Croatia is a well known tourist destination today, and at its forefront is the small coastal town of Opatija, on the Istrian peninsular. This sea-side resort town is considered to be the first of Croatia’s major tourist hotspots.

Tourism first came to the town in the 1800s when a rich merchant, Hignio Scarpa, and his wife built a luxurious winter home here. The Villa Aangiolina, as it was christened, was build in the midst of a well manicured botanical garden. On one side it enjoyed the cover of bay and oak trees, and on the other, the open sea. Within no time, the Villa was hosting European aristocrats and royalty. As word spread, the tickle of tourists transformed into a steady flow, and soon the first hotels sprang up; the oldest of which is the Hotel Kvarner (it was built in 1884 and is one of the finest hotels in the region even today). The main attraction of Opatija was its pleasant weather and the therapeutic waters. This very fact has allowed the town to develop into a major wellness resort today.

Opatija was my first Croatian getaway, when I moved here two years ago. Unlike the other tourist destinations, things here are calm and old world. No surge of crowds, no screaming parties; you are likely to get the occasional good morning nod as you walk around the tiny lanes of the town. And the quiet extends all the way along the Riviera, which is dotted with colourful fishing towns and clean pebbled beaches, allowing you to relax and recharge in peace.

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