Jewish Heritage of Croatia

OverviewOverview

  • Jewish communities in Croatia like in the rest of Europe left a significant mark on the culture, way of life, and doing things. Touring Croatia with the focus being on the Jewish heritage will give you a sense of the achievement and hardship of Jewish culture in Croatia, with some of the oldest synagogues and communities in this part of Europe.
  • • Private tour of Croatia
  • • History, Nature beauties, Architecture, Culture & Cuisine, Relaxation
  • • 11 Days - 10 Nights
  • • 2 nights in Zagreb
  • • 2 nights in Rovinj
  • • 1 night in Plitvice
  • • 2 nights in Split
  • • 3 nights in Dubrovnik
  • • Licensed local guides

HighlightsHighlights

  • • Zagreb - capital of Croatia
  • • Rovinj - most romantic peninsula in the Adriatic
  • • Motovun - Truffle country capital with truffle hunting experience
  • • Plitvice National Park - perfect nature, wooden paths, turquoise lake surface
  • • Split - 1700 years old Roman emperors palace in Split
  • • Trogir - an island city packed with history
  • • Hvar – one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world
  • • Ston - seafood paradise encapsulated with city walls and oyster experience
  • • Dubrovnik- city walls, old town in jewel of Mediterranean

Day 1

Day 1, ZAGREB ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, you are greeted by the driver, holding your group name on a signboard, and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure, to relax after your trip and to explore the city. We suggest having dinner in one of the famous local restaurants in the center of the capital of Croatia. Overnight in Zagreb. Hotel Esplanade 5*.

Day 2

Day 2, ZAGREB JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR

In the morning after breakfast, your guide will take you on a tour of Zagreb – the capital of Croatia, with a special focus on the Jewish heritage of this middle European city. Learn how the Jewish community was created in Zagreb, from the 14th century and the first arrival of Jews in Zagreb, over the gold years in the 19th and early 20th century, until total destruction of Jews heritage during the Holocaust. After the tour, you will have free time to familiarize yourself with the city and explore the local restaurants. We suggest having dinner in restaurant VINODOL, in the center of the capital of Croatia, where you would get to choose a la carte. If you prefer, we shall be happy to arrange dinner. Zagreb has a lively evening scene and we shall be happy to share some suggestions. Overnight in Zagreb. Hotel Esplanade 5*. Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

Day 3, ZAGREB – LIM FJORD - ROVINJ

After breakfast, meet your driver in the lobby of your hotel, ready to take you to Rovinj, the most romantic place in the Mediterranean! On your way to Rovinj, you will make a stop for lunch in Lim bay, one of the locations, which were presented on “No Reservations” by Bourdain. Here you will get to choose a la cart from the restaurant Fjord’s menu. After lunch continue with your transfer to Rovinj. The town of Rovinj is the right destination for all the guests seeking a sentimental atmosphere. After checking in to your Rovinj hotel, the local guide will take you for a sightseeing tour of this charming town, after which we suggest strolling along the seaside and climbing up to St. Euphemia’s church, to enjoy the views from the vista in front of it and afterward having dinner in one of the Rovinj restaurants with sea view. Overnight in Rovinj. Hotel Monte Mulini 5*. Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

Day 4, ROVINJ – MOTOVUN – GROZNJAN - ROVINJ

This day is reserved for a half-day tour, a trip to Motovun and Groznjan, beautiful small cities on top of a hill, surrounded with vineyards, in the middle of truffle land. Your guide will tell you a story of Istria inland with its history and famous legends of the Terra Magica – the magic land, the synonym for Istria. In the afternoon hours, you will get back to your Rovinj hotel, having the rest of the day at your leisure. We suggest visiting the old tobacco factory, now an art gallery, and having dinner in one of the local restaurants. Overnight in Rovinj. Hotel Monte Mulini 5*. Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

Day 5, ROVINJ – NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE

This morning, after breakfast your driver will be waiting for you, ready to take you to National Park Plitvice Lakes. Once there, we suggest having lunch at the restaurant of VILLA DEGENIJA, within the NP Plitvice. We shall be happy to make the lunch arrangements for you based on typical specialties. After lunch, you shall arrive at your residence at Hotel Fenomen Plitvice 4*. After check-in, you will a wide choice of activities, such as hiking or bicycle riding. You may also choose to simply enjoy nature and rest. Overnight in Plitvice. Hotel Fenomen Plitvice 4*. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 6

Day 6, NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE LAKES – SPLIT

After breakfast, you walk to the entrance of the Plitvice National Park (300 m away from the Ethno house) that spreads across almost 200 km2 and consists of 16 lakes on the Korana river interconnected with the waterfalls. This is also a natural habitat of numerous plants and animal species. Enjoy one of nature’s wonders of the world. After the tour, we suggest lunch at one of the local restaurants. We shall be happy to make the arrangements for you. After the self-tour, your driver will take you to Split, a 1700-year-old town that has grown out of the Roman emperor’s palace, to become the biggest city on the eastern Adriatic Croatian coastline. After the check-in at the hotel Judita Palace 4*, you will get some time to explore the narrow streets of this ancient town. After the optional dinner, enjoy yourselves in the city center filled with small bars and cafes. Night in Split, Hotel Judita Palace 4* Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

Day 7, SPLIT JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR – BEDALOV WINERY

In the morning, meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel for a half-day tour of Split with a special focus on Jewish heritage. It is believed that the Jewish community first settled in the palace in the 7th century in what later became known as the Jewish Ghetto, or just “Get” today. Recent archeological digs also revealed several limestone carvings of menorahs in the eastern part of the basement, thought to have belonged to the first synagogue in Split which was destroyed when the palace burned in 1507. Another Jewish claim to fame is the northeast tower of the palace dubbed Židovska Kula (Jewish Tower) by locals as the Jewish community defended the city from the Ottoman invasion from this tower. The Synagogue is located in the tight streets of the Jewish Ghetto, known as Get in Croatian today, and it was within this quarter of the palace that the Jews lived. Actually, the gates of the Jewish Ghetto were locked every night in order to prevent any religious outbreak between the Christians and Jewish communities. Actually, only one incident ever occurred when a fascist group robbed the synagogue of its silver and plundered the Jewish bookstore “Morpurgo” on Pjaca. The Morpurgo bookstore still exists today, bearing the same name and distinct wooden green façade as it did in 1860. After the old town, your guide will also take you to visit the old Jewish cemetery. Permission was given to the Jewish community in 1573 to construct a cemetery on the eastern slopes of the Marjan hill, looking over the city. It is known to be one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe and there are more than 700 graves with readable tombstones in Sephardic double-curved Hebraic text from the 18th and 20th centuries. The gravestones are constructed according to the Sephardim tradition where they lie horizontally instead of standing vertical. The last burial took place in 1945 before is was closed as a monument. After this in-depth tour of the Jewish heritage in Split, After the tour, enjoy wine and food tasting tour in Kaštela, with one of the local families. You probably know all about the cultivar Crljenak - Zinfandel. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the “Primitivo” variety traditionally grown in Puglia (the "heel" of Italy), where it was introduced in the 18th century, as well as to the Croatian grapes “Crljenak Kaštelanski”. The grape found its way to the United States in the mid-19th century and became known by variations of the name "Zinfandel", a name of uncertain origin. WINE AND FOOD PAIRING shall take place at the vineyard, as well as the vinery BEDALOV. The lunch shall consist of the freshest ingredients found at the market that very day, and the menu shall be at the INSPIRATION OF THE CHEF. After lunch, the rest of the day is at leisure. We suggest having a drink at Vidilica, a beautiful belvedere overlooking the whole of Split and the surrounding area, and having dinner in one of the restaurants on the West coast of city harbor, with stunning views of the city of Split. Overnight in Split. Hotel Judita Palace 4*. Meals: Breakfast, Bedalov wine, and food pairing

Day 8

Day 8, SPLIT – MOSTAR - DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, you will meet your driver. He will take you to Sarajevo. On your way there you will make a stop in Mostar. The name Mostar comes from the Most Star – Old Bridge, the famous landmark of the old part of Mostar. The Old Bridge is the masterpiece of the 16th century Ottoman architect Hayredin, the disciple of the legendary Koça Mimar Sinan, court architect of the Emperor Suleyman the Magnificent. A tour with the local guide across the old town shall take about an hour. Every quarter of Mostar has a small but elegant mosque, and the most beautiful of them is the Karagöz Bey Çamii (KARAĐOZBEGOVA DŽAMIJA), the elaborate work of Koça Mimar Sinan from the same period as the Old Bridge. Sightseeing is followed by some time at leisure for souvenirs shopping at the traditional shops of the old bazaar or tasting some of the finest delicacies of the Ottoman cuisine that the Old town is so famous for. After Mostar, your driver will take you to Dubrovnik, for an afternoon in Leisure. Overnight in Dubrovnik, Hotel Bellevue 5* Meals: Breakfast, Oyster farm tasting

Day 9

Day 9, DUBROVNIK JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR

It is a known fact that the oldest Sephardic synagogue still in use is to be found in the heart of Dubrovnik’s Old town! It is said to have been established in 1352 but gained legal status in the city in 1408. Owned by the local Jewish community, the main floor still functions as a place of worship for Holy days and special occasions, but is now mainly a city museum that hosts numerous Jewish ritual items and centuries-old artifacts. Jews came to Dubrovnik in the 15th century and made an important cultural contribution to the development of the Dubrovnik Republic. Many Jews became traders and craftsmen, dealing with spices, silks, fabrics, and crafts that were in demand at a seaport city. In 1546, Dubrovnik officials allocated a Jewish settlement within the city, with the main street being called Ulica Zudioska ("Jewish Street") in the Dubrovnik Ghetto. This walking tour provides an opportunity for guests to understand Jewish life in Dubrovnik and how it has changed through history. We begin with Onofrio's Fountain and continue along Stradun (the main street) to Žudioska Street where the Jewish community was once situated. Here you will visit the famous Synagogue established in the 15th century, re-built in 1652, and still in use today. You will hear the story of Yeshayah Cohen, a sixteenth-century philosopher, and poet who has crowned Dubrovnik in his work as Queen of the Illyrian Sea! After visiting the Synagogue you will visit the Jewish fountain and other major historical sites in Dubrovnik such as Sponza (the first customs office in this part of the world), the Rector’s Palace, City Hall, Bell Tower and the Lodge, Od Puča Street – where many Dubrovnik goldsmiths are located. You will also see the famous Orlando’s column along the way. Dubrovnik is the city that will surely capture your heart with its ancient charisma and abundant heritage. After the tour take some time for yourselves to soak up the impressions and newly acquired knowledge of Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik.Hotel Bellevue 5*. Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

Day 10, KONAVLE AND CAVTAT

After breakfast, your guide will take you to Konavle and Cavtat sightseeing tour. Konavle is a region with particular natural beauties and contrasts: mountain and valley, green hills and naked stone. The preserved natural and precious rural architecture, numerous monuments of the thousand-year-old history of this area, traditions that are hundreds of years old and have been kept through folklore, make this region so special. The trip starts with a visit to the nearby water mill, where the production of traditional wool cloth is taking place as well as flour production. Cavtat is an old city, founded by the Greeks, now a seafood restaurant heaven. Cavtat past, present, and future are very closely tied to Dubrovnik's and this coastal town is a delight - its Old Town has an intriguing network of streets and cobbled alleys whereas the harbor and promenade are a must. Here you would be able to try some of the seafood specialties prepared with a combination of local and modern cuisine. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Hotel Bellevue 5*. Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

Day 11, DUBROVNIK-ONWARD

After the breakfast and checkout procedure, your driver will take you to the international Airport in Dubrovnik, to board your flight home. Meals: Breakfast

Price IncludesPrice IncludesPer itinerary

  • − ZAGREB AIRPORT TO ZAGREB HOTEL TRANSFER
  • − ZAGREB JEWISH HERITAGE SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING LICENSED GUIDE
  • − ZAGREB – ROVINJ PRIVATE TRANSFER
  • − ROVINJ PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH THE LICENSED ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE
  • − MOTOVUN & GROZNJAN PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH LICENSED GUIDE AND TRANSFERS
  • − ROVINJ – NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE LAKES PRIVATE TRANSFER
  • − NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE SELF TOUR
  • − NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE LAKES – SPLIT PRIVATE TRANSFER
  • − SPLIT JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH THE LICENSED ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE
  • − BEDALOV WINE AND FOOD PAIRING
  • − SPLIT – MOSTAR – DUBROVNIK PRIVATE TRANSFER WITH STOP IN MOSTAR
  • − MOSTAR PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH LICENSED ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE
  • − DUBROVNIK JEWISH HERITAGE PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING TOUR WITH LICENSED ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE
  • − KONAVLE & CAVTAT FULL DAY PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING TOURS WITH LICENSED GUIDE AND TRANSFERS
  • − DUBROVNIK HOTEL – DUBROVNIK AIRPORT PRIVATE TRANSFER
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  • - 2 NIGHTS IN ZAGREB, HOTEL ESPLANADE 5*
  • - 2 NIGHTS IN ROVINJ, HOTEL MONTE MULINI 5*
  • - 1 NIGHT PLITVICE, HOTEL FENOMEN PLITVICE 4*
  • - 2 NIGHTS IN SPLIT, HOTEL JUDITA PALACE 4*
  • - 3 NIGHTS IN DUBROVNIK, HOTEL BELLEVUE 5*
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  • Breakfast
  • Bedalov winery wine and food pairing
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  • Our agent at 24/7 disposal throughout Your journey if You need assistance.
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  • 30% of total payment is due immediately on booking. The balance is due 30 days prior to arrival.

Price does not IncludePrice does not Include

  • - FLIGHTS
  • - PERSONAL EXPENSE
  • - INSURANCE (we can offer you insurance policy that includes health insurance and risk of cancellation; please advise)
  • - GRATUITES

Important notesImportant notes

Should one of the CLIENTS decide to cancel a booking once it was confirmed, Private Tours Croatia (Private Tours Croatia Ltd. travel AGENCY) shall keep the following amounts from the full package price

70 or more days before the journey50% of the advance payment
69-40 before the journeyfull advance payment
39-28 before the journey65% of the total price of the tour
27-7 before the journey80% of the total price of the tour
6-0 before the journey100% of the total price of the tour

In case of cancellation, the CLIENT must immediately advise us in writing by recorded delivery mail, e-mail or fax.

The package includes all legal taxes and VAT in Croatia. Mandatory insurance is also included. We strongly suggest you book FULL MEDICAL COVERAGE INSURANCE, LUGGAGE INSURANCE as well as the CANCELATION INSURANCE that protects your paid amount in full for the inability to travel due to the medical condition of the client (all in accordance with the insurance policy rights & regulations). You are welcome to book the insurance at the country of your domicile. As a travel agency, we can offer you travel insurance ( ALLIANZ insurance company ), for the territory of Croatia as well as cancellation insurance for the recovery of 90% of the full amount, in case you have to cancel your trip. For the terms and conditions of the insurances, please refer to the link below:

https://www.private-tours-croatia.com/allianz.pdf

The price of cancellation insurance depends on a total price of the private tour and the price of travel health insurance depends on number of days spent in Croatia.

PLEASE READ THE REST OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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