“The First Lady”, “Pearl of the Adriatic”,\"Sankt Jakobi\", \"Abbazia\", \"Old dame\", “Queen of Tourism”– these are just a some of the names given to Opatija. Guarded by a backdrop of densely-wooded hills, it sits where the Istrian peninsula joins the Kvarner Riviera. Escaping Vienna\'s winter chill, the Hapsburg nobility of the Austro-Hungarian Empire set the fashion more then 160 years ago. Drawn by the mild microclimate, Opatija\'s glittering guest list included crowned heads, composers, novelists, and other celebrities of the day. They flocked here to take in the sea air, revive their health in hot baths, cold baths, and the sanatorium; and to dance or gamble until dawn. Other distinguished visitors included Chekhov, Puccini, and Gustav Mahler - who came to convalesce here after a case of tonsillitis. James Joyce regularly took tea on the Hotel Imperial\'s terrace. Isadora Duncan danced to the swaying fronds of a palm tree outside her balcony

“The First Lady”, “Pearl of the Adriatic”,\"Sankt Jakobi\", \"Abbazia\", \"Old dame\", “Queen of Tourism”– these are just a some of the names given to Opatija. Guarded by a backdrop of densely-wooded hills, it sits where the Istrian peninsula joins the Kvarner Riviera. Escaping Vienna\'s winter chill, the Hapsburg nobility of the Austro-Hungarian Empire set the fashion more then 160 years ago. Drawn by the mild microclimate, Opatija\'s glittering guest list included crowned heads, composers, novelists, and other celebrities of the day. They flocked here to take in the sea air, revive their health in hot baths, cold baths, and the sanatorium; and to dance or gamble until dawn. Other distinguished visitors included Chekhov, Puccini, and Gustav Mahler - who came to convalesce here after a case of tonsillitis. James Joyce regularly took tea on the Hotel Imperial\'s terrace. Isadora Duncan danced to the swaying fronds of a palm tree outside her balcony in the Villa Amalia, an annex of today\'s Hotel Kvarner. The ideal way to work up an appetite for a leisurely al fresco lunch is a walk along Opatija\'s promenade-the Lungomare, much of its length shaded by chestnut and laurel trees. Handily placed benches invite you to sit and contemplate the Adriatic where the islands of Cres and Krk loom in the shimmering blue of Kvarner bay. Opatija retains an air of dowager duchess opulence: grand hotels with crystal chandelier ballrooms; Viennese-style pastries slathered in cream; visitors sporting old-fashioned finery. Its beauty and elegance are passed on to each guest, and many tourists keep returning every year for the rest of their lives, claiming that they simply feel wonderful in this place of elegance, wellness and natural beauty.

About Croatia and Opatija Situated below the mountain and Nature Park Učka, Opatija (old names: Sankt Jakobi, Abbazia) is a superb choice for a holiday in the summer and winter season. Opatija accommodates luxurious parks, hotels, old Austrian villas, seaside promenades and crystal clear beaches. These attractions as well as Opatija\'s welcoming climate has captivated and lured tourists from Europe and all over the world for more then 160 years. Opatija is the leading tourist destination in the Republic of Croatia for organizations, conventions and music festivals. Masquerade festivals, outdoor and indoor concerts, art exhibits, and other cultural and sporting events makes Opatija a top destination worth visiting the whole year round! Climate in Opatija The climate in Opatija is a moderate Mediterranean one with mild winters and pleasant summers with continuous circulation of air and sea aerosol. The

About Croatia and Opatija Situated below the mountain and Nature Park Učka, Opatija (old names: Sankt Jakobi, Abbazia) is a superb choice for a holiday in the summer and winter season. Opatija accommodates luxurious parks, hotels, old Austrian villas, seaside promenades and crystal clear beaches. These attractions as well as Opatija\'s welcoming climate has captivated and lured tourists from Europe and all over the world for more then 160 years. Opatija is the leading tourist destination in the Republic of Croatia for organizations, conventions and music festivals. Masquerade festivals, outdoor and indoor concerts, art exhibits, and other cultural and sporting events makes Opatija a top destination worth visiting the whole year round! Climate in Opatija The climate in Opatija is a moderate Mediterranean one with mild winters and pleasant summers with continuous circulation of air and sea aerosol. The average air temperature in the summer is 21.9°C (71.4°F), and in the winter 7°C (44.6°F). The sea temperature in the summer can reach up to 26°C (78.8°F)! The area averages 2,000 hours of sunshine a year; a perfect place to work on your tan or mearly soak in the sun. 160 Years of Toursim Tourism first began in Opatija in 1844 when the leading citizen of Rijeka, a merchant called Higin Scarpa, built the Villa \"Angiolina\", and named it after his deceased wife. The Villa was soon visited by many of the merchant’s family friends and business partners, along with a number of other distinguished noblemen and noblewomen. Most notably, the Croatian Governor Josip Jelacic spent his holidays here with his wife in 1850. As too did the wife of Emperor Ferdinand I, Empress Mother Mary Ann, spent the entire balmy season here in 1860. Opatija, with its sheltered location, mild climate and green landscapes soon attracted the attention of the Vienna Southern Railway Company, which bought the Villa \"Angiolina\" from Count Chorinsky in 1882. In 1884, after only ten months of work on the property, the Railway Company opened the \"Kvarner\", the very first hotel of its kind in the eastern coast of the Adriatic. The event marked the beginning of a very dynamic and active building period in the region.

Opatija, this elegant tourist destination, lies at the centre of the Riviera with the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia. The very attractive geographic position, enabling its warm seas to be quickly reached from many cities in Central Europe (only about 500 km from Milan, Vienna and Münich), lush green scenery and a pleasant climate (45° 20’ north latitude) were some of the main reasons for its beginning and the quick development of its tourism at the end of the 19th century. Built mainly at the turn of the 20th century, Opatija has remained in complete harmony with Nature right up until the present day. Well-maintained public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the \'Lungomare\', well-kept beaches and fountains provide a stunning backdrop for the villas and hotels that cater comfortably for up to 6,000 guests. Due to a relatively constant temperature (winter average 7.0 °C, summer average 21.9 °C), high air pressure and constant circulation

Opatija, this elegant tourist destination, lies at the centre of the Riviera with the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia. The very attractive geographic position, enabling its warm seas to be quickly reached from many cities in Central Europe (only about 500 km from Milan, Vienna and Münich), lush green scenery and a pleasant climate (45° 20’ north latitude) were some of the main reasons for its beginning and the quick development of its tourism at the end of the 19th century. Built mainly at the turn of the 20th century, Opatija has remained in complete harmony with Nature right up until the present day. Well-maintained public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the \'Lungomare\', well-kept beaches and fountains provide a stunning backdrop for the villas and hotels that cater comfortably for up to 6,000 guests. Due to a relatively constant temperature (winter average 7.0 °C, summer average 21.9 °C), high air pressure and constant circulation of air, the climate in Opatija is relaxing and refreshing. The contrasts of sea and mountains, green parks and blue ocean, old buildings and modern comforts, noisy entertainment venues and quiet destinations for excursions all combine to make Opatija and its surroundings a very attractive tourist resort at any time of the year. The tourist offering of Opatija includes its congress facilities (over 50 meeting rooms with capacity up to 900 delegates), 11 indoor swimming pools, wellness programmes, a casino, discotheques, a summer theatre with seating for 2,000, carnivals, festivals, and opportunities for shorter trips to nearby surroundings or all-day excursions to the Plitvice Lakes or Risnjak National Park, or even to Venice in Italy.