Discover and experience Opatija for the weekend (1. part)

Every town has its secrets, and there is nothing more exciting and thrilling than to discover a well-kept secret that has been hidden from the world, and you, for years. Some secrets are “public”, some are kept hidden intentionally and some are just forgotten by time. Either way, merging into them will release a magic of your imagination, take you back in time of it’s happening and show you all the beauty of place you are in.

Our town is no different, so just keep reading and let us reveal you a few of those that our “Old Lady” is keeping that will entice you to discover and experience Opatija to the full.

But first, little more about our Lady.

She gotten her name by the Abbey of Saint Jacob (opatija means “abbey” in Croatian) that is located in the same called park in the middle of the town, but she is also known by the name of “Adriatic Nice”, “Pearl of Adriatic” and “Vienna on the sea”. She sits on the coast of a Kvarner Bay for hundreds of years now where Adriatic Sea splashes Učka massif and where the healthiest clime is created. Her beauty is mesmerizing, she never ages and love at first site is something that happens to her often, if not always.  She shows all the stunning colors of flowers and plant and beauty of Belle Époque architecture in spring, reveals her party and lazy side in summer, held festival of taste in fall and evokes romantic side in you with a smell of hot chocolate, Christmas lights, sound of laughter and feel of joy in winter. She lives all year and has it all.

Lungomare (The Seaside Promenade Volosko – Opatija - Lovran) – the starting point of a secret journey

The best way to start your journey is from Volosko, a small fishing village located north from Opatija, known for its narrow streets, art galleries, adorable small fishing harbor mandrač and prestige restaurants. This 12 km long seaside promenade to Lovran passes by stunning villas, public beaches, local monuments and beautiful old parks.

Lungomare, officially named Franz Joseph I Promenade, has been built in two stages, one in end of 19th century and other in beginning of 20th century, in time when to Opatija officially has been granted a name of climate health resort. Till this day this is a favorite walking path, photography stage and romantic ambiance for locals and visitors just like it was in the beginning of its build to king’s and queen’s and dukes and duchess from all over the world.

Explore this path if you want to enjoy stunning sea sights, hear calming sound of a sea waves, feel worm sun and fresh air on your face or look upon thousand stars while walking with your love one.

The Angiolina Park - the green heart of the town

When the seaside path starts to take you in the town go through the iron gate, pass by the Wall of Fame (painted wall with all famous persons borne in Opatija or those visited this coastal town), and enter the green oases of Angiolina Park, a 2.7 ha of protected monument of park architecture . This oasis is divided in 60 fields with more than hundred plant species from all over the world. You will find Ginkgo biloba, Libocedrus decurrens (Californian cedar), Musa Basjoo (Japanese banana), Sequoia gigantea (giant sequoia) seeded in a numerous field whose bases is a laurel grove.

The most famous field in the park is the one with camellias, first one broth from German city of Pillntz in 1844., when Villa Angiolina the building that marked the start of the tourist epoch was build. Iginio Scarpa, a patrician from Rijeka build this Villa in memory to his beloved and decease wife Angiolina and soon after he opened her doors to guest and passengers it become a meeting place and center of social life for upper class from Rijeka and favorite relaxing place to Austrian empress Mary Ann, the botanist Heinrich Noë, the Croatian ban Josip Jelačić and others.

Today it is a headquarters of Croatian Museum of Tourism.

Visit Angiolina Park and enjoy this beautiful most famous Croatian formal garden (arboretum) and for joy of it try to find a camellia field.

Croatian Museum of Tourism – rich history of sun and sea in one place

Established in 2007. with the idea to revive the rich history of Croatian tourism that started here in Opatija in the end of 19th century and to preserve a valuable collection of objects from that time till now, City of Opatija together with Republic of Croatia sponsored this valuable project and open the museum.

Discover beautiful interior of the museum, visit set up of permanent and current exhibitions, see interesting collections of postcards, photographs, hotel inventory, posters and ads that are set up through Villa.

Juraj Sporer Art Pavilion – exhibition pavilion of Croatian Museum of Tourism

Located in between the Park St. Jacob with neo-baroque fountain of Helios and Selene (the god of the Sun and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology) and Lungomare promenade, build in 1900s , named after Croatian doctor and writer Juraj Matija Šporer who strived for Opatija to become climate spa, this small pavilion was once a pastry shop named "Gerbaud" and then "Glacier" until the First World War.

Today is a venue for various exhibitions, concerts and theatrical performances that are held thorough the whole year and worth your visit.