Colors of Dubrovnik - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Dubrovnik is the most majestic and refined city of Croatia, and known as "The Pearl of Adriatic Sea". Tourists remember it by red terracotta roofs, the marble areas, lonely monasteries and majestic walls. According to UNESCO, it is one of the most beautiful European cities: Dubrovnik concedes only to Venice and Amsterdam. The local people possess special friendly and hospitable attitude towards tourists and are welcoming them to explore their astonishing city. By the way, this is one of the features of Dubrovnik, where all tourists are not tourists, but visitors and lovely guests for local residents.

One of the main sources of income in Croatia, especially in coastal regions like Dubrovnik - is tourism. Locals keep boarding houses and private hotels, and therefore they are extremely polite with foreigners. On requests, even on the most unexpected or difficult one, they are ready to assist and help you with a smile. However, it does not mean that right away they will start carrying out an assignment. On the contrary, Croats are very sluggish tastiest like to put everything away for later and do not hurry to perform the work. They are quite unpunctual, however, are extremely polite. In Dubrovnik, it is accepted to bargain and discuss the cost of goods or service, especially in little shops and even cafe in coastal areas.

Local women are very emancipated, especially in comparison with other Yugoslavian republics. Very often, they are leaders in a family and make all the decisions. They seek to build up the career and in anything do not concede to men in the professional branch. The Croatian men differ in wit and excellent sense of humor; they look after themselves and are able to appreciate female beauty. At the same time, they do not afford anything superfluous, except delighted looks and compliments. Croats very much are proud of the nation and observe all national holidays and ceremonies. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Croatia is the quiet country, and the city of Dubrovnik is not an exception. The life rhythm is quiet here, and locals even in the large cities do not hurry anywhere. The residents of this city are very hospitable; however, if tourists accidentally get on a private property or raise an ethnic question, they can aggressively behave and even to get nasty with the stranger. They like to get out to nature together with family or friends. Their rest is followed by noise and long fun. One more distinctive feature of Croats – an action "korzo". Every evening locals go to walk on the main streets of the cities, showing beautiful dresses and estimating appearance of other walking.

Today Dubrovnik leads a rich cultural life. One of the most spectacular and favorite festivals is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. It is held every year, at the height of tourist season - from July 10 to August 25. This festival, certainly, is one of the most prestigious and mass cultural actions in Croatia and in Europe. The festival in Dubrovnik has held annually, since the 1950th year. Here at Dubrovnik Summer Festival, you will be able to enjoy the European music, theater, dances, movies, and painting. The uniqueness of a festival is that the ancient city of Dubrovnik with its medieval, Renaissance and baroque palaces and walls of thousand-year fortress almost for two months becomes the platform for theatrical and musical performances, concerts, ballets, exhibitions, poetic evenings. And in this unusual situation, in an environment of ancient walls, charming architecture and the clean sea under the star sky there take place performances of the Croatian and world celebrities. Everything together it makes an especially strong aesthetic impression. Especially as at this time Dubrovnik is visited by tens of thousands of tourists.

If you are the food lover and passionate tourist then you must book tickets to Dubrovnik in spring and fall, when held the most favorite festivals among gourmands. The first festival will be suitable for seafood fans, especially fans of oysters. Did you know that in Dubrovnik, it is possible to try fresh oysters at the end of March and beginning of April during the gastronomic festival "Festa od kamenica". Time of holding a celebration is caused by the fact that during this period of an oyster the most mature and, certainly, the tastiest. Therefore it is worth visiting Dubrovnik in the spring not only for the sake of the fine nature and fresh air but also for the sake of the most tasty sea delicacies. What can be better than a meal from the fresh poured with lemon juice? Dream of each gourmet! The second gastronomic festival is held on September 26- 29, and Dubrovnik becomes the favorite place for art and jazz fans, and for lovers of refined wines made in this region. All these options are united under the roof of the annual International Festival of Wine & Jazz. The festival is taking place in the Palace of the Rector which is located in the old part of the city of Dubrovnik.

This festival, about which we are going to speak now, will not leave indifferent each and one sweet tooth and sugar hounds. Did you know that Croats are also known as sweet teeth? And unless somebody will dare to reproach them with it, you should know that they produce the desserts enjoying popularity around the world! Whether more "sweet" festival is possible, then the Festival of Jam, Comfiture and Marmalade. This event takes place on October 11-13, in the heart of the Old City of Dubrovnik, on Straduna, before St. Vlah's church. Small and specialized producers from the whole country are gathering in Dubrovnik and bringing with them hundreds of types of natural jam, comfiture and marmalade here. The participants of a festival, who usually wear their national costumes, display and present jams made from lemons, cherries, strawberries, figs, and oranges. The sweetness of this festival makes it one of the most interesting actions which take place in Dubrovnik at the beginning of October. And one last tip from us: if you managed to visit this festival, do your best to try specially made in Dubrovnik traditional bitter orange jam.