15.09.2008Полуостров Istria, Croatia
Somehow one n tourist has told, that has arrived to Istrian peninsula for visiting of visa-free excursion to Venice in summary has opened for itself the most comfortable place on the Earth, having convinced of justice of opinion, that the week spent in Croatia, gives a stock of vital energy for the whole year … Today we will tell to you about history of this surprising place.
The first settlements on this beautiful and generous earth have arisen seven millenia ago, during a neolith epoch. From them there were one crocks, anything remarkable. (The earliest settlement of primitive people is revealed in cave Sandal near to Pools).
The interesting has begun, when coast of Istria had ancient Greeks, precisely under nice Odysseus leadership. And can be, also Argonauts there looked. As the legend says, they have based "City-refuge" polai which has become subsequently Puloj. Greeks have added to archaeological museums still a little bit crocks and Apollo's broken statue.
Greeks were followed by Romans who bystrenko have grasped all coast and named turned out provinces Top and Bottom Illirik as local residents have been named illirijtsami. However, they named themselves "histri", paternal there was a name Istria. The main settlement histri was near to polai, that is in suburb Pools. It was called nezaksium.
Romans have taken care of the future industry of tourism: they have left remarkable architectural monuments. The most impress are all in the same Bullet which at Romans was capital of Istria. The huge amphitheatre constructed two millenia ago, contained 23 thousand spectators. Its sizes impress till now: it is an ellipse in length 133 and in the width 105 m. On the magnificent arena, one of the greatest in Europe, pass festivals and performances in the summer.
In the Pool other constructions have remained also: almost absolutely whole temple of Rum and August of I century BC, the Triumphal arch Sergija transformed into city gate, the rests of city walls and the Forum. The Town council building is constructed on the base of a temple of Diana, but also in itself represents a monument – the truth, already the Middle Ages.
The city of Porech not less Pools is proud rich past. In II century BC Romans have based here settlement Kastrum. In days of emperor Oktaviana it has grown to a city Colony Lulija Parentum.
After Romans inhabitants of Istria were on friendly terms with Byzantines. From this friendship there was a remarkable temple in poreche – Evfrazieva a basil, declared by UNESCO a monument of a world cultural heritage. The church constructed in VI century and now amazes with magnificent mosaics and marble columns with carved capitals.
The name Croatia has appeared not in Istria, and in Dalmatia. For the first time so prince Trpimir in 852 year named the country dalmatinsky. Then was everyone on the Adriatic coast much: invasion of hordes Batyja, sovereignty of Ottoman empire, a celebration of the Venetian republic, the Vengersko-Croatian kingdom and Austro-Hungarian empire.
The most considerable trace in shape istrijskih cities was left by the Venetian republic which has conceded Istria to Austria only in 1797. In Istria is stronger, than in all other Croatia, influence of the Italian culture is felt: over roofs of houses facades with the Venetian windows and Gothic galleries rise harmonous kampanilly, lists of a spaghetti and rizotto in the menu of restaurants-konob are infinite. In an integrity and safety there was medieval building Grozhnjan in the heart of peninsula and small town Buje which has saddled top of a hill. Medieval Motor-wines rises before travellers, as an illustration from the ancient book: he looks at the world from height trehsotmetrovogo a sharp hill which is finished by a belltower of XIII century. The city Ball is proud of Palace Bembo, hallows of five Venetian sacred are stored in church St. Blazha in Vodnjane. In poreche the Dekumansky street and area Marafor still remember a heavy gait of the Roman legionaries and a velvet of camisoles of the Venetian merchants. In Rovine Palace Kaliffi looks at a tower which hours count century after century.
After the Venetian republic the history of Istria and Croatia reminds intricate game in which this country as a ball, throw each other, and then strong European powers each other select. In 1806 Istria has passed to France under the name of the Illirijsky province, in 1815 again became Austro-Hungarian. In hundred years the peninsula together with near islands has departed to Italy. Only in 1947 Istria definitively became a part of Croatia.
About events of the newest history inhabitants of Croatia try not to recollect. As soon as in 1998 of border of the country have been definitively restored, Croats have begun to repair the roads broken by tanks, to patch roofs of hotels and houses, to open restaurants and to adjust the message. Very quickly the country again became the popular tourist republic favourite by Europeans for the pure sea and the low prices.
Istria less than other areas of Croatia has suffered from wars of last century. It in a century before last became the first resort place at all coast: Kvarnersky Riviera has started to involve crowned persons and the European aristocracy in XIX century.
The most old-fashioned and luxurious resort of coast, live illustration from for a long time left life of prospering Austro-Hungarian empire – the city of Opatija. The first hotel in Opatii has been constructed in 1840. Hotel "Кварнер" since 1884 serves as the sample of luxury. The well-known promenade “Opatijsky Langomar” lasts on 12 km from Volosko to Lovrana. In the end of XIX century ladies with lacy umbrellas here walked, gentlemen with canes and lorgnettes, governesses accompanied children in elegant dresses and matroskah. They admired views of the sea and enjoyed aromas of exotic colours. Along a promenade there are ancient hotels and country houses between which parks with equal beds and cut plane trees are broken.
In 1902 on a country house "Amalia" in Opatii had a rest Ajsedora Dunkan. Later she has written: “Under a window of our country house the palm tree which has drawn my attention grew. Earlier I never saw a palm tree growing on freedom. Every day I looked, how its leaves on a morning wind beautifully wave, and from it I took this lung kolyhanie shoulders, hands and fingers”. Palm tree Ajsedory and now kolyshet green leaves. Yes what there to speak, in these edges each country house and each palm tree can tell history about a life and love of the well-known writers or actors, princesses and princes, great emperors and to nobody known romanticists.
Labels: history, resorts of Croatia.