Croatia: Prehistory to the Present

Sunday, September 15, 2019: Depart home for Zagreb, Croatia
Monday, September 16: Arrive Zagreb | Private transfer to hotel | Welcome reception
Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport (ZAG), you will be met for private, individual transfers to our hotel. After some time to relax after the flight, gather for a welcome reception and a short walking tour of sites near the hotel, followed by dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Esplanade Zagreb Hotel for three nights. (D)
Tuesday, September 17: Zagreb walking tour: Old City, Archaeological Museum, City Museum, Cathedral
In the morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Zagreb’s Old City, including entrance to the striking Archaeological Museum, consisting of more than 450,000 varied artifacts and monuments gathered over the years from many different sources. After lunch, continue our guided tour with the City Museum, to discover the past of Zagreb from prehistory to the present day; plus the monumental and impressive Gothic-style Cathedral. Dinner is on your own this evening. (B,L)

Wednesday, September 18: Krapina Neanderthal Museum | Vindija Cave | Zagreb
Visit the unique Krapina Neanderthal Museum, located near one of Europe’s most important paleontological sites. The museum features exhibitions about the Neanderthals and about the history of the Earth, from its origins to modern times. With lunch en route, drive to Rijeka Voćanska and visit Vindija Cave, a stratified paleontological and archaeological site associated with both Neanderthals and Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH). Return to Zagreb for an evening at leisure and dinner on your own. (B,L)

Thursday, September 19: Pula
In the morning, drive to the south of the Istrian peninsula and reach Pula. Enjoy a guided walking tour to discover perhaps the best-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy, including the impressive Temple of Romae and Augustus, the Pula Museum of Archaeology, and the Arch of the Sergii. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight at the 4-star Park Plaza Histria Pula for two nights. (B,D)

Friday, September 20: Pula | Rovinj | Monkodonja | Pula
Continue our visit of Pula, discovering one of Croatia’s architectural gems: the Roman amphitheater, the only one in the world with a complete outer wall, dating from the first century A.D. and originally designed for gladiatorial combat. Drive to Rovinj, the “Blue Pearl of the Adriatic Sea.” After lunch, stroll down the streets of this charming fishing village. In the afternoon, visit Monkodonja, an impressive Bronze Age hillfort. Return to Pula for an evening at leisure and dinner on your own. (B,L)

Saturday, September 21: Plitvice Lakes National Park | Zadar
Leaving Pula, drive to Zadar. Along the way, stop for lunch and also visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, interconnected by a series of waterfalls and set in deep woodland populated by diverse fauna. Reach Zadar and gather for dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera. (B,L,D)

Sunday, September 22: Zadar walking tour, Archaeological Museum, Museum of Ancient Glass | Šibenik: City Museum and Cathedral
In the morning, discover Zadar on a guided walking tour, including the Archaeological Museum, displaying archaeological material from the Paleolithic and Neolithic, the Bronze and Iron Ages, and the Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as archaeological remains from the 7th to the 15th centuries A.D. Visit the Museum of Ancient Glass, housing an outstanding collection of ancient glass from this part of Europe. After lunch on your own, we drive to Šibenik. Discover this lovely medieval town located in the bay of the Krka River. Explore the City Museum and St. James Cathedral, a masterpiece of Christian art and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gather this evening for a gourmet dinner. Overnight at the 5-star D-Resort Šibenik for three nights. (B,D)

Monday, September 23: Bribir | Krka National Park: Burnum, Puljane Eco Campus, Roški slap, Skradinski buk | Boat ride to Skradin | Šibenik
Drive to Bribir and visit the Iron Age, Roman, and medieval hillfort. Continue on to Krka National Park, a vast and primarily unaltered area of natural value. Enjoy a guided visit of the Burnum Roman military camp, with its unique military amphitheater and wonderful views of the Krka River gorge. Reach Puljane and visit the Puljane Eco Campus, housing archaeological artifacts (weapons, tools, daily use items) dug up from Burnum. Then visit the amazing Neolithic cave site above Roški slap. After lunch at Roški slap waterfalls, visit the outstanding Skradinski buk waterfall, the longest one on the Krka River. Visit the associated museum and buildings, and enjoy a boat ride to Skradin. Return to Šibenik for an evening at leisure and dinner on your own. (B,L)

Tuesday, September 24: Pokrovnik and Danilo Bitinj | Danilo Gornje
Drive to Andrew Moore’s excavation sites. Visit the Neolithic settlements of Pokrovnik and Danilo Bitinj. Lunch en route. Continue to the village of Danilo Gornje for a guided visit of the Roman villa complex. Enjoy dinner in the countryside with music provided by a klapa (traditional a cappella) ensemble comprising workmen from Danilo Kraljice village. Return to Šibenik. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, September 25: Trogir walking tour | Salona | Split walking tour, Diocletian’s Palace, Archaeological Museum
Drive to Trogir along a coastal road and enjoy a guided walking tour of this lovely town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, set within medieval walls on a tiny island linked by bridges to both the mainland and to the far larger Čiovo Island. The old town has retained many intact and beautiful buildings, such as the Venetian St. Lawrence Cathedral. Continue to Salona and visit the ruins of the ancient Roman city. Lunch en route. In the afternoon, reach Split, a great place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the downtown; step inside Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments; and explore the Archaeological Museum, a treasure trove of classical sculpture and mosaics from the surrounding ancient Roman settlements. The evening is at leisure and dinner is on your own. Overnight at the 4-star Diocletian Heritage Hotel. (B,L)

Thursday, September 26: Ston | Dubrovnik
Take a scenic drive to Dubrovnik along the coastal road, enjoying spectacular views. Along the way, stop at the little medieval town of Ston to see its famous town walls, one of the longest defensive structures in Europe, with three fortresses and a number of towers. After lunch continue on to Dubrovnik, with the balance of the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at the 5-star Royal Blue Hotel for two nights. (B,L)

Friday, September 27: Dubrovnik walking tour and Gornji Ugao Tower Medieval Foundry tour | Farewell dinner
In the morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned as one of the world’s finest and most perfectly-preserved medieval cities. The main attraction of Old Town Dubrovnik, apart from its old monasteries and beautiful palaces, is the ancient city walls with their intricate and complex system of forts, bastions, casemates, towers, and detached forts. Visit the Gornji Ugao Tower Medieval Foundry, guided by Dr. Nikolina Topić. Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure to walk the city wall circuit, visit the Ethnographic and/or Maritime Museums, relax, or go shopping. Gather for a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)

Saturday, September 28: Fly home
Private individual transfers this morning to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) for flights homeward. (B)