Croatia - The Mediterranean as it Once Was
Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country, bordering Slovenia in the west, Hungary in the north, Serbia and Montenegro in the east and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the south. Croatia also has a long maritime border with Italy in the Adriatic Sea. Unlike any other country, Croatia's geographical outline is croissant-shaped, due to five centuries of expanison by the Ottoman Empire.
Croatia covers a land area of 56,691 square kilometres with a population of approximately 4.4 million. Over 90% of the population is Croat, the majority of whom are Roman Catholics.
The remaining 10% is made up of Serbian and Montenegrin, Bosnian, Hungarian and Italian minorities. The official language is Croatian, which is written in the Latin script and local currency is the Croatian Kuna (Kn).
The country has an amazing 5,835km of coastline, of which 4,057km belongs to islands, cliffs and reefs. There are some 1,200 islands in the Adriatic, but only 50 are populated. The largest islands are Krk and Cres, in the Kvarner Gulf, with a land area of about 405 km2 each.
The climate is Mediterranean along the Adriatic coast, meaning warm dry summers and mild winters. With 2,600 hours of sunlight on average annually, it is one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe! Inland, the climate is continental with hot summers and chilly, snowy winters.
Selce
Selce is a small town with well-preserved Primorje style, with mostly pebble beaches; boat piers a picturesque seaside promenade . The first seaside resort was opened here back in 1894!
Local recreational facilities include tennis, miniature golf and water sports. Cultural programmes and entertainment are offered in the nearby town of Crikvenica.
Fishermen's fiestas on the quay sides are popular (usuallly falling around 12th July and 12th August) as well as the "Fishing with Guests" party 17th August.
Just 3 km southeast of Crikvenica; with a winter population of 1,439, it grew on the location of a ancient Roman settlement, near the natural springs of Jama and Polaca. The harbour is 5 km from Bribir, one of the ancient fortifications of Vinodol. Common occupations include farming, viniculture, olive growing, livestock breeding, fishing and tourism.
Local heritage
Selce emerged on the location of the Roman station Ad turres remains of Roman architecture with water reservoirs dating from the 2nd century. It was first mentioned in 1366 within the parish of Bribir. Later, Selce developed as a harbour belonging to the Zrinjski family estate and was home to wine cellars, salt magazines and trading.
In the older part of the town, the original Primorje-style rural architecture has been preserved with many charming narrow alley ways and courtyards enclosed by high walls.
Since the beginning of the 20th century a number of hotels and villas have been built to cater for the growing number of seasonal visitors. In the old olive-mill on the seafront, the "Toc Gallery" was opened in 1950. On St. George's hill, dominating Selce's bay is the gothic church bearing the same name.