By the fall of the great Roman Empire, the area where present day Opatija stands was under the control of the Byzantine Empire until the Slavs arrived in the area around the 7th century. By the 12th century, the Franks arrived and with them, the city flourished. However, it was not until the construction of the St. James monastery during the 15th century that the present day Opatija would be born.

Opatija, Istria, Croatia by Vzach

In 1844, the city of Opatija became one of the first resort towns along the Adriatic Sea when the Villa Angelina was constructed and opened its doors to guests for the first time. Soon after, the Grand Hotel Kvarner would open its doors and help mold the city into the resort town it is today.

The Villa Angelina still stands today and one can even visit it as it has since been turned into a museum. It is located in the middle of the town’s botanical gardens which are simply an awe-inspiring place to visit. The gardens cover 3.64 hectares and are home to more than 150 plant species. The Grand Hotel Kvarner still accepts guests on a regular basis and is still one of the most popular hotels in the city.

There are many medieval buildings located throughout Opatija as well as several prehistoric ruins to see while you are in town. In the nearby Učka Natural Park, artifacts dating back to the 1th century B.C. have been unearthed. There are many great locations of historical importance to visit when you are in Opatija.

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The castle complex consists of a group of objects originating from the 12th to 20th century, thanks to which a visitor can see how the castle changed over the centuries from the fortress through a royal palace, garrison and finally into a state prison. At a place, where the castle stands now, was a fortress already in the 6th century, built by King Edwin of Northumbria – after whom the city is named.

Edinburgh Castle can be visited either by yourself or you can use the services of local guides, who tell you about the history of the castle, about the battles that took place here and other interesting legends. Another option is to rent an audio guide, which costs about £3.

Visitors should not miss a tour to the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are located about 3.2 km from the castle. Do not be surprised if among the plants you find a cannon ball – during the wedding celebration of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, a cannonball was fired in her honour from the castle and fell to the gardens.

The castle is open daily from 9:30 to 17:00 (during the summer to 18:00) and a basic admission is £15. For further information visit official website of Edinburgh Castle.

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