Introduction

Despite its recent turbulent history, Croatia stands out as a success story among those countries that are part of the newly emerging market.

Those who are seeking relatively inexpensive properties are finding that Croatia can provide them with a great deal: the Adriatic on the doorstep, a lovely coastline, spectacular scenery, a lower cost of living than we are used to in much of the rest of Europe, good food and, above all, friendly people.

Geography Located in southeastern Europe and bordered by the Adriatic, Croatia has a coastline of 1,778km. Along the heavily indented coastline, there are around 1,200 islands. The best known of these are Krk (the largest in the Adriatic), Brac, Hvar (known particularly for its climate, especially the mild winters) and Korcula. The biggest peninsulas are Istria and Peljesac. A system of national parks that protect the country’s flora and fauna has been established, including one on the island of Mljet and another at the Plitvice Lakes. The environment is very reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with lavender, vines, olive trees, peach trees, laurel and cypresses predominating.

Climate and weather

The climate is varied, a mix of Mediterranean and continental. Inland, summers are hot and winters cold, whereas the coast has much milder winters and dry summers. Along the Adriatic coast, the warmest months are July and August, when the temperature is between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. Rain at this time of year is unusual. In winter the average temperature is 12 degrees Celsius.

Inland, January temperatures are about 0 to 2 degrees Celsius, and July temperatures around 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. With an average of 2,600 hours of sunshine annually, the Adriatic is one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Croatia is generally expensive, but the standard is high. Visiting foreigners are entitled to free treatment, such as first aid, in an emergency. Some EU countries (including the UK) have agreements with Croatia that enable visitors to obtain free medical care while visiting the country. This requires the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the old E111 form.

The EHIC, which must be obtained before setting out for Croatia, should be carried at all times. In addition to the EHIC, it’s always advisable to take out a private medical or travel insurance policy. Do check the policy to ensure it includes the activities that you will be undertaking. Some policies exclude riskier sports such as scuba diving, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and so on.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Croatia is a fulltime job. Depending on what the visitor wants to see, there’s everything from the Plitvice Lakes (16 large and small crystal bluegreen lakes interconnected by foaming cascades and deep falls) to the medieval capital city, Zagreb, which celebrated its 900th birthday in 1994. Today, Zagreb is an international city that hosts many conferences, business events and trade fairs. One of Croatia’s most famous cities, Dubrovnik is one of those places that everybody should see at least once. Now almost restored after the damage it sustained during the troubles of 1990–96, it is one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Adriatic, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s best approached from the sea, from which the visitor can fully appreciate the walls that encircle the city. The biggest town in Istria, Pula, with its world famous amphitheatre is older than 3000 years.

Natural beauty

Croatia has eight national parks, 10 nature parks and two nature reserves, as well as almost 100 special reserves. From the region called Istria, located just across the bay from Venice, down to Cavtat, a quiet seaside town not far from the border with Montenegro, Croatia is a land of contrasts. They range all the way from KvarnerOpatija, an exclusive holiday resort and the centre of the Istrian Riviera, with modern villas, luxurious hotels and excellent tourist facilities, to Orebic, once known as the maritime centre of the southern Dalmatian peninsula of Peljesac, and now a tourist destination that is also famous for wines and wine growing.

And then there are the islands. One of the largest, Brac, is located just across from Split on the mainland. With its pine forests, superb beaches and pleasant coastal resorts, it is attracting a great deal of attention from those seeking a home in Croatia.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Istria and the Kvarner regions represents a special Croatian style of cooking, a blend of inland and coastal. These regions are rich in excellent fish and seafood, most notable among them being found in the northern Adriatic: scampi (prawns), calamari and shellfish from the Limski Kanal (Fiord). After an excellent prosciutto, and cheese and olives, many traditional wine cellars offer fish soup, fish stew, boiled prawns, black and white frutti di mare risotto, as well as other dishes typical of the central part of the Istrian peninsula - traditional wine soup, ragout (jota) similar to Italian minestrone (manistra, menestra, menestra), and also pasta and risotto dishes cooked with the famous truffles of the region - a self-sown precious mushroom species, unearthed by specially trained dogs and pigs; these fungi have the reputation of containing aphrodisiac properties.

National holidays

Most businesses, as well as shops and offices, are closed on Croatian national holidays, which, in addition to New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, are as follows:

• Epiphany (6 January)

• Labour Day (1 May)

• Feast of Corpus Christi (10 June)

• Croatian Statehood Day (25 June)

• Croatian Victory Day (5 August)

• Feast of the Assumption (15 August)

• Croatian Independence Day (8 October)

• All Saints' Day (1 November)

Can foreign nationals buy property in Croatia ?

Yes, under reciprocity agreements, foreign nationals, can purchase one of many Croatian houses for sale, Croatian apartments for sale and other property for sale in Croatia and Istria (the most famous region in Croatia). However, consent must be granted by the Ministry of Justice in Zagreb and will typically take between 6 and 12 months. While waiting for the approval, you can move into your new house, carry out any internal refurbishment and / or let your property.

I know there was a war in Croatia. Is the country now stable ?

Yes ! The war ended in 1995 and, since then, Croatia has been working hard to encourage foreign investment and to strengthen trade and commercial relations with western countries. In 2000 Croatia joined the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme and also became a full member of the World Trade Organisation. In 2003 Croatia applied to join the EU and there are hopes this will happen in 2009.