Sightseeing in Cres - what to see. Complete travel guide

Cres is Croatia's second largest island, which is known as a major center of ecotourism and a location of incredibly beautiful beach resorts. The beautiful island managed to preserve its unique natural splendour. Its guests have an excellent opportunity to combine hiking to picturesque places with beach activities. You won't find big noisy resorts, large-scale hotels, crowded beaches and busy streets here. The island will surely appeal to those travellers who prefer to spend time away from bustling metropolises and overpowering influence of civilization. Hiking, beach activities, exciting excursions, visits to local markets and restaurants - these are the main types of entertainment that the island of Cres is ready to offer its guests.

The first settlements on the island appeared in Antiquity. Many unique archaeological artifacts have been discovered on its territory. In the 16th century, Venetian Empire took over rsponsibility at the island. Extensive building of fortifications began. Some facilities survived to this day. Most of the Venetian monuments are located in the city of Cres, the capital of the island. Here, some sections of the walls as well as city gates survived. They are considered one of the most interesting monuments of architecture.

The gates that served as an entrance to the city, were built in the 17th century. They are decorated with skillful bas-reliefs and sculptures of a lion. Moreover, you can see some great palaces that belonged to wealthy Venetian families in the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the favourite places among residents and guests of the capital to be out is a Promenade, that is a location of the main fortress gates. Right behind them originates a picturesque historical district. An ancient clock tower has remained its permanent symbol for many hundreds of years. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In this area you can enjoy the most famous religious landmark of Cres - the Church of St. Isidore. Named after the patron saint of the city, it was founded in the 12th century. Despite the fact, that during this time its appearance has been repeatedly changed, the church managed to preserve a unique mysterious atmosphere. Curious travellers will also be interested in visiting the beautiful Petrić Palace, which is now being converted into a museum. Here, an invaluable collection of amphorae is stored, as well as other interesting archaeological finds.

One of the island's main historical values are the so-called written records - slabs and boulders, with ancient Glagolitic inscriptions on them. The most famous of them is the Boulder plate, which has an 11th-century-old inscription. A lot of similar monuments have been found in the immediate vicinity of the capital, as well as in the ancient village of Boulder. Nowadays, they are represented in Lapidarium in the city of Cres. It is definitely worth noting that the museum building itself is also of great historical value. It was built in the 16th century and served as a location of the city council for a long time.

You will find many interesting sights outside the capital as well. An ancient church of St. Mary Magdalene, built in the beginning of the 15th century, has been preserved on the island. It is considered the most spectacular architectural monument in Gothic style. Of great interest is the Franciscan monastery, that houses a unique collection of medieval manuscripts.

Cres is widely famous as an excellent destination for everyone who is fond of active recreation. The resort has modern infrastructure for water sports. There is a diving center on the island, which offers master classes for all beginners. Experienced divers, in their turn, are always welcome to rent all the gear they need. Some beaches are excellent for surfing. Moreover, vacationers can even rent a yacht in the port region of Cres. When it comes to the so-called “land-based” entertainments, the resort can offer hiking and cycling tours, during which tourists will be able to see the most beautiful natural landmarks of the island.

Fans of beach recreation will be also pleasantly surprised. They can relax on picturesque beaches that are distinguished by the outstanding and clean environment. There are no big beaches on the island, but the choice of calm and peaceful bays is simply tremendous. Many coastal areas have the Blue Flag label for their clean environment. That is particularly important for vacationers with children. Some popular beaches have comfortable concrete platforms, and some beaches are surrounded by trees that provide excellent shade in the midst of a hot day. Cres is an excellent resort for everyone who wants to admire beautiful nature and likes active pastime.