2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide - (Page 13)

Zagreb sprung up from two 11th century townships. Today, as visitors increasingly explore Croatia inland from the ever-popular and gorgeous Adriatic coast, they are discovering that the country's capital is teeming with amazing tiled-roof architecture, museums, and restaurants serving up cuisines from its multi-cultural population. SEE: Explore the medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town/Old Town) where the history of Zagreb began. Wander through the Dolac open-air fruit and vegetable market to arrive at the neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its mammoth twin spires; and zigzag through pedestrian-only streets to the 13th century Church of St. Mark and to the Lotrscak Tower, whose cannon has been fired every day at noon since Jan. 1, 1877. Head to Donji Grad (Lower Town) and begin your tour by visiting several excellent museums: the Arts & Crafts Museum, showcasing Croatian design through the centuries; the Museum of Contemporary Art, displaying pieces by Croatian artists; the superb little Museum of Naive Art, including work by the highly esteemed Ivan Generalaic; and the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships, featuring mementos after romance ends. SAVOR: Take in the wilderness surrounding Zagreb with a day-trip to the UNESCOlisted Plitvice Lakes National Park. On a guided walk, follow scenic trails amid dense forest; by boat you marvel at the web of vivid turquoise lakes, waterfalls and streams; the grand finale is a panoramic train ride. SIGNATURE EVENT: The largest outdoor festival in Croatia is the 11th annual INMusic Festival, held this year June 20-22. On the eclectic list of big name artists is Florence + The Machine. STAY: The capital's grand dame is the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, standing next to the train station since 1925, where it was built to host Orient-Express passengers. Entered through a splendid marble lobby with Art Deco details, it has 209 spacious rooms and suites with comfy beds. One of the best preserved cities in Europe, Prague straddles the Vltava River, presenting her visitors with a unique urban-scape tapestry of architectural treasures: Romanesque monasteries, a Gothic cathedral, Renaissance palaces and gardens, Baroque churches, Neo-classic manor houses, and Art Nouveau and Cubist structures. SEE: Pride of place must go to the fairytale Prague Castle, sharing a commanding hill with the soaring St. Vitus Cathedral and the 12th century Strahov Monastery complex. Across the statue-fringed Charles Bridge, the Old Town square with its medieval Town Hall and Tyn Church, is a favorite gathering place. Take a walking tour of Stare Mesto (Old Town)-a cluster of streets full of architectural delights-then move on to the jewel-box Estates Theater, the National Museum and the Jewish Museum, made up of six sites in the Josefov district. SAVOR: Discover something special: Prague's Art Nouveau heritage, from the train station built in 1901 to the Lurcerna Bar and the elegant Grand Hotel Europa on Wenceslas Square; see the extraordinary Municipal House and tour the Mucha Museum, displaying the sensuous art of Alfons Mucha. SIGNATURE EVENT: The Prague International Music Festival, taking place May 12-June 4, 2016, features 50 concerts held in 17 venues, with music by 58 orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists from 23 countries. STAY: The 54-room Ensemble Hotel, with a steakhouse restaurant, spa, and rooftop terrace with jacuzzi and views of the Prague Castle across the river; it's near the Old Town square. CRUISE: Take a day or dinner cruise on the Vltava River. Or book a longer cruise, for no river cruise company plying the Danube fails to start or end an itinerary in Prague, coming or going to ports of call in Germany, Austria and Hungary. April to September According to a magical legend, fairies built the Arena in Pula. They carried stones all night from the Ucka mountains, lay them round and round in a circle, and so row by row, their city came into being. But since fairies are creatures of the night, they could only build until the first cock crowed. Then the fairies would have to interrupt their work and flee so that people would not see them. Their city remained unfinished and that is why the Arena does not have a roof GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Zagreb connecting through Amsterdam and Paris ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Croatian Kuna LOCAL FOODS: Dalmatinska pasticada (Dalmatian stew), a meat dish that takes two days to prepare; traditional Podravina cheese with a slice of Samobor salami and spicy Samobor mustard; Maraschino, a desert liqueur made from the Maraska cherries; traditional Lika baked potatoes with lamb cooked under the embers in an iron bell; and plenty of seafood dishes BEST BUYS: Embroidered table linens; lace; Croatian wine; candy; and ties (they were invented in Croatia) INFORMATION PLEASE: croatia.hr BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACT: FACTS April to November The Czech Republic has the greatest number of castles per square mile of any country in the world-some 1,800 of them. Many are just a day away from Prague: Cesky Krumlov, for instance, the second largest castle complex in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage monument GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Prague from New York (JFK) ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Czech Koruna LOCAL FOODS: Special Prague ham, roast beef in cream sauce, roasted boar with apples and blackberries, roast duck with red cabbage, and plum dumplings. Prague also serves up really good pizza as well as excellent beers. Exotic cocktails are now all the rage, as is farm-totable dining. BEST BUYS: Glassware and porcelain are renowned; garnets set in silver and gold jewelry; decorated eggs; and wooden toys. In a city of music, reasonably priced CDs INFORMATION PLEASE: myczechrepublic.com BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACT: 13 CZECH REPUBLIC Prague FACTS CROATIA Zagreb http://www.croatia.hr http://www.myczechrepublic.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Ghana
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Senegal
Tanzania
Egypt
India
Israel
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide