SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE 451

Croatia forms a meeting point

between the Mediterranean Central

Europe and the Balkans. The north

of the country has a Viennese look;

while to the west, the Adriatic coast

boasts a great deal of Italian-style

archi tec ture. The 1991–5 war

which followed the break-up of

Yugoslavia had a disas trous effect

on Croatia’s economy but the

country is regaining its reputation as

a popular holiday destination.

HISTORY

Croatia has been home to human

civilization since the Neolithic era.

Illyrian tribal states established

themselves throughout the region

dur ing the 1st millennium BC. They

were, however, no match for the

Romans, who conquered present-

day Croatia in the 2nd century BC.

Slav tribes, including the Croats,

settled in South Eastern Europe from

the early 6th century onwards. Croats

on the Adriatic coast accepted the

rule of Byzantium, which had inher-

ited Roman possessions in Eastern

Europe. Croats living inland carved

out an independent territory of their

own. In the 9th century, invading

Hungarians were thrown back by

Croatian rulers strengthening their

hold over northern and eastern

Croatia. Over the next 200 years, the

Croats extended their terri tories

towards the Adriatic, allowing a

Christian Slav culture to flourish.

CROATIA

S

ituated between Eastern and Western Europe, Croatia has

long served both as a land of passage and a point of contact

between different worlds and cultures. Though small, it has

great ethnic, historical and architectural diversity as well as a vari ety

of landscapes. The beautiful Adriatic coast is an outstanding

attraction and the largely unspoilt interior has great rural charm.

Turquoise lakes and waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park

Ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre in Pula, dating from the 3rd century AD