Opatija,Istria, Croatia

Description:

Opatija lies 14km west of Rijeka, in western Croatia on the coast of Istria, although administratively it is part of the Kvarner region. Often refered to as the Nice of the Adriatic, it became a fashionable tourist resort at the time of Austro-Hungarian empire when many luxurious hotels and houses were built. It has kept its exclusivity and glamour today, as such many of the hotels are pricey. Op[atija is the longest established tourist resort in Croatia and is a popular all year tourist destination with a moderate Mediterranean climate  with mild winters and pleasant summers (average temp in Summer is 25C and in winter 10C). Opatija has accommodation for up to 6000 visitors and is able to offer numerous facilities, including: Indoor swimming pools, casino, discos, summer theatre, well maintained public gardens and a 12km long coastal promenade.

To see: The 14^th C Benedictine Abbey "San Giacomo della Priluca"  (Opatija means abbey in Croatian), The Church of St Jacob (1506), Villa Angiolina (1844), a villa built in 1844 by a rich merchant - nowadays it's a hotel and the Town Park "Angiolona" with species of plants from all over the world.