Kroatien Bike Tour

Starting a new adventure, this time Croatia is our destination to explore a part of the country by bike, the first stop is in Treviso.

This brick building immediately catches your eye because it doesn't really fit into the residential area - it also has a special history. Acca Kappa. A name that tells an Italian story. The story of an old factory in the heart of the city. The story of a family that has run the company since 1869. The story of a lifestyle characterised by Italian taste, culture and elegance. Acca Kappa. A brand that occupies a top position in the production of fragrances, body care and wellness products. A family business that has remained true to timeless values.

On a voyage of discovery in Treviso Discovered in the hotel garden, the large fruity grapefruits originally come from Southeast Asia. In English and in Mediterranean usage they are called "pummelo" They adorn the branches individually or in groups. Genuine grapefruit are very large, and the ripening period is correspondingly long, usually taking over 12 months. . The skin is thicker than that of grapefruits, the yellowish or slightly pinkish flesh is less and the sweet-bitter taste is intense. Evergreen magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), here an unripe fruit cone. The evergreen magnolia reaches a height of up to eight metres. In combination with its white flowers, which appear from May to August, it is an exciting sight. This strongly scented plant always makes a good impression. The weathercock makes its rounds on the garden house roof as soon as there is wind, according to this gentleman: When there is no wind at all, even the weathercock on the tower has character. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

On the way through Treviso The Oratory of Santa Filomena was built in 1908 in honour of the Virgin and Martyr Filomena. The octagonal plan of the oratory is remarkable, and an altar in polychrome marble adorns the interior. I am always fascinated by the wrought ironwork on the balcony railings. The Church of San Francesco In the 13th century, the city of Treviso passed a law allowing the mendicant order to settle within the city walls. A small group of Friars Minor, sent out by Francis of Assisi himself, arrived in Treviso in 1216 and settled northeast of the city centre. and built a simple monastery. The church houses the tombs of some famous personalities: Pietro Alighieri, son of Dante Alighieri, was a judge, poet and commentator on the Comedia, living in Verona, and died in Treviso in 1364 while staying in the city. Francesca Petrarca the daughter of Francesco Petrarca, Her father Francesco Petrarca was an Italian poet and historian. He is considered a co-founder of Renaissance humanism and, together with Dante Alighieri and Boccaccio, one of the most important representatives of early Italian literature , she died in 1384 at birth in Treviso.

The Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, better known as "il Duomo", is an Italian national monument. Its origins date back to the 6th century; it was built in a central area of the city, and excavations show that there must have been a temple, a theatre and even a thermal bath there. The majestic interior consists of three naves with side chapels and enormous domes which exert an enormous fascination.

In the centre is the high altar and behind it a presbytery as deep as the nave, with various decorative elements, PIP1: The altar is the primitive sarcophagus with the remains of Blessed Arrigo da Bolzano from the 14th century. above it a simple but very effective cross. PIP2: Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament In the apse there is a fresco of the Pantocrator by Pier Maria Pennacchi from 1511, very impressive this fresco

Tour around the cathedral, with its domes. PIP1: One of the small alleys which are located near the cathedral. PIP2: One of the many canals of Treviso the (Roggia Siletto) PIP3: One of the magnificent houses that you can see in Treviso

At the moment the wrought-iron gate is still open. PIP1: Exhibition of a children's craft work at the Cafetterria la Torre. PIP2: No coffee today because closed. PIP3: Innovative optician store PIP4 +5: When night falls in Treviso

We continue towards Croatia to Zaton, via Trieste, Rijeka and Starigrad . PIP1-3: During a stopover we take a look at an extraordinary building It has been connecting the mainland with the island of Krk for almost 40 years. The reinforced concrete arch bridge is still considered one of the most interesting structures in the area. The Krk Bridge is also important for the city of Rijeka, because Rijeka's international airport is located on the island. In 1976, the construction of the Krk Bridge began in order to create a car connection to the island. When it was opened in 1980, the Krk Bridge was the widest-span concrete arch bridge in the world. The salty sea water and the fierce bora winds leave marks on the bridge. The winds can become so strong that the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and the weathering from the sea water will sooner or later force a new bridge to be built.

Sveti Juraj a fishing village on the Croatian coast, with 961 inhabitants. The village lives mainly from tourism and fishing. The bay of the village offers sheltered anchorages for small boats. Sveti Juraj is also known for its drinking water springs. The harbour accommodates fishing boats, which mainly fish for scampi.

Traffic rules, are interpreted quite differently here than in our country. PIP1+2: Zaton Our base for a week is reached and the beer is hard earned;-), first explorations by bike and on foot in and around Zaton. PIP3+4: View over to the National Park Paklenica and the Velebit Mountains The area of Velika and Mala Paklenica was declared a national Park in 1949. The main reason that this area became a national park was to protect the largest forest complex on the territory of Dalmatia, which was threatened by overexploitation. The total area of the park is 96 square kilometers, and it provides a habitat for rare and protected animal species. Chamois, deer, brown bears, lynxes, wolves, short-toed eagles, and griffon vultures live in the park, and some poisonous reptiles such as horned vipers and adders live in the Velebit Mountains. PIP5: Well closed and rusty this gate still does its good service ;-)

Healing mud baths open to the public PIP1: Mud bath A person completely covered in mud , a fairly common sight in the area. Whether for fun or for health , certainly the healing properties have been known for centuries. Even the ancient Romans recognised the benefits of the mud found here. Curative mud is used to relieve various chronic and acute illnesses.

Bollard, holding pile or ship fastener , which is a short, thick pile to secure ships. Bollards are usually cast in the shape of mushrooms or hooks around which the lines are placed to secure the ship. PIP1+2 Even if the bollards are already very rusty, the two ships will certainly still hold ;-)

Bicycle excursion to Nin On a small island, in the middle of the shallow lagoon, is the old part of town, which is connected to the mainland by two stone bridges. Nin is the oldest royal town and the cradle of Croatia. Nin has a rich cultural heritage, untouched nature and beautiful surroundings.

The Church of Saint Anselm Nin The church is located in the centre of Nin. Built in the 6th century, it received its present structural shape in the 18th century. The bell tower of the church is an independent building. The tower is believed to be from the 13th century, and it is thought to have been reconstructed in the 17th century.

The Church of the Holy Cross Nin The Church of the Holy Cross, or as they say the smallest cathedral in the world, is the most important preserved monument of old Croatian sacral architecture and a symbol of Nin. It was built in the 9th century, in the era of early Christianity. Due to the position of the windows and the angles of the incidence of light, the church also serves as a calendar. The exact date of the solstice and equinox can be determined on the basis of the incidence of light. There are some stonemason art to admire The Roman temple In the centre, are the remains of a Roman monumental temple, once the largest temple on the Adriatic east coast. One of the remains is a Corinthian column, 17m high.

The bay of Nin, is an ideal place for a varied and active holiday. Diving, windsurfing, parasailing and other sports are offered here. The bay of Nin is an ideal spot for windsurfers and hang gliders, thanks to appropriate winds.

Here, a sunset becomes an event which Sanober Khan describes as follows: "I find it incredibly amazing how the sky is a different shade every time the sun sets. No cloud is ever in the same place. Every day is a new masterpiece. A new wonder. A new memory. "Don't forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies." Paulo Coelho