20 Surprising Facts about Croatia, that even Croatians don’t know

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Here are 20 Interesting and fun facts about Croatia

We are writing about Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, the country in central and southeastern Europe, currently lead by Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović – 4rth president of Croatia (2018). Croatia is a beautiful country with breathtaking beauty, delicious seafood, incredible wine and great sunshine. We will tell you about real facts related to Croatia, that will amaze you. You will be surprised to know that most of the facts even Croatians don’t know.

#1 Facts about Croatia’s Dalmatian coast

The hit HBO series Games of thrones was filmed on the Dalmatian coats in Split and Dubronvik. The Dalmatian Coast is the place where dramatic limestone cliffs rise from the deep, and islands are scattered just offshore (the most appealing are Hvar and Korčula). Here you’ll find Croatia’s top tourist town, Dubrovnik, and the big city of Split, with its impressive Roman ruins.

You may give a second thought that may be coast is named after the breed of dogs Dalmatians’, but the region has been known as Dalmatia since the Imperial Roman times. The dog’s origins have officially been recognized as Croatian as there are illustrations of the breed dating back to the 17th century.

 

#2 Guinness World Record of the biggest white truffle.

Giancarlo Zigante, from Croatia holds the Guinness World Record of the biggest white truffle. He found the white truffle of 1,310 kilograms in Motovun forest, located in the north central part of Istria around the medieval town of Motovun on a magical hill.

 

White truffles are Called as the “diamond of the kitchen” by 18th-century epicurean Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, the truffle is prized among discerning food lovers. The distinct aroma and intense earthy flavor can transform pasta, egg dishes, rice and even foie gras into exquisite experiences. Ancient Romans attributed therapeutic and aphrodisiac properties to the truffle, and though this remains unproven today, there is certainly a love bordering on fervor for truffles.

 

#3 World Record for having smallest town

In the Northwest of Croatia you’ll find a small town called ‘Hum’ situated in the center of Istria. Which is said to be in possession of a world record for being the smallest town in the world. According to sources,  Hum is having barely 20 inhabitants only.

Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the river Mirna valley, an area in central Istria that includes wonderful hill towns such as Motovun, Roc and Bale.

Apart from being famous for being the smallest city in the world, recently Hum became popular for biska, a brandy spiced with mistletoe and made according to an old recipe originating from Hum. Every year at the end of October, the Grappa festival takes place here, presenting brandy producers from all over Istria.

#4 Sunshine per year

Croatia has the sunniest coast on the Adriatic, and one of the sunniest in the world. The island of Hvar is the sunniest island in Europe and is on the “15 most sunniest places” in the world list. Hvar is the sunniest island in Croatia with around 115 sunny days in a year. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world with its white amazing beaches and historical buildings around the cities.

Havar: 2760 hours of sunshine per year
Dubrovnik: 2665 hours of sunshine
Split (Marjan Hill): 2628 hours of sunshine
Bol – Island of Brač: 2620 hours of sunshine
Vela Luka – Island of Korčula: 2600 hours of sunshine

 

#5 Croatian Beaches

 

One thing you should know about beaches in Croatia, is that very few of them are sandy. The most famous beach in Croatia is in Bol, which is on the island of Brac. Zlatni Rat beach is known for changes in shape and colour depending on the wind. Often referred to as the Golden Cape or Golden Horn because of its distinctive shape. Croatia ranked among top 20 most popular tourist destinations in the world.

 

 

#6 Nikola Tesla

Do you remember Nikola Tesla, an engineer known for designing the alternating-current (AC) electric system, which is still the predominant electrical system used across the world today, was born in Croatia in the village, Smiljan.

 

#7 First Torpedo

In 1860, A Frigate captain, Giovanni Biagio Luppis (Ivan Vukić or Vukičević) von Rammer, sometimes also known by the Croatian name of Vukić, was an officer of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, who came up with the idea of the “coast guard“,  an explosive boat for the defense of the coast developed the first prototypes of the self-propelled torpedo. Which he unsuccessfully offered to the Ministry of War in Vienna.

In 1864, Captain Luppis joined with the engineer Robert Whitehead, the director of Stabilimento tecnico fiumano in attempt to develop the new weapon. The man who connected them was the retired lieutenant colonel and the future mayor Giovanni Ciotta, who participated in the project as the manager.

Though, In 1865 Whitehead already gave up Luppis’s concept and started from scratch – instead of exploding boat, he developed an explosive “fish” which looked like tuna and moved under the surface. Torpedo was first called the “mine-ship” (Minenschiff) and it was presented to the Austrian Navy committee on 20 December 1866.

Article Credit: First Torpedo

 

#8 Highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods

Intangible cultural heritage is the representations, practices, expressions and knowledge that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. Croatia has the highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods of any European country together with Spain.

 

#9 First musical pipe organs that is played by the sea

The musical Sea Organ (morske orgulje) is located on the shores of Zadar, Croatia, and is the world’s first musical pipe organs that is played by the sea. Simple and elegant steps, carved in white stone, were built on the quayside. Underneath, there are 35 musically tuned tubes with whistle openings on the sidewalk. The movement of the sea pushes air through, and – depending on the size and velocity of the wave – musical chords are played. The waves create random harmonic sounds.

 

#10 World’s Largest Neanderthal Finding Site

In the year 1899, the fossil remnants of the Homo sapiens neanderthalensis species were found at the excavation site located at the Hušnjak hill in Krapina, Krapina is a town in northern Croatia. During a six-year research at the site, led by highly expert Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, a total of 876 single fossil Neanderthal fossil remains were found, placing Krapina in the world”s scientific heritage as the world”s richest Neanderthal finding site.

#11 The mechanical pencil and fountain pen

Slavoljub Eduard Penkala invented the mechanical pencil and the solid-ink fountain pen in the year of 1906 and 1907. Soon after, he founded the Penkala-Moster Company with his colleague, Edmund Moster, and their pen and pencil factory became one of the largest in the world. The patent was registered in 35 countries. The company still exists today as TOZ Penkala in Zagreb.

 

#12 The Pula Arena amphitheater

The Pula Arena amphitheater located in Pula, Croatia is the only remaining Roman amphitheater to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved.

Image courtesy: getty images

 

#13 The oldest inhabited city

The oldest inhabited city in Europe is the eastern Croatian city of Vinkovci. The city has been inhabited for the past 8,000 years.
Vinkovci is a city in Slavonia, in the Vukovar-Srijem County in eastern Croatia.

 

#14 Women wear short skirts

On the island of Susak, the women hold the title for having the only National Costume that high above the knee in Europe.

 

#15 Croatia is a small country

Croatia’s territory covers 56,594 km2 (21,851 sq mi), making it the 127th largest country in the world. It has population around 41.7 Lac’s 2016). It became independent in 1991 for the second time, it joined the European Union on 1 July 2013. There are 444 protected areas of Croatia. Those include eight national parks, two strict reserves, and ten nature parks. The oldest national park in Croatia is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

#16 Wine grape

Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape, was originated from Croatia, as it has been analyzed from DNA test that grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag are genetically equivalent to zinfandel.

 

#17 The Griffon vultures

The Griffon vultures on Cres the only ones that roost by the sea anywhere in the world. But now Griffon vultures are extinct in many European countries and are endangered in Croatia.

 

#18 Wine Production

Wine is produced in Croatia as influenced by Greeks around 2.5 thousand years ago. Now Croatia has more than 300 geographically-defined wine-producing areas.

Croatia is a completely unique dividing line, where Western and Central Europe meet from the Adriatic Sea to Albania. The coastal regions of Croatia have given birth to the nation’s best wines. Istria, near Slovenia, is the home to a large variety of red wines made from Merlot, Carbernet Sauvignon, and Teran grapes. They have also given unique white wines, like Istriana, a very rich version of Malvasia.

 

#19 The Dalmatians

The Dalmatians breed of dog is from the region of Dalmatia in Croatia. But that’s not only the dog breed, there is also Croatian sheep Dog.

 

#20 Croatian Glagolitic Script

Croatians use Glagolitic Script which is the oldest Slavic script.

 

You may like also: amazing & interesting things about Croatia.

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