Gourmet Tour Zagreb - Dalmatia

Day 01 ZAGREB arrival

Arrival and check in at the hotel. Three course welcome dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant. Overnight.

Day 02 ZAGREB Gourmet City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is reserved for Lower Town guided walking tour. Zrinjevac Park together with a lot of buildings representing the typical architecture of Central Europe from the edge of 19th and 20th century. Buildings of The Croatian Academy of Science and Arts and neighboring Art Pavilion are two finest examples. The first tasting – štrukli – will be served in a local café just behind the corner. Štrukli is a pastry filled with mixture of cheese with eggs, sour cream and salt, covered in clotted cream and baked in oven - traditional Croatian dish served in most household in wide Zagreb area. Continue by the Botanical Gardens and Marulic Square towards the Marsal Tito Square with another three important landmarks of Zagreb: The Mimara Museum, Croatian National Theatre and Zagreb University. Following the Masarykova Street you will reach Flowers Square, which forms the center of city’s social life together with Bogoviceva Street. The second tasting – cheese and wine – in the nice wine shop and cellar beneath the Gradec Hill. Experienced staff will give you an intro into Croatian wine regions and present three most typical wines. Afternoon starts with a short funicular ride to Upper Town – totally different, enchanting Zagreb and the story returns back to 15th and 16th century. The Lotrscak Tower stays proudly over the Lower Town panorama and signalizes the high noon to Zagreb citizens with the cannon shot every day. Step by step you will discover all major sights here: St. Catherine's Square with baroque church, St. Mark's Square with House of Parliament, House of Government and St. Mark's Church with it's picturesque roof, The Stone Gate – another remaining of strong city walls and the place where you can lit the candle and say the prayer to the Virgin Mary – one of two saints protectors of Zagreb. The third tasting – meal and wine – will take place in picturesque restaurant hidden between historical buildings and museums. Depending on season, the typical menu may vary slightly in choice of main dish (beef, veal, lamb, fish). The route will lead you down slope to Radiceva and Tkalciceva streets before reaching the top of Kaptol Hill with the Cathedral of St. Stephen and Archbishop's towers and halls. Overnight at hotel in Zagreb.

Day 03 ZAGREB - PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK - ZADAR

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure towards Plitvice Lakes National Park with en-route stop in village of Rastoke, placed on the estuary of the Sluncica River into the Korana River to see old water mills. Typical three course meal will be served in traditional restaurant in National Park Area – sheep cheese and sour cream with dried ham and sausage, grilled or fried trout with potatoes, apple strudel. Situated in a thick forest, Plitvice Lakes is considered one of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world. The 16 lakes connected by 92 waterfalls, cascading through picturesque surroundings. Plitvice Lakes were declared a National Park in 1949, and since 1979 they have been on UNESCO’s list of World Natural Heritage. Continue to Zadar for Dalmatian three course dinner. Overnight at hotel in Zadar.

Day 04 ZADAR Gourmet City Tour - NERETVA RIVER VALLEY - DUBROVNIK

Morning walking tour of this ancient Croatian city which inherited a lot of architectural sights from long and turbulent history as a church of St Donat, originally built in 9th century in Byzantine style. Another landmark is cathedral of St Anastasia constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries in Romanesque style. The main city street – The Wide Street – or Kalelarga, together with modern architectural solutions of Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun are unique in the world. Typical three course fish/sea food meal will be served in one of the best restaurants in the city. Departure towards the town of Metkovic placed in picturesque Neretva River Valley in Dubrovnik County for a river safari through the protected marshlands in traditional boats. This area is blessed with fertile soil, vicinity of the Adriatic Sea and Neretva River itself, the main source of the most important ingredients for local cuisine specialties. Special tasting menu for the dinner will be served next to the river bank – based on eel and frogs prepared as a stew or deep fried or grilled. Evening arrival to Dubrovnik. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.

Day 05 DUBROVNIK Gourmet City Tour

A half-day tour of the Old City included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list (since 1979). This ancient city surrounded by ramparts and fortresses abounds in architectural and cultural masterpieces carefully preserved for centuries. A pleasant walk will take you to the Rector’s Palace, the Dominican Monastery housing a rich collection of medieval paintings. A short break with refreshment and tasting of traditional sweets and candies produced in boutique shop according to the old recipes. Following the central city street – Stradun – you will visit the Franciscan Monastery, and other intriguing sites. For the end of the tour, a typical three course fish/sea food lunch will be served in one of the best restaurants in the city. Afternoon is free at leisure, and there’s no better way to spend it than visit Old City Walls and enjoy on your own in the splendid view over the historical buildings, houses, palaces and churches in the net of tiny streets surrounded by walls, towers, the steep hill of Srdj and the Adriatic Sea. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant in the Konavle Valley. Overnight at hotel in Dubrovnik.

Day 06 DUBROVNIK - STON - SPLIT Gourmet City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure in Dubrovnik. Departure towards Split with en-route stop in the town of Ston built in the 14th century in the form of a two-fold fortification system with Large and Small Ston, aiming to protect the salt plants, one of its major economic resources. A 12-kilometre long wall – the world’s second longest wall after the Wall of China – connects two fortified cities: the first was built in order to protect the salt plants and the second as the salt export harbor. The oldest in Europe, the Ston salt plants are still in use, and the salt producing technology has not changed for centuries. Your visit to Ston and its salt plants will be a journey through history. In Croatian gastronomy – the Ston Bay is the cradle of farming of mussels and oysters. A typical three course fish/sea food lunch will be served in one of the most authentic taverns in the town. Arrival in Split. Accommodation at hotel. Afternoon guided walking tour of historical center and remaining of Diocletian's Palace (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979), built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum. 12th and 13th century Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th -century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area. Wine and dine –in picturesque restaurant hidden between historical buildings and museums. Depending on season, the typical menu may vary slightly in choice of main dish (beef, veal, lamb, fish) carefully combined with wine and desert. Overnight at the hotel in Split.

Day 07 SPLIT - TROGIR - ZAGREB

Breakfast at the hotel. The day will begin with the walking tour of Trogir – the town museum (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997). Trogir is a remarkable example of urban continuity. The orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period. A typical three course fish/sea food lunch will be served in one of the taverns in the town of Trogir. Departure for Zagreb. Accommodation at the hotel. Farewell dinner will be served in a restaurant placed on the main city square – Ban J. Jelacic Square. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 ZAGREB - departure

Breakfast and check out.