The Association of Camellia Lovers from Opatija does not stop. They started the event “Autumn Rhapsody of Camellias” and organized a lecture by Dr. sc. Romana Lekić, Head of the Tourism Department of the Zagreb Bernays College of Communication Management. Opatija presented the topic: Parks as a dream come true – the magic of Angiolina Park and camellias, and the beautiful accordionist Dorian Rubeša played a beautiful melody.
Slobodan Kadic
“Opatija abounds in park architecture with preserved historical ambiance and historicist features. In addition to Angiolina Park and the magical power of the camellia plant, other historical gardens of our villas and parks stand out,” said Lekić and introduced the project to interpret and reinterpret the park through the economy of experience and methods and techniques of animation and storytelling.
Slobodan Kadic
The association has launched an initiative to create the conditions for Angiolina Park to “develop” towards the Historical Park of Excellence. The goal is to involve those interested in “The European Network of Historic Gardens” (REJHIS), consisting of 28 historic gardens and parks.
Slobodan Kadic
“They have eight million visitors a year, which is solid proof that they contribute to developing tourism of special interest, and the local population can enjoy them,” explained Mira Shalabi, president of the Association of Camellia Lovers from Opatija.
After the lecture, all those present gathered with blooming camellias in the Park where the “Little Camellias” of the Opatija Elementary School Rikard Katalinić Jeretov performed. The plan was to listen to a choir that prepared two commemorative songs and a recitation, after which ten little painters were to draw and paint the blooming camellias. While the rain stopped them from drawing, the choir left everyone breathless.
Slobodan Kadic
“It is at this time of year that blooming camellias with their supernatural colors disperse the gray of late autumn and paint them pink, so then the whole world is pink for us. We hope that our manifestation Autumn Rhapsody of Camellias will continue next year and become an interesting and new tourist product,” concluded Shalabi.
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