In recorded history, the area known as Croatia today was inhabited by the Illyrians (not a uniform body of people, but a cluster of many independent tribes connected racially and linguistically) and since the 4th century BC colonized by the Celts (were a group of people who occupied lands stretching from the British Isles to Gallatia) and Greeks. The forefathers Croatia's current Slav population settled in this region in the 7th century.

Croats and other Slavic tribes arrived Croatia and Bosnia in the 7th century. The Croats organized the area into two dukedoms . The Pannonian duchy in the north and the Dalmatian duchy in the south. The first native Croatian ruler was Duke Branimir.

The first King of Croatia, Tomislav of the Trpimirovic dynasty, was crowned in 925. He united the two duchies and created a state. However, following the disappearance of the native dynasty by the end of the 11th century, the Croats recognized Hungarian ruler Coloman as their king.

The union led to the introduction of feudalism and the rise of the native noble families such as Frankopan and pubic. The princes of pubic family became influential, asserting control over large parts of Dalmatia, Slavonia and Bosnia. As the Turks invaded Europe, Croatia once again became a border area. The Croats fought but gradually fused with the Ottoman Empire of the Turks. By 1526, the Ottoman Empire further expanded to include most of Slavonia, western Bosnia and Lika.

Later in the same century, large areas of Croatia and Slavonia adjacent to the Ottoman Empire were carved out into the Military Frontier and ruled directly from Vienna's military headquarters. The area became rather deserted and was subsequently resettled by Serbs, Germans and others. By the 1700s, the Ottoman Empire was driven out of Hungary and Croatia, and Austria brought the empire under its control.

With the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, its areas in eastern Adriatic became a bone of contention between France and Austria. The Habsburgs of Austria eventually got them and by 1815 Dalmatia and Istria became part of the empire.

By mid 19th century Croatian romantic nationalism emerged to counter Germanization and Magyarization

Following the Revolutions of 1848 in Habsburg areas and the creation of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, Croatia lost its domestic autonomy. Autonomy was restored in 1868 with the Hungarian-Croatian Settlement.
Shortly before the end of the First World War in 1918, the Croatian Parliament severed relations with Austria-Hungary as the Allied armies defeated the Habsburgs. The People's Council joined Serbia and Montenegro in the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes shortly thereafter. Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

The Kingdom underwent a crucial change in 1921, when the new constitution centralized authority in the capital of Belgrade and redrew internal borders to favor the Serb majority, to the dismay of the Croatians led by the Peasant Party of Stjepan Radic. In 1928, a Serb deputy mortally wounded Radic during a Parliament session, which caused further, upsets in Zagreb. In 1929, King Aleksandar proclaimed a dictatorship and imposed a new constitution, which among other things renamed the country Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

In 1934, the King Aleksandar was assassinated abroad by banned radical groups. Croatia received some autonomy in 1939 with a reshuffling of the provinces, but the militarist regime in Belgrade crumbled in 1941 and the Axis powers quickly occupied Yugoslavia.

Croatia is a country in Europe at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Its capital is Zagreb. Croatia shares land borders with Slovenia and Hungary on the north, Serbia on the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina on the south and east, and Montenegro on the south, as well as a sea border with Italy to the west. It is a candidate for membership in the European Union and NATO.


The capital - After the morning rush, the city softens its business profile with the laughter of youth, the songs of street buskers, and bright faces behind the glass windows of its many cafés. The diversity, sprit and vision are those of modern capital but, at the same time, some of the idyll of the past has been preserved.Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

Split is a busy port, with an international airport and regular ferry services with the nearby islands, the north and south Adriatic, Italy and Greece. The merchant and passenger ships of the Split shipyards may be encountered in almost all the seas of the world. In addition, the city has large chemical works, metallurgy plants, and workshops for the production of solar cells. The fertile fields around Split represent a good base for agriculture, while cultural monuments, superb landscapes and unparalleled seascapes make it a tourist's wonderland. Split is also a university seat and host to numerous scientific institutions. Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

Dubrovnik is the highlight in Croatia. Named one of the most beautiful towns in the world for the last five years running in 'traveller magazine' a week could easily be spent here.

Opatija is the pearl of Kvarner Bay. The Opatija Riviera is a unique combination of climatic, vegetative and cultural opposites. The average temperature in Opatija is some degrees higher then in neighbouring places, that is the reason why camellias, magnolias, palms, bamboos, and other subtropical plants can grow in its parks. The central Opatija park for example is a horticultural monument covering an area of 3.64 hectares.

The city of Pula represents a very fine combination of the old and modern city where many famous writers and composers have found inspiration for their masterpieces. Many cultural and historical monuments dominate its panorama and represent today the unique setting of various cultural and artistic events. Tourist facilities are located outside the town in woods close to the sea. Beaches stretch along 100 km of beautifully and indented coast. The area of Pula is magnificent, with country stone houses and buildings of modern architecture. Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations