Dalmatia is one of the oldest regional and geographical concepts in this part of Europe. A littoral belt some 400 km long, it extends from Novigrad Paklenica to Cape Oštro, at Prevlaka.

Dalmatia is divided into three longitudinal, natural geographical entities: the islands, the shoreline and the hinterland. The greatest touristic pull of this region is the extremely indented nature of its coast. Dalmatia has over one thousand islands, rocks and reefs, lying parallel to the mountain massifs.

Geographically, Dalmatia is divided into Northern Dalmatia, with Zadar and Šibenik as its regional centres; Central Dalmatia, gravitating towards Split, and Southern Dalmatia, with Dubrovnik.
www.dalmatia.info

Northern Dalmatia
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Some major cities and resorts with short facts and links.

Zadar
Zadar is the main city in Northern Dalmatia with over 76,000 inhabitants. Another city to have grown from a Roman settlement, it was also under Venetian and Austrian rule as well as being assigned to Italy in 1920. Zadar Old Town is located on the tip of a peninsula.
www.zadar.hr

Sibenik
The population of Sibenik is just over 41,000. Sibenik is one of the few places along the Croatian Adriatic coast not to emerge from either a Roman or Greek settlement. It is therefore the oldest Slavic town on the Croatian coast, possibly dating from the 11th century. As well as being under Venetian and Austro-Hungarian rule, it was also briefly under French occupation in the early part of the 19th century.
www.summernet.hr/sibenik

Trogir
Trogir is about 38 miles (61km) from Sibenik and has a population of just over 10,000. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. In the 3rd century BC, Greeks from the island of Vis founded the settlement Tragurion before it went on to become part of the Roman Empire. Once again, this city was under Venetian and Austrian rule.
www.trogir-online.com

Central Dalmatia
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Some major cities and resorts with short facts and links.

Split
Due to the warm sea current, the swimming season here lasts from May until the end of September. An excellent climate, a beautiful coastline with a whole string of magnificent island, Roman monuments and medieval and Renaissance architecture all combine to make this one of the most attractive areas in Croatia. Split, the second largest city in the country. There are not many places, except perhaps in Zadar, where centuries of history have left such clear evidence of the will to live, of a blending of culture in close encounters of the old and the new.

Split is well served by air from Zagreb, and also has direct international links with Rome and London. There are from Zagreb, with a journey time of about 9 hours, and over 20 buses. The high-way from Zagreb to Split is planned to be open by 2005/2006. Numerous ferries connect Split with the nearby Adriatic islands (Hvar, Brac, Vis, Lastovo etc) and there is a coastal ferry service between the city and Rijeka to the north and Dubrovnik to the south. There are also daily ferries in the summer months (and slightly less frequent during the winter) between Split and Ancona in Italy.
www.st.carnet.hr/split

Makarska Riviera stretches for 60km, between the towns of Brela and Gradac, with the main town being, of course, Makarska. The Riviera is one of the most famous tourist locations along the Croatian coast and is also one of the most beautiful with countless sandy beaches, pine trees, sparkling water and peaceful bays. The area is also known for Biokovo Mountain, which overlooks the coastal area.

Makarska
The population of the town, loomed over by Biokovo Mountain, is just under 15,000. The town was a Roman settlement and was just on the edge of the Roman Empire and, at different times, was under the rule of both the Turks and the Venetians. One of the main sights in the town is the Franciscan monastery, whose present day appearance was built in 1614.
www.makarska.com

www.makarska-croatia.com

Brela
Brela is the first town you approach when coming down the coast from Split. It is a lovely town which has long stretches of pebble beaches and is much quieter than Makarska. It is especially suitable for family holidays.
www.geocities.com/brela_croatia

Some more places to mention are; Baska Voda, Tucepi and Podgora.
www.baskavoda.com

www.tucepi.com

www.podgora.net

South Dalmatia
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Some major cities and resorts with short facts and links.

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is the most southern city in Croatia, and the most practical way to reach the city is to do so by air. There are daily flights from Zagreb, and weekly flights from several other European cities.

Winding little streets, small shops and street cafes in an inexpressibly beautiful old town - these are the main characteristics of Dubrovnik. Many of its buildings have been declared part of the World Cultural Heritage and are under special protection. The city is at its most exhilarating during its Summer Festival that has been held from 10 July to 25 August every year since 1950. George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city: for him, it was paradise.

Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East (with a consul in Goa, India) and had trade representatives in Africa (Cape Verde Islands). The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day.

The international Airport, Cilipi, is about 30 minutes away. It is located south of Dubrovnik.
www.dubrovnik-online.com

www.dubrovnik-festival.hr

Cavtat
A town of beautiful palaces, summer mansions and hotels with a picturesque bay, harbour and palm-fringed promenade. Only 20 Km's south of Dubrovnik, this delightful resort is an ideal destination for families and others who want a retreat from the bustle of Dubrovnik city.

Cavtat also boasts of a pleasant climate and luxuriant vegetation, nice beaches and peaceful coves. Cavtat village has remarkable mediaeval character and offers distinctive and rich opportunities to visit art galleries and bookshops but most importantly to simply enjoy the beautiful scenery that surrounds this village. The harbour of Cavtat is a cluster of cafes and bars where you can sit and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere or perhaps take one of the numerous boat trips to Dubrovnik and the small islands which lie just off the coast.

The old town of Cavtat, in the very centre of the South Adriatic, is situated at the south slopes of the peninsula of Rat, in the immediate vicinity of Dubrovnik. Known as Epidaurum in ancient times, it is today the tourist and cultural centre of Konavle, the southernmost region of Croatia. The town of beautiful beaches and luxury hotels together with a traditional way of life and preserved customs waits for you.
www.tzcavtat-konavle.hr/novo/english