The name
Dalmatia was first mentioned in the year 8 BC, as a Roman designation
for the area between the mountain of Promina and the river of Cetina, a place
inhabited by the Illyrian tribe Delmata, as part of a wider community of
Illyrian tribes.
Ancient monuments, records and buildings still exist and are part of the
Croatian cultural and historical heritage. They are also included in the
attractive tourism offer, testifying to the rich and turbulent history of
Dalmatia. Its history was marked by the ancient Greeks and Romans, Christians
and Turks, each leaving their mark in the heritage of the region, influencing
its further course and development.
Nowadays Dalmatia is the largest tourist region in Croatia, covering four
counties and extending over around 400 km of the coastal area. The area is said
to represent the real Mediterranean. A compound of stunning natural beauties,
united in their own diversity: the wide sea, numerous green islands and islets,
nature parks, rocky mountains, lakes and swollen rivers still attract and
delight modern tourists and residents, just as they did in past times.
The town of Podgora is situated in the heart of
Dalmatia, in the middle of the Makarska Riviera. It is one of the most
interesting tourist destinations in the region, attracting visitors with its
natural beauty, tourism and culinary offer, as well as the quality hotel
services (the best of which are provided by the Medora Aura Family Beach
Resort, a perfect place for a family holiday).
Northern Dalmatia
Dalmatia is famous for its thousand-year-old cities and
archaeological sites under UNESCO protection. The central cities and the
largest tourist destinations of northern Dalmatia are Zadar and Šibenik.
The City of Zadar emanates three
thousand years of history woven into the archaeological and cultural treasures
of the ancient, medieval and Renaissance periods. The church of St. Donat from
the 9th century is a trademark of the city and one of the best known monumental
buildings in Croatia. In front of the church is the Forum square, which was set
in place by the first Roman Emperor Augustus – and taking a walk along the Kalelarga,
Zadar's most famous street and “older than the city itself”, is also a special
experience. As to modern attractions, Zadar is the proud owner of the first sea
organ in the world, driven by the energy of the waves, as well as a light
installation named Pozdrav suncu (Sun Salutation).
Šibenik is the oldest
coastal city in Croatia that was not founded by the Romans, but the Croats in
the 11th century. It therefore has a special significance in the history of the
country. The Cathedral of St. Jacob is placed on the
list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as the most important Renaissance building
in Croatia, with a particularly interesting external part with carvings of 70
specific faces, citizens of Šibenik from the 15th century. The city’s must-see attractions are the four well-known
fortresses offering a fantastic view of the city and the sea.
Northern Dalmatia abounds with rich and distinctive
flora and fauna, scattered green islands, lakes and rivers with numerous
waterfalls, which is why three of the eight national parks in Croatia are
situated there. These are the Paklenica National Park, the Kornati National
Park and the Krka National Park.
Central Dalmatia
The largest tourist centres of Central Dalmatia are
Split, Makarska and the islands of Hvar and Brač. Split is the second
largest city in
Croatia and the largest ferry port in Dalmatia. It is famous
for its cultural and sporting events, as well as numerous historical monuments
and buildings such as the famous Diocletian's Palace, which was built for the
Roman emperor Diocletian around the year 300 and is now placed on the UNESCO
list of World Heritage Sites. The small streets and squares still teem with
life, restaurants, cafes, shops and other facilities enjoyed by both the locals
and visitors. Be sure you take some time to have a coffee on the renowned Split
waterfront, and visit many interesting sites such as the Statue of Gregory of
Nin, the Iron Gate, Peristil, the Cathedral of St. Duje, and many others.
Makarska is the central town of the Makarska Riviera,
one of the most beautiful Adriatic rivieras. Ithosts
many tourist towns with an attractive offer based on the benefits of the
climate, especially clear water and beautiful beaches, traditional culinary
delicacies, active nightlife, festivals, and modern hotel and apartment
accommodation.
This certainly includes Podgora, a town that lives both
for and on tourism. The town is known for its traditional hospitality, its long
promenade along the seafront, its excellent culinary offer, its ecologically
clean sea and beaches, the mountain of Biokovo in the background and incredible
sunsets. Tourism in Podgora is particularly suitable for family holidays, and
the best hotel accommodation is provided by the four star Medora Aura Family
Resort. The hotel is situated in an attractive location by the beach, with two
outdoor swimming pools, a wellness centre, bars, a restaurant, entertainment
facilities, a children's playground and stunning sea views from almost every
room.
The islands of Hvar and Brač are
well-known tourist destinations with numerous historical and cultural sites,
such as the Dragon Cave, the Blaca monastery and the stone museum on Brač,
along with the unavoidable visit to Zlatni Rat, the most famous beach of the
Adriatic. The island of Hvar features the old town of Pharos, the Hvar
Fortress, the Blue cave and Hell Islands.
South Dalmatia hosts the Biokovo nature park, featuring the second highest
mountain peak in Croatia (Sveti Jure, 1762 meters above sea level), a favourite
place for hikers and paragliders. Biokovo is the site of the Kotišina botanical
garden, with many wild plants, walking paths and a beautiful view of the
Makarska Riviera and the open sea.
Southern Dalmatia
The most famous city of southern Dalmatia on a global scale is undoubtedly
the magnificent Dubrovnik, a city of unique beauty and cultural and
historical heritage, placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is known for
its 1940 meters of city walls, the Rector's Palace, the Sponza Palace,
Onofrio's Fountain, the famous street of Stradun, the Lovrijenac Fort, the
famous stage for the performance of Shakespeare's “Hamlet”, and popular global
film production locations. In the last few years, Dubrovnik has become
particularly appealing to the numerous fans of HBO’s series “Games of Thrones”,
who enjoy the many themed tours and show great interest in visiting the
numerous locations where famous actresses and actors walked.
The area of southern Dalmatia includes the island of Mljet, the
“green island” featuring the national park of the same name with two beautiful
crystal clear lakes and preserved untouched wild nature.
The aromas and flavours of Dalmatian cuisine have been preserved by a specific traditional way of preparing dishes. Numerous cultivated and wild herbs such as basil, sage, bay leaves or rosemary give a special flavour to dishes, which are mostly prepared from fish, shellfish, crabs and seafood. Meat is also regularly included, especially lamb.
Famous fish specialities include the traditional fish soup, grilled fish and boiled fish, while the best-known meat dishes are lamb prepared under a baking lid, turkey and chicken. All the dishes are prepared with olive oil, which is a trademark of Mediterranean cuisine, Dalmatia being full of rich olive groves with juicy olives.
The perfect geographical conditions combining the sea,
land and hot sunshine provide excellent weather conditions for the cultivation
of olive trees, as well as grapevines for the production of specific, superior
and award-winning wines, such as plavac mali, Dalmatian Prosecco, postup, pošip
and a number of other top-quality wines to complete the oenological experience.
We should also mention the popular Dalmatian smoked
ham, which is considered one of the most original products of Croatian cuisine,
due to its specific taste caused by drying with smoke and wind. We should also not
leave out the aromatic sheep cheeses, particularly the one prepared on the
island of Pag.
The
culinary offer of the Medora Auri hotel is based on
these Mediterranean dishes, with popular modern meals ranging from pizza to
desserts being included in the daily menu. Show cooking is a unique experience
in our hotel restaurant, where you can see how some of the dishes from the
daily menu are prepared. A rich breakfast buffet will provide a great start of
the day with delicious buns, coffee, spreads, cold cuts, fresh fruit and
juices.
During the day, you can refresh yourself with a
cocktail at a beach bar, eat a quick and healthy snack at the Taste bistro on
the promenade by the sea, and in the evening you can try high-quality wine in a
bar with a terrace and enjoy a fantastic sunset over the open sea.
Accommodation at the Medora Auri Family Beach Resort is
a synonym for four-star comfort and fully justifies the standard of the
service. The hotel rooms have a balcony and a beautiful view of the sea,
Biokovo and the town. They are airyand equipped
with all necessary facilities and air conditioning. In addition to numerous
facilities such as bars, a bistro and playgrounds, the hotel boasts a selection
of high-standard wellness services. You can choose to relax with a range of
massages, in saunas or in the relaxation room with a whirlpool or with cosmetic
facial and body treatments. Additionally, you can enjoy swimming in two outdoor
heated swimming pools with a sun deck, deck chairs and parasols,
or you can walk a few steps to the
pebble beach and dive into the clean freshness
of the sea.
