Is there anything else to do beyond shopping, sunning & strolling in Opatija, Croatia?

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Opatija beyond sunning & strolling

By Jeanine Barone
http://www.jthetravelauthority.com

My recent visit to Opatija in Northwestern Croatia started off in a curious way. Like always, I stopped in the local tourist office to find out what they recommended. But the very bored young information officer told me that there wasn't much to do or see in town. I found this hard to believe. So I pressed him and he responded that the only things to do in the area was shopping, sunning and strolling. I left and explored on my own, determined to find hidden treasures in the area. And I found plenty.

1. Don't miss the Carmen Silva Trail, a path that runs through the forest-draped hills that tower above the town. Here I walked in perfect silence, though the city itself was so near. Along the way were several lovely scenic vistas. This shaded trail was set up in the early 1900s and, after the Romanian king became lost on horseback in the forests, it was named for the queen. Here you'll find plenty of benches to relax as well as signage that explains the area's unique flora and fauna. As I walked, I met locals picking wildflowers and couples walking hand in hand.

2. Unlike most visitors, I walked the entire length of the Lungomare, a seven-mile, tree-shaded promenade. In one direction, the end of the road is Lovran while in the other it's Volosko, a quaint fishing village to the north. Your best bet is to spend one afternoon walking to Lovran and another meandering in the opposite direction to Volosko. Along the way to Lovran, don't miss the many Belle Époque mansions and villas lining the waterfront. It was tempting to just get off the path and hang out on the shore with a book either on one of the many pebbly beaches or a rocky boulder.

3. In the small town of Lovran, I found an interesting art gallery, Laurus that changes its contemporary exhibits monthly. Also, make sure to pick up a pamphlet from their tourist office and explore the town's interesting architectural features such as a stone portal with a wood relief of a mustachioed man which is said to protect against evil spirits; another has a relief of St. George killing the dragon.

4. I sauntered to Volosko and found a wonderful cluster of shuttered houses on steep alleys bordering the harbor. There are several art galleries, waterfront restaurants, a great coffee shop and a fish market where you can pick from more than a dozen fish and shellfish for your lunch. It's a small village but it's easy to get caught up in the low-key atmosphere and spend most of the day.

5. In Opatija, don't miss the grounds of the Villa Angiolina, which is a peaceful urban oasis planted with flora from all over the world, even China and Australia. Dating from 1844, this was the first of Opatija's many villas that made it a famous summer resort. Now you can see exhibits of the history of the town, which transformed from a fishing village to a health resort. The prominent and wealthy all had Opatija on their itinerary, whether the Russian Tsar or the king of Sweden.

6. Not far away is a landscaped seaside park, Park Svetog Jakova that's also home to Juraj Sporer, an art gallery with rotating exhibits.

7. To fully appreciate Opatija, make sure to explore the network of narrow walkways and stairs that climb steeply beside well-tended gardens. Few tourists do this but if you do as I did you'll find the authentic side of Opatija that's not all about sunning and shopping.

By Jeanine Barone
http://www.jthetravelauthority.com

 

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The views expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Guide2Croatia.