There are certain places that we like to think of as perfect vacation spots, with gorgeous scenery, warm and friendly inhabitants, and sublime weather.
Can you imagine such a place? – The kind that inspires poetry to be written, and great romances to begin?
There are, of course, a great many such places around the world, but one that stands out to us is the Dalmatian Islands, in Croatia.
Geographically speaking, Dalmatia is one long strip of land located along the coast of Croatia, which extends from the northernly island of Rab, all the way to the southernly Bay of Kotor.
A series of 79 islands pepper the coastline, with the biggest of those being Pag, Hvar, and Brač.
The land close to the sea features the dramatic and beautiful Dinaric Mountains, which help to give the surrounding landscape some of its epic beauty.
The biggest cities in Dalmatia, by name, are Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Šibenik.
To talk about Croatia apart from the Dalmatian Islands is a whole different discussion.
But, as far as the Dalmatian Islands go, there is no denying that some of the most picturesque scenes you will ever see, are there near the coast, and in and around the islands themselves.
This phenomenon of the beautiful Dalmatian Islands is, naturally, brought to us in part by the Adriatic Sea.
Here you will find it to be an amazing place to conduct many activities, which both involve being in, or on the water, or being near to it, such as:
- Cycling
- Sailing
- Kite-Surfing
- Scuba Diving
- Walking
Because the surroundings are so replete with lovely scenery, almost any activity you take part in, in this region, is going to provide you with an unforgettable experience!
Historically Speaking
Historically speaking, the Dalmatian Islands have seen several different cultures come and go, giving the area a very rich and, some might say, complicated background.
Initially, the name “Dalmatian” came from a particular tribe of Illyrians known as the Dalmatae, who inhabited the area before many of the “newer” cultures arrived, when the “ownership” of this area began to swap hands.
Without going off on a huge history lesson here, suffice it to say that the Dalmatian Islands have seen its share of peoples, including Croats, Romans, Serbs, and Slovenes to name just a few.
Finally, after World War II, the area was taken over in its entirety by SFR Yugoslavia.
Of course, all places have their own history, but when it comes to the Dalmatian Islands, the history is very much alive in many of the cities and villages in this area.
When you visit there, you will find yourself walking amidst history itself, walking up steps and going through doorways, that have seen people come and go for thousands of years.
One thing many people do remark about the Dalmatian Islands is the “mood”, or the temperament of the people living there.
The expression “pomalo” is frequently used, and with a quick raise of their hand, a complete stranger will suddenly give you a welcome greeting which, in essence, means that you can rest easy.
In North America, we say “laid back”, because this is how time flows on the Dalmatian Islands.
Suddenly you realize that when they say “pomalo”, they mean it.
There isn’t the same sort of hustle and bustle as in other parts of the world, and hence the Dalmatian Islands, in addition to being smiled upon by the heavens, in terms of overall beauty, have an attractive power which captures the leisure some of us wish we could simply have in our own day-to-day lives.
This is why the Dalmatian Islands are a great place to go for vacation, because not only is it rich with history, and physically beautiful, but it gives those of us who are high-strung a much needed break.
