Croatian Culture

Croatians belong to the Middle-European and Mediterranean cultural and civilisation circle and tradition. Extremely rich and valuable cultural and historical heritage is pointing to a millenium old presence of Croatia in the area. The specific urban culture of coastal and island areas is easily seen in towns such as: Porec, Rovinj, Pula, Zadar, Sibenik, Hvar, Korcula and Ston, with Split (Diocletian's Palace) and Dubrovnik representing a part of the world cultural heritage under UNESCO protection.

For a relatively small country, Croatia has a culture rich in beautiful traditions. From music to theater, poetry to art, Croatians have been prolific in the arts throughout the centuries, inspired not only by the surrounding, breath-taking geography, but also by the years of struggle and sacrifice under various regimes. The passion, joy, sense of hope, as well as the hurt and fear, can be felt or seen in practically every piece of artistic work.

If one was to drive throughout the country of Croatia, one would find many varieties of music and art. In the southern tip of Croatia, the city of Dubrovnik hosts an annual festival (Ljetne Igre)featuring world-class performers in theater and music. The stages are set in the middle of the town, with the ancient stone walls as a backdrop.

In the capital city of Zagreb, one can enjoy an evening of classical music, opera, or ballet in a world-renowned theater. In the luscious valleys of Slavonia, echoes of the Croatian instrument, the tamburica, can be heard throughout, accompanied by traditional folk dancing called "KOLO".

Although modern times have long ago spread across Croatia, there are still many traditions alive today in many of the villages throughout the country as well as on the islands, which have remained practically unchanged for hundreds of years. Each village seems to have its own unique way of celebrating events such as weddings and religious holidays.

Although it sometimes feels like some people from one region are very different than those from another, the common thread that connects all Croatians is the love and respect of their collective history, traditions, and culture.