THE OPATIJA RIVIERA

Opatija, Lovran, Volosko, Veprinac,
Ičići, Ika, Medveja, Mošćenička
Draga, Brseč

The best known tourist riviera on the Croatian part of the Adriatic brings together and takes advantage, at the foot of the Učka mountain, of all the features of an attractive climatic health centre and seaside resort. The centuries-old tourism tradition and culture, the pleasant and healthy climate and the luxuriant vegetation create an environment for relaxation, active holidays and recovery. Located on the southwestern coast of the Rijeka Bay, the Opatija Riviera, with its climatic features (winter 7oC, summer 21,5oC), protected from strong winds and within easy reach of numerous major European cities, acquired the basis for an impressive tourism reputation as early as the middle of the 19th century. The appealing architecture and the space in hotel buildings, sanatoriums and villas tie on separated pavillions, flowery alleys, parks and walking paths.

Above, on the Učka slopes, stand the old farmers’ and shepherds’ villages, settlements and towns, the history of which has been marked by Statutes and church charters. Places that in the gust of the tourist wave were left apart, are known today as attractive tourist destinations deserving to be experienced by all, but also to be protected. The Opatija Riviera is proud of its unique promenade, the famous «lungomare», and of a whole series of paths in the woods – both the easier, for recreation and the more demanding, mountaineering tracks, heading towards the Učka Park of Nature. The town parks Angiolina and St. Juraj represent the monumental park architecture of Opatija. The Park of St. Juraj was recently awarded the prize for the most beautiful Croatian park.

LUNGOMARE

The seaside promenade, «lungomare», 12 km long, extends from Volosko to Lovran. Its construction took place between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, following the initiative of the Company for Opatija’s Embellishment (Abbazianer Verschönerungsverein). The project leaders were Heinrich Gintl, Alfred Manussi and Konrad Rubbia. The first stage of the project, from Volosko to Slatina, was completed in 1889, while the second stage, the one to Lovran, together with some substages, was brought to completion in 1911, owing to the engagement of the physician, Dr. Julius Horteanu. Even today, the «lungomare» offers possibilities of an exceptional psychophysical recreation for people of all ages, throughout the year. With no abrupt climbs and descents, away from roads and the traffic of town streets, the promenade offers not only the thalossotherapeutic, curative sea aerosol, but it also narrates the story of the Opatija Riviera, all along its length. This story is mirrored in the historicist and secessionist facades of the many hotels and villas, with numerous monuments, in the gardens, gazebos and parks. All this is situated along the lungomare. The most important of Opatija’s sights, but also all the other things that are mentioned in guidebooks: colours, sounds, fragrances, all the remarkable signs that have to be discovered and felt. Here are hidden and unhidden sea access paths, scattered hidden benches, mighty oak trees and laurel groves touching the sea, panoramas offering curiosity and peace in the unveiling of all the spots on the horizon, and old-fashioned lamposts all along the coastal promenade that allow for unforgettable evening and night walks.

After your walk, in the immediate vicinity, on the main road, the no. 32 city bus is a convenient way to bring you back to your point of departure.

The duration of a leisurely walk in both directions, including a break: about ten hours.

We suggest three sections:

	- Volosko - Slatina (4 km) one hour - Slatina - Ičići (4 km) one hour - Ičići - Lovran (4 km) one hour
	The promenade Carmen Sylve, overlooking Opatija, passes through the luxuriant wood vegetation, the famous laurel groves.
	Procure itineraries for researchers and tourists
	Opatija: phone 051/271 310 Ičići/Ika: phone 051/704 187 Lovran: phone 051/ 291 740

OPATIJA PARKS

The Opatija parks are some of the best known park architectural monuments in Croatia. On a surface of 3.64 ha, between the main town road and the sea, some 60 fields are located that surround the best known monuments from Opatija’s history: villa Angiolina, Amalija, hotel Kvarner, St. Jakov’ Church. Today, this park complex is divided into two parts, one, along the church leads to the Park of St. Jakov and the other, near villa Angiolina, leads to Park Angiolina. Park Margarita is a separate park located on a slope overlooking the Slatina. It all started in 1844. That year is recorded as the beginning of Croatian and Opatija tourism. The patrician and merchant Higinio Scarpa (1794-1866) from Rijeka, erected and arranged a garden in memory of his spouse, full of rare and exotic plants and trees. In 1882, the Imperial Royal Private Society of Southern railways from Vienna purchased villa Angiolina, and the park’s development was entrusted to Carl Schubert from Vienna, President of the Imperial Royal Society for the development and embellishment of pleasure gardens. Today the park has in fact retained its original architecture. Two styles prevail: the English one (winding paths) and the French one (flowery surfaces, according to the seasons). Care is devoted to the park on a daily basis. Although it is adorned by more than 150 plant species, it should be mentioned that until fifty years ago, this number even exceeded 220 types. The most prominent are: laurel (Laurus nobilis), the leafless magnolia (Magnolia yulan, Magnolia grandiflora), the high and low Chamaerops ecelsa, Chamaerops humilis, the caucasian fir-tree (Abies nordmanniana), the Pančić spruce (Picea omorika), ceddar-trees (Cedrus), Australian laurel (Pitosporum tobira), pines ( Pinus pinea), cherrylaurel (Prunus lauricerasus), olives (Olea sativa), wood date-palms (Phoenix sylvestris), sequoias (Sequoia) and camelias (Camelia japonica), that have become some of the symbols of Opatija.

	A guidebook to the Opatija parks is available from the Opatija Tourism Office.
	Town of Opatija Tourism Office phone 051/271 310 tzgr.op@ri.t-com.hr  www.opatija-tourism.hr