7 Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Croatia

Croatia is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, well known for it's 1244 beautiful islands and stunning towns & cities offering incredible value for money holiday opportunities. Every year millions of tourist are attracted by the natural beauty of Croatia and the crystal clear warm waters of the Adriatic sea.

There are a number of interesting historic and cultural sites to discover while on your holiday to Croatia, seven of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Here is the list of seven incredible sites that can be found in Croatia:

1. Diocletian's Palace (Split) - Built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the end of the 4th century AD, the palace later served as the basis of the city of Split. During the Middle Ages a cathedral was built inside the ancient mausoleum along with churches, fortifications, Gothic and Renaissance palaces. The Baroque style makes up the rest of the area.

2. Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plitvika Jezera) - Natural dams have been created over time where water has flowed over the natural limestone and chalk creating a series of connecting lakes, waterfalls and caves. The nearby forests are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species. The National Park is renown for its breathtaking scenery and beautiful water colours.

3. Old City of Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik) - During the Middle Ages Dubrovnik became a prosperous Maritime Republic and was the only eastern Adriatic city-state to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a incredible level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries.

4. Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica (Porec) - With its remarkable mosaics dating back to the 6th century, the episcopal complex is one of the best examples of early Byzantine art and architecture in the Mediterranean region and the world. Included in the complex are the basilica itself, a sacristy, a baptistery and the bell tower of the nearby archbishop's palace.

5. Historic city of Trogir (Trogir) - Trogir's rich culture was created under the influence of old Greeks, Romans, and Venetians. Trogir is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex not only in the Adriatic region, but in all of Central Europe. Trogir's medieval centre, surrounded by walls, is made up of a preserved castle and tower with a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

6. Cathedral of St.James (Sibenik) - The cathedral is a triple-nave basilica with three apses and a dome (32 m high inside) and is one of the most important architectural monuments of the Renaissance in the eastern Adriatic.

7. Stari Grad Plain (Hvar) - Set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, the Stari Grad Plain is an agricultural landscape which remains in use today. The plain is still mostly in its original form with the ancient layout having been preserved by careful maintenance of the stone walls over 2,400 years.

You can visit any of these cultural and natural protected sites by booking your holiday to Croatia with Balkan Holidays. Croatia is the upcoming tourist destination of Europe and is sure to give you an experience to remember and cherish for years to come.