If perhaps you're looking for something different for your upcoming trip, why not think about going to Croatia, a charming little country with plenty to offer. Lonely Planet proclaimed that Croatia was the leading traveling place for 2005, and tourism hasn't died off a bit since then. The Croatian economy is thriving due to tourism, and the people love to see tourist spending their vacations in Croatia.
Split the largest town on the Croatian Adriatic
This is another town of the list of Croatian towns that has evolved from an old Roman town to a great yacht charter sailing destination. The main reasons for that is the fact that many sailing veterans consider this place as the best starting location to explore the Dalmatian coastline.
Places to see
Once here, you can immediately embark on a tour of the city, which should obviously start with the aforementioned Diocletian's Palace which actually represents the town's center. Enter through any of its 4 monumental gates and then take your time in admiring the intricate details and its exquisite architecture which has since served as a model for many famous architects. Continue your tour of Split with the St. Duje's Cathedral, the Peristil Square, Jupiter's Temple, the two Egyptian Sphinxes, the promenade known to locals as Riva and the Archaeological Museum.
Beaches
Every guide book suggests visiting the beach at Bacvice but I would go to Kastel which combines 7 little villages (Kastel Stafilic, Kastel Novi, Kastel Stari, Kastel Luksic, Kastel Kambelovac, Kastel Gomilica, Kastel Sucurac) to the north of Split towards the airport. If you stay in one of picturesque villages in Kastel you will avoid all the hustle of Split especially during the hot summer months. Also there is a very good local bus connection between each village and Split and the journey takes you 30 min. The villages are so close to each other that you can actually walk by following the coastline and have an occasional swim.
When exploring the Split area make sure to visit the ruins of Roman Salona and towns of Trogir and Makarska, as well as the islands of Hvar, Korčula and Brač.
Other sites worth seeing
Other sites worth seeing are St. Duje's cathedral which is the oldest cathedral building in the world. From the cathedral belltower you get an amazing panoramic view of Split and the nearby islands. Similarly eye catching are two Egyptian sphinxes which were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian. Find them in the scenic sites of Peristil Square and Jupiter's Temple.
Islands
One of the hardest questions you face in Croatia is which island to see, and I am sure after you have done your homework you are thinking of visiting either Brac or Hvar. Both islands are very conveniently located to Split - only 50 min on a ferry to Brac (Supetar) and to Hvar 55 min! Both islands are stunning with lots of beaches, nice food and excellent weather. They can get over- crowded and busy! I would go a little bit further and visit the furthest island off the Croatian coast - Vis. The ferry journey lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes. Vis covers an area of only 90 sq/km but the people of Vis are very energetic as they managed to sponsor their own colonies and have their own money in the past! Today Vis is a sleepy island with the main industry being tourism and wine! Also the sea around Vis is well-known for fish especially blue fish.
Marjan Hill
Marjan is an oasis for many people who look for a natural stress relief, a great place for long walks, jogging, and bike rides. Marjan's peak, Telegrin is 174 m high and gives a wonderful panoramic view of Split. South cliffs are popular within alpine climbers. St. Nicholas church is situated on the east of Marjan, on it's south side are beautiful St. Jeronimus church and "Gospe od Betlema" church (Madonna of Betlehem). House building is strictly forbidden in order to save Marjan - the lungs of Split.
Catamaran Charter in Split
Chartering a catamaran in Split is growing each year and is fast becoming one
of the most favorite vacation options for thousands visiting Split in the
summer. As the number of people chartering a yacht in Split grows, the
competition between charter providers grows simultaneously. This has led to
improving charter offer and the services that are accompanied to catamaran charter
in Croatia. For more info regarding catamaran charter go to: www.ayachtchartersplit.com.