Attractions of Opatija

Source www.placesofjuma.com

Opatija in Croatia had its beginnings as a tourist resort in the 19th century, when the first villa was founded almost 180 years ago. At that time, the architecture of the many beautiful villas was created, which can still be admired along the coast, well renovated. Most of these historic buildings are now B&Bs, apartment houses or hotels.

The Center of Opatija

The must-see in Opatija is definitely the historic town center. Together with the main beach Slatina, it forms the lively tourist center of the resort. Slatina Street is always very lively because the motto is: see and be seen.

Strolling along the lively promenade you will discover some of the most magnificent buildings from the imperial period and, moreover, you will enjoy a terrific selection of restaurants, cafés and ice cream parlors in addition to beautiful boutiques to do some shopping.

Franz-Josef Promenade

Beautiful is the dreamlike Franz-Josef promenade. On a length of about 12 kilometers you can visit numerous attractions of Opatija just passing by.

Walking by the sea, you will explore beautiful gardens and parks, picturesque harbors and dreamy bathing bays that invite to jump into the cool water. The most important landmark of Opatija, the statue “Girl with a Seagull“, is located directly on this picturesque waterfront.

The sculpture was created in 1956 by the sculptor Zvonko Car, and today it is probably the most popular photo motif along the entire Riviera!

Walk of Fame

The Walk of Fame is one of the coolest attractions in Opatija. It is located right in the center of the city and is part of the beautiful promenade. Created only in 2015, this Croatian street of fame resembles the famous Walk of Fame in L.A. This art project honored Croatian celebrities who had made a name for themselves in the past, especially in sports, science, art or culture. Currently, there are 32 marble stars on this enchanting street, which in any case should not be missed during a visit to Opatija.

Villa Angiolina and Botanical Garden

The beautiful Villa Angiolina is one of the main attractions in the seaside resort. Built as a summer resort house in 1844 by the merchant Iginio Scarpa from Rijeka, he laid the foundation for tourism in Opatija at that time.

Today, this historic mansion houses the Croatian Tourism Museum, which was founded in 2007. In the big saloon, various exhibitions take place regularly. Also worth seeing is the rear part on the first floor, where the restored original of the “Madonna del Mare” can be seen. Until 1951, this work of art could be found on the spot by the sea where the “Girl with the Seagull” is now located.

Next to Villa Angiolina there is the stunning Botanical Garden. It is now the central city park and open to the public free of charge. On an area of about 3.7 hectares, one discovers over 150 different, partly exotic flowers and plant species, which come from different continents.