A rich culture and the breathtaking landscapes of the Croatian Mediterranean. This has made Croatia one of the most popular holiday regions of Europe, already at times of the United Yugoslavia. In two episodes Hans Jöchler and his team travel the land of the countless islands and historically meaningful places on the mainland. The film shows impressive landscapes on the mainland and the islands. However it delivers an informative insight into the busy history of a multiethnic nation, which became a full member of the European Union in 2014.
This first of two episodes presents well known destinations like Rovinji. Here many traces of the Venetians are to be found which once were rulers of the country. Furthermore the city of Pula and some of the 1242 islands of Croatia stand on the itinerary, such as Cres or Pag. One of the highlights is the visit of the oldest national park of Europe, Paklenica with its impressive gorges and black pine wood. A visit of the former capitol city of Dalmatia, Zadar stands before the boat trip to the Kornati.
On Dugi Otok the team puts the heads and the camera under water briefly, to be astonished about the variety of ocean coral species and molluscs at the up to 90 meters deep steep slopes. Finally the team heads on for Riva, one of the most popular tourist destinations of Croatia. This film gives the audience an impression of a country which suffers often from just being seen as a destination for mass tourism. But hardly many people know about its high cultural status proved for example by old sacred buildings or the Artworks and crafts.
