Privlaka
The small peninsula of Privlaka, surrounded by the royal town of Nin to the east, is situated on the edge where the Dalmatian karst turns into sandy landscape of northern Dalmatia.
Privlaka, with its seven kilometers of length and four kilometers of width, is a rather small, but very warm-hearted village.
Easily accessible by car, only twenty kilometers away from Zadar, the main center of the region, which in turn is well connected with the whole Croatia and the fastest way to reach it is by taking the highway A1 in the direction Zagreb – Split, exiting at Maslenica or Posedarje knot and continuing down the main road towards Zadar. Coming from Rijeka, you should use the Adriatic main road. It is 23 km away from the Zadar Airport.
Climate
Privlaka has a mild, Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mostly mild winters. The mistral wind blowing from the north makes summer days more pleasant and the heat more bearable. The bora, a typical winter wind blowing down from the mountain of Velebit, brings low, sometimes even sub-zero temperatures. The Privlaka region enjoys pleasant warm sunshine and sunny days, with over 2540 hours of sun a year. The sea temperature during the summer ranges from 25 to 27 degrees.
History
The first written record of Privlaka dating back to 1296 mentions Privlaka as a winegrowing village. For generations Privlaka has been closely connected to the sea, navigation and fishing.
There are a number of ancient Christian monuments which are surrounded by fields under cultivation and unspoilt nature. Important sites dating back to the 14th century include the ruins of the Church of Saint Catherine and the Church of Saint Vitus, the patron saint of pharmacists, dancers and actors. The latter church is entirely preserved and holy mass is still held there today in June to celebrate the patron’s day. You can also visit the Church of Saint Barbara built during the Croatian War of Independence and the Parish Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary dating from the 19 century. This church is one of the most beautiful examples of classicism in architecture throughout Dalmatia.
In addition to its sacred sights, Privlaka has also preserved its water wells, once sources of water and life that bear witness to the hard life of peasants and fishermen and that hold many stories and secrets. Today twelve water wells are preserved, of which the most popular is the Sokolar’s well with its famous legend.
Beaches
Privlaka’s long, sandy, shallow-water beaches are ideal for family holidays. Families with small children will enjoy the clear sea and sand activities. The clear air and medicinal mud in Mostina cure rheumatism and arthritis. Sunbathing on the long, seaside promenade that encircles almost the entire village is indeed a special experience.
The temperature of the Adriatic Sea at Privlaka ranges between 22 and 25° C in the summer and 5 – 15 ° C in the winter. Transparency and color are far greater than that of other seas, with transparency being up to 56 meters. The salinity is 38 ‰, which is higher than the world average. The sea currents are of low intensity. The sea in Privlaka is distinctive and unique because of the richness of life, purity and transparency, and indented and dynamic landscape.
Privlaka is also a well-known surf spot. A part of Privlaka called Sabunike is, next to Bol on Brač, the most popular surfing destination because of the favorable wind from Velebit, which makes Privlaka an even more attractive tourist destination for all those who wish to engage in active tourism and water sports.
The hotel is situated in the part called Škrapavac which is famous for its beautiful, long sandy coves. They are protected from the strong wind bora from the north by high, steep hills, and open to the mild breeze. Like other Privlaka beaches, the coves in Škrapavac are also perfect for children and family tourism.
Healing black mud in Privlaka and Nin
Clean air and healing black mud make this location also attractive to people with health problems like asthma, rheumatism, arthritis, etc. The healing mud (peloid) is used for medicinal purposes ever since the Roman times to the present day. It is worth mentioning that the mud is one of the few ecosystems even in the world, and its healing power is used to successfully treat rheumatic and dermatological illnesses. The mud is applied to the affected area and left to dry and harden. After an hour or two, the mud is removed by washing or bathing in the sea. Along with the mud therapy, other forms of treatment can also be carried out in Privlaka as a part of therapy. Guests also have the opportunity to treat themselves using sea sand therapy, hydrotherapy, thermotherapy and peloidotherapy. This form of treatment is the best for people suffering from diseases of the locomotor and muscular systems, with three principal purposes being pointed out: treatment of chronic rheumatism, rheumatoid inflammatory process and psoriasis, “the diseases of the modern man.”
Even the ancient Romans have known the healing properties of the mud in Privlaka and its surroundings, and besides Privlaka black mud, the mud in Nin, which located only 6 km from Privlaka, is also well known. Today, healing mud is a very important tourist attraction of Privlaka, which increases the attractiveness of this tourist destination even more.
Nin
The Croatian Bethlehem is situated at 14 km northwest of Zadar, and the ancient town nucleus is situated on a diameter of only 500 meters connected to the mainland by two stone bridges. To the north, south and west, it is surrounded by lovely long and shallow sandy beaches while to the east extend the salt fields. A town of ancient past, it is 3,000 old and is among the oldest towns on the eastern Adriatic coast. It was founded by the Liburnians in the 9th century B.C. for it was their maritime and trade center. The ancient port of Nin, Aenona at the time, was on the area of the locality of Zaton Holiday Resort and the well-known campsite Zaton where remains are visible in the sea even today (1st cent.). In Roman times Nin became an important municipium. The remains of the biggest ancient temple on the eastern side of the Adriatic date from that time (1st cent.), mosaic on the floors of rich houses, remains of Roman buildings in the center of the islet, monumental statues of Roman emperors and other. Nin is the cradle of Croatian history je. It was the first political, religious and cultural center of medieval Croatia. Nin is also the oldest Croatian royal town, permanent and temporary center of the Croatian rulers: princes Višeslav, Trpimir and Branimir, kings Tomislav, Petar Krešimir IV, Zvonimir and others.
Zadar
Situated in the heart of the Adriatic, Zadar is the urban center of northern Dalmatia as administrative, economic, cultural and political center of the region with 75,000 inhabitants. The coast is particularly indented, the islands and the untouched nature allures many boaters to this regions. The archipelago counts 24 bigger and about 300 smaller islets and rocks, 3 nature parks – Telašćica, Sjeverni Velebit and Vransko jezero and 5 national parks – Paklenica, Plitvice lakes, Kornati Islands, Krka and Velebit classifying Zadar and its surroundings at the very top of the Croatian tourist offer.
The particularity of the city is irresistible for those who respect and admire historical monuments and cultural heritage, artists, tourists and its citizens. Zadar is a city monument, surrounded by historical ramparts, a treasury of the archaeological and monumental riches of ancient and medieval times, Renaissance and many contemporary architectural achievements such as the first sea organs in the world.
NP KORNATI
In the central part of the Croatian Adriatic, near where the Šibenik and Zadar islands meet, is a distinctive and, in many ways, special group of islands called Kornati.
Due to their magnificent landscape beauty, interesting geomorphology, the great indentation of the coastline and wealth of living marine ecosystems, the majority of the sea area of the Kornati archipelago was proclaimed a national park in 1980.
Today, Kornati National Park covers an area of 220 km2 and includes a total of 89 islands, islets and crags, with approximately 238 km of coastline.Furthermore, the relatively large number of islands, i.e. the terrestrial part of the park, accounts for less than one-quarter of its total area, while the rest is the marine ecosystem.
NP Plitvice lakes
The most beautiful and the most popular Croatian national park, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
A wondrous creation of forest landscapes snuggling between the mountains of Mala Kapela and Plješivica; a system of sixteen lakes interlinked by numerous waterfalls. The largest and highest of these lakes, resting on a dolomite bed, are Prošćansko jezero (639 m) and Kozjak; the lower lakes, covered in a layer of limestone, splash in a waterfall 136 m down, from whence the River Korana issues. The area also includes the primeval forest reserve of Čorkova uvala, where 120 types of bird and numerous caves still further enhance this unique landscape. The mountain climate makes for snow and ice across the mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls from November to March. This park offers quite the most beautiful cycling and walking paths anywhere in Europe. If opting to travel instead by canoe, a special permit is required.
NP Paklenica
A national park on the southern side of Velebit, the largest mountain massif in Croatia.
The awe-inspiring torrent gorges of Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica which run parallel to each other offer an insight into the unspoilt wilderness that exists not far from the beaches of the Croatian side of the Adriatic Sea, and rank among the most attractive natural areas in the whole of the Mediterranean: dense forests of black pine and beech, watering points for game and delicious springs issuing from beneath the highest peaks of Velebit. Velika Paklenica is a veritable climbers’ Mecca, while cave lovers are drawn by the formidable Manita peć. A rocky trail leads to the entrance into the park, through the gorge to a mountain lodge (6 km). Several other organized shelters are to be found across the mountain. Mala Paklenica, with its dry bed and untamed wilderness of rugged karst and endemic plants and animals, should be negotiated only by experienced hikers.
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