Forget Italy, France and Greece, top two spots of pristine natural beauty are in Croatia
With most of Europe covered with clouds and weather forecasts predicting snow in the next few days, we’re all dreaming of our perfect summer holiday destination. UK Telegraph went one step further and listed the very best secret resorts in Europe on December 28, 2015, and of course, Croatia made the list not once, but twice.
So, along with hidden gems in France, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal, according to Telegraph, if you are looking for a perfect family holiday away from the crowds and noise, then you must head to Mljet or Palagruža in Croatia.
Here’s what they had to say about our very own holiday havens characterised by privacy, tranquility and simplicity:
1. Palagruza, Dalmatia, Croatia
Rising from the deep blue Adriatic, the remote rocky islet of Palagruza lies halfway between Croatia and Italy. Measuring just 4,590ft by 985ft, Palagruza’s arid slopes support scanty Mediterranean vegetation, and on its highest point (295ft), the lighthouse, dating from 1875, affords magnificent views over an apparently endless seascape. Through the centuries, many passers-by (who used the island as a reference point when navigating the open sea) were drawn to its glorious isolation. Archaeologists have unearthed fragments of painted ceramic vases and jewellery, dating from the 6th-2nd centuries BC, possibly intended as votive offerings, that were left by the ancient Greeks. Today Palagruza is uninhabited, but for the lighthouse keeper. Its two pristine pebble beaches, Stara Vlaka and Veli Zal, give onto shallow turquoise-blue waters, in total solitude. No one will bother you here.
2. Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia
A green refuge from Dubrovnik’s summer crowds, this undeveloped island offers dense pinewoods and two interconnected saltwater lakes. Contained within Mljet National Park, the emerald-green lakes are perfect for swimming (and normally a few degrees warmer than the open sea) and you can rent kayaks, too. Alternatively, hire a bike and cycle the 7.5-mile perimeter of the Big Lake, hike up to Montokuc (830ft) for fantastic views, and visit the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on an islet on the “Big Lake”. As most visitors to Mljet come on organised day trips from Dubrovnik, once the last excursion boat has left, tranquillity reigns. Just a few yachters stay overnight, putting down anchor in sheltered bays, then hopping ashore to eat the local speciality: lobster. French deep-sea explorer Jacques Cousteau was especially fond of Mljet – you can investigate underwater caves and wrecks with the local aquatic scuba diving club.
You can read the full article HERE
Photo credts: NP Mljet
