fairy wedding in the Pula Arena" (Authors: D. N. & I. G.), in three versions - in Croatian, Italian and English.

The final phase

And finally one more interesting thing. The final phase of the execution of the installation on Saturday was made more difficult and slowed down by a strong bora wind. Precisely because of the great vulnerability of the installation to wind, the lower part of the cravat was put away that same evening with the help of the local people, but the knot and the part of the Cravat around the Arena was taken down the next day, on Sunday. But the point of the art installation had been achieved: a picture of the largest cravat in the world had gone around the globe! (Dino Bedrina)

New Metro in Croatia

On May 15, a Croatian edition of Metro will be launched by Europapressholding (EPH), the biggest newspaper publisher in Croatia in which German publisher WAZ (Essen) has a 50% stake. The paper is a Metro franchise and wil have the familiar green Metro design. Metro will be pubished in four different editions (Zagreb, Istria, Dalmatia, and the northern area) with a circulation of 250,000.

Competition has been rising in Croatia the last year. Austrian publisher Styria Media, publisher of Vecernji list, launched the cheap paper 24Sata and the free weekly Metropola, while EPH added the TV-Magazine Studio and the Lifestyle-Magazine Gloria In on Friday and Saturday for free to their daily Jutarnji list. Vecernji list and 24Sata reacted with a TV-guide of their own.

In 2003 the car of the director and co-owner of EPH, Ninoslav Pavic, was blown up by a bomb in Zagreb. The attack was probably related to an earlier attack on two EPH journalist in 2002. The report by EPH publications on organized crime in Croatia could be the reason for the attacks.

''CULTURAL SUMMER OF FAŽANA 2006'' - Manifestation calendar

''CULTURAL SUMMER OF FAŽANA 2006'' - Manifestation calendar

MAY
30.4. - 16,00h "Brodetto festival" – competition in preparation of ''brodetto'', traditional istrian dish
1.5. - 15,00h ''Fešta za Fažance'' – festivity of the 1st May
6.5. - "Fažana school of salting pilchard" – competition and education about salting, Pilchard
6.5. - 17,00h education about Pilchard and technology of salting Pilchard
6.5. - 18,00h competition in salting Pilchard
11.-19.5. - 18,00h Paint exhibition of the kindergarden ''Sunce''
20. – 27.5. - "Tito’s days in Fažana" – exhibitions dedicated to the time Tito spent in Fažana
20.5. - 17,00h Opening of the manifestation

JUNE
3.6. - County of Pellizzano – gastro presentation
13.-14.6. - Days of the Fažana county
18.6. - 10,00h - "Fažanski tanac" – youth folklore festival for the Istrian elementary schools
25.6. - "Fisherman’s festival" – preparation and degustation of pilchard in 100 ways - Opening of "Park of pilchard"
27.6. - 20,00h Concert of the group „Batana“ from Rovinj
29.6. - 20,00h Folklor group from Svetvičenat

JULY
30.6. – 2.7. - "Festival of sport and culture" – competitions in different sports, traditional sports, wolleyball, mini socker, swimming marathon-creative workshops at the beach of Fažana
16.7. - "Fešta od kužine" – gastronomy festival – competition in preparing istrian vegetable stew ''maneštra''
23.7. - "Roman Valbandon"– presentation of Fažana's activities and gastronomy in Roman times
29.7. - "Rio in Fažana" – summer carnival for kids

AUGUST
5.8. - "Pilchard festival" – the oldest Fažana festival
13.8. - "Open Riva Art" – one – day open air exhibition held in the old town core
20.8. - "Fisherman’s festival" – presentation of the old fisherman's tools and degustation of salted pilchard
27.8. - "Valbandon ispod čripnje" - competition in preparing dishes under a baking lid "čripnja"

SEPTEMBER
17.9. - "Fažanafest" – final festivity of the "Fažana cultural summer 2006"

NOVEMBER
11.11. - "New Wine Festival" at Stancija Barbo

SUMMER IN FAŽANA 2006 - Daily events at the waterfront: folklore, soft summer music, fashion shows, exhibitions, jazz evenings...

July/August - ''Hand made fair'' – original hand made istrian souvenirs

Istria Terra Magica Bike 2006

Dear sports friends,

it is our great pleasure to announce the 2nd international bicycle race Istria Terra Magica Bike that is going to take place on April the 30th in Poreč. Classified as a marathon, the race is listed on the calendar of the World Bicycle Federation – class 1, and the total prize fund amounts at 8.500 euros.

Considering the fact that there will be assigned world points, it is attended an exciting race and an intense competition. The trail is 74 km long and passes through the attractive old centre of Poreč which typical Mediterranean ambience is enriched by numerous historic-cultural monuments which comprise the complex of the Euphrasian basilica from 1997 included in the UNESCO’s world list of protected cultural heritage.

A novelty for all the interested: amongst the professional international race this year we have organized an additional shorter, 38 km long track for amateurs. We are also glad to announce a rich entertainment program with music, fun, animation and many prizes, audiovisual registration of the race and lunch for all the participants.

The hotel company Riviera holding from Poreč has prepared some special tourist arrangements and affordable prices for all the cyclists.See you in Poreč!

Date:30th April 2006
Competition type:Marathon Istria Terra Magica Bike (UCI E1)
Course:Marathon Istria Terra Magica Bike (UCI 1),
CLASSIC 79,6 km / 950 m altitude
(Group start for the following categories:
Elite, U23, Women, Master 1&2, Sport 1&2)

Marathon Istria Terra Magica Bike,
SMALL 53,2 km / 370 m altitude
(Group start for the following categories:
Juniors, Master 3&4, Hobby-Tourist)

Authorized categories:
Elite, U-23, Women, Sport,
Master 1&2, Master 3&4, Hobby-Tourist

Start:Start in Poreč at 10.30 am
Registration and start fee till 15th April 2006:Istria Terra Magica Bike (E1) = 20 €
Additional fee from 16th till 29th April 2006:Istria Terra Magica Bike (E1) = 25 €

Number assignment:
● Saturday, 29th April 2006 from 12 am till 7 pm directly in the race office at the Hotel Pical in Poreč,
● Sunday, 30th April 2006 from 7 till 9 pm at the info point at Poreč

Entry fee includes:
The course will be signposted from April 2006; race number holder; professional timing; Mechanical help in the start area; medical assistance; free parking; food stops along the course; prize total of € 8.500,00; pasta party; online results; bike washing at the finish; race pack for every entrant; free entry into the various activities; male and female showers, shuttle service for bikers (broom service); welcome party

Prizes:
Overall prize purse: 4.140 € cash. Prize purse will be awarded to riders in the following categories: Elite, U-23, Women, Master and Sport. Practical prizes will be awarded to riders in all categories.

Prize giving ceremonies:
● Sunday, 30th April 2006 at the finish lane in Poreč

President of the Commissaires Panel: Csilla Tam (Hungary)

General rules:
The event applies the mountain bike technical rules of the Croatian Biking Union, the UCI International Mountain Bike Regulations and the general regulations of the UCI. The organizer will not be held accountable for civil and legal responsibilities of the competitors towards third parties. The event will take place regardless the weather conditions.

Complaints:
According to the book of regulations by placing the deposit of 100 kn

Naturism in Croatia

History of naturism in Croatia and the present situation

History of organized naturist vacations in Croatia goes back in 1930's. The island of Rab is rightly referred to as the pioneer of naturism on the Adriatic. The month of August 1936 is frequently mentioned as the official beginning of naturism in Rab, i.e. when the English king Edward VIII stayed there and the Rab authorities allowed him and his wife to take a nude swim in the bay of Kandarola. That's why this bay is nowadays sometimes called "English Beach" or "Engleska plaza".
However it is certain that naturism on the island started long before that. The article "Trade in nakedness", published in the Austrian economic journal "Trend" no. 11/83 reports that the naturist beach in Rab was officially opened as early as at the transition to this century and that 50 beds in the hotels were reserved for naturists. The same article mentions that the first naturist beach in Rab was opened personally by Richard Ehrman, the president of the International Naturist Federation from Vienna in 1934. Naturism in Rab is also mentioned in the article of the Czech Josef Herman, in 1907 and of professor Günther in 1912, which proves that the Rab people had understood long ago the bright prospects of this movement which, at that time, was a very bold attitude.

Croatia was the first country in Europe to start with the concept of commercial naturist resorts, when in other European countries naturism was limited to member clubs only. Real naturist expansion started in 1960's when first naturist camps were opened in Istra and Dalmatia. In those days more than 100.000 naturists spent their vacation in Koversada in 60'sCroatia each year. The oldest naturist resort in Croatia is Koversada and in 2001 celebrated its 40th anniversary. Koversada is in fact a small islet and today it is connected by a small bridge with the mainland. The story says that famous adventurer Giacomo Casanova was the first one who took a nude swim in Koversada. But it was Rudolf Halbig from Germany, owner of Miramare travel agency, who, 200 years later - in 1953, recognized Koversada as a perfect naturist destination. At the beginning naturists put up in the village of Vrsar and went to Koversada islet for swimming and sunbathing. In 1961 Koversada became officially opened for naturist tourists. As Koversada was becoming more popular, the islet became too small and in 1965 resort spread on the near by shore. In 1972 Koversada hosted Naturist World Congress. In the course of years Koversada grew to modern and one of the largest and and the most popular naturist resorts in Europe.
Soon after Koversada, other resorts opened its doors to naturists as well: Valata naturist resort (opened in 1968), Monsena (in 1988 hosted Naturist World Congress), Solaris and many other.

Today Croatia is offering wide range of naturist facilities: beaches, camping, hotels, apartment and bungalow villages. There are more than 20 official naturist resorts that spread on 8.220.000 sq. meters. Naturist resorts offer 46.100 camping units, 5.300 beds in apartments, bungalows or hotels. In addition to that, official naturist beaches (outside of naturist resorts) offer a place under the sun for 20.000 sunbathers. Except of official naturist resorts and beaches, there are also many so called free beaches. Those are unofficial naturist beaches, sometimes controlled and maintained by local tourist authorities and sometimes not, that can be found everywhere on the coast.
Naturist beaches in Croatia are marked as "FKK". This is abbreviation for German word "Freikörperkultur" (Free Body Culture). The FKK sign is ubiquitous all along the Croatian coast.

Naturism represents an important factor in Croatian tourism industry. To estimate how many percent of all Croatian FKK beachtourists are naturists is not an easy task, because many stay in textile resorts and visit naturist beaches or resorts just for swimming and sunbathing. Some estimates say about 15% of all tourists in Croatia are naturists or nudists. That means more than 1.000.000 naturists visit Croatia each year. Most of them come from Germany, than Austria, The Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary etc. Considering country's liberal tradition toward naturism and a large number of naturist resorts and beaches, Croats are surprisingly still a bit shy when it comes to naturism and make about less than 5% of all guests in naturist resorts. Comparing to the situation in 1980's, number of organized naturist in Croatia has significantly decreased in the last decade. Many agree the reason is stronger influence of the Catholic Church in the society. Today many Croats prefer unofficial or secluded beaches to throw away their clothes.
But still, naturism is strongly suported by official Croatian goverment bodies. Take a look what official Croatian tourism site says about it (and we're glad they used many information from this site), and naturism is even mentioned on tourism site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Why come to Croatia?
Is naturism legal in Croatia?
When is the best time to come?
Is it safe over there?
Do I need any kind of membership?
Singles policy?
How about topless?
Clothing optional?
Are all naturist beaches listed here?

http://www.cronatur.com