Croatia: 45 Years of UNESCO

Dubrovnik’s Old City, known for its robust stone walls and well-preserved medieval architecture, was one of the first sites globally to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. This recognition celebrates its unique achievement in medieval urban planning and architecture. Dubrovnik’s historical significance is further enriched by the Festivity of St. Blaise, inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage which has been a continuous tradition for over a millennium, symbolizing the city’s spiritual and cultural identity. Last year, the Archives of the Republic of Dubrovnik also joined the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, underscoring the city’s rich documentary heritage that offers invaluable insights into its illustrious past as a maritime republic and cultural powerhouse.

Split’s historical center, encompassing Diocletian’s Palace, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site largely due to its exceptional preservation and the continuous habitation within its walls since antiquity. The palace, originally a Roman military camp, has evolved over 1700 years into a complex medley of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Key transformations include the conversion of the imperial mausoleum into Saint Domnius Cathedral and Jupiter’s Temple into a baptistery. The maze of alleys within the palace reflects a history layered with varied influences from Roman inscriptions to noble Venetian palaces, like the Papalić Palace, now the Split City Museum. This living history is best appreciated by exploring the old city’s intricate details, from ancient sculptures to the Peristyle, which showcases a confluence of Roman architecture and Christian iconography.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is celebrated for its extraordinary natural beauty, comprising 16 terraced lakes joined by cascading waterfalls that extend into a limestone canyon. We are also thrilled to announce the 75th anniversary of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s first national park, established on April 8, 1949. Inscribed in 1979, this UNESCO World Heritage site is exemplary of nature’s ability to sculpt breathtaking landscapes. Since its inscription, the park has been dedicated to preserving its pristine environment and diverse ecosystems. Its distinctive feature lies in its travertine barriers, which form natural dams that, over millennia, have created the lakes, caves, and waterfalls that make this site a geological and hydrological phenomenon. The lush forests surrounding the lakes are home to diverse flora and fauna, including several endangered species, making it a critical habitat for biodiversity conservation.

In addition to Split, Dubrovnik, and Plitvice Lakes, Croatia is proud to be home to seven other UNESCO World Heritage sites that together enrich Croatia’s cultural and natural legacy. Each site offers unique insights into human history and natural beauty, inviting visitors from around the world to explore and enjoy.

The Euphrasian Basilica, a masterpiece of Byzantine art, is located in Poreč. Its complex, including a basilica, sacristy, baptistery, and episcopal palace, is celebrated for its stunning mosaics dating from the 5th and 6th centuries, which are among the finest examples of their kind in Europe.

The historic city of Trogir, founded by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC, is a remarkable example of urban continuity. The orthogonal street plan of this island settlement is superimposed with a network of medieval streets housing a preserved castle, tower, and a series of dwellings and palaces from very diverse periods.  I love Trogir! 

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik, constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries, is a unique testimony to the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Notably, it is entirely built of stone, using unique construction techniques that require no brick or wooden supports.

The Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar showcases the ancient Greek system of agriculture with its original parcel system still intact. Established by the Greeks in the 4th century BC, it is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Greek agriculture throughout the Mediterranean.

The “Stećci” are medieval tombstone graveyards scattered across central and southern Croatia as well as neighboring countries. These tombstones are noted for their unique decorative motifs and inscriptions that blend Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Bosnian Church elements.

The Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries in Zadar and Šibenik include a series of fortifications built by the Republic of Venice to fend off the Ottomans, serving as remarkable examples of the integration of defensive architecture into the landscape, and innovative Renaissance design solutions.

The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe highlight the spread of the beech tree in the post-ice age and its role in forming complex ecosystems in temperate latitudes. Croatia’s portion includes pristine and ancient beech forests, exemplifying untouched natural processes.