by Veena Murali
When most people (from the United States at least) think of a relaxing beach vacation, their minds immediately jump to Mexico, Florida, or Hawaii. That was always the case for me. However, after spending two days on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, I was fascinated by the combination of history and beautiful beaches that made for a unique, relaxing weekend getaway.
Our Croatian adventures began in Zadar- ironically because the destination was one of the airports that budget airline Ryanair flies to. Still, our attempts to find affordable trips were rewarded, because Zadar was a quiet town with tons to offer. The town mirrors a smaller version of Florence, with its winding streets dotted with gelato shops and boutiques selling handmade souvenirs. I was actually surprised to learn that much of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast was under Roman and Venetian influence throughout history, which explained the abundance of pizza and pasta options at restaurants. We spent the morning exploring each of the little streets and boutiques until we truly thought we knew city’s layout by heart. Around lunchtime, we sought refuge from the rain at 4 Kantuna, a trendy eatery serving classic Mediterranean and Italian cuisines. We ordered one pizza and one seafood dish- monkfish medallions on a bed of creamy truffle pasta. Both were divine, and despite the large portions, we had no problem downing one of the most delicious meals we’d ever had.
Split was completely different from Zadar, in my opinion. While Zadar had a more Florence-esque feel- historic, cultural, and quaint- Split felt a lot more like Cinque Terre. Crowded beaches, buzzing tourists, and towering palm trees made for a beach town that was the perfect getaway. Old Split is actually built around Diocletian’s Palace, named after Roman emperor Diocletian, and the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on its own. Like the previous day, we spent a good amount of time wandering in and out of the crevices within Diocletian’s Palace and frequented the many boutiques and a gelateria (how could we resist!?). Around 2pm, we decided to take advantage of the shining sun and kick off our shoes at Bacvice beach. The clear blue water was filled with locals and tourists alike, all enjoying the pleasant Mediterranean October weather that you can’t find in Prague or New York City. After an hour of relaxation, we picked back up on our sightseeing and visited the Cathedral of St. Domnius, a small yet grand church located in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace. Right across the square was the vestibule of Diocletian’s Palace, which had an interesting history and intricate carved ceilings.
Our two short days in Croatia came to an end much quicker than expected; you can definitely spend a much longer time in this fascinating country island-hopping along the Dalmatian Coast or traveling up north to Zagreb, the capital. Still, we made the most of our little trip and left content, yet eager to return again someday.