Hotel Bellevue

One of them is aristocratically landscaped, the other pristinely pure, but both are destined to take your breath away with their beauty. Which national park will you choose to visit, Brijuni or Plitvice Lakes? If you enjoy exquisite landscapes, Croatia is the perfect country for your holiday. And did you know that you can enjoy the many different landscapes of eight national parks while you’re here? We have selected two jewels of nature for you which you can visit by private plane and car in the company of our expert guides for an unforgettable excursion. All transfers, including entrance tickets to the national parks, are included in the price. THE REFINED CHARM OF BRIJUNI At the very top of the Istrian peninsula, not far from Pula, sits the small but stunningly beautiful Brijuni archipelago. Veliki Brijun is the largest among the 14 low-lying and small indented islands, and it was on its tame shores that wealthy Roman patriarchs built their first lavish summer residences some 2,000 years ago. At the end of the 19th-century, the entire island was remodelled with a cultivated combination of secessionist architecture and meticulously landscaped parks with exotic animals, intended for the European aristocracy to spend their holidays. This tradition of exclusivity was continued by the president of the former Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, who happily spent his summers there and played host to many of the prominent public figures of this period. When you see an antelope resting underneath a 1,700-year-old olive tree, you'll know it wasn't just a dream, but that you are in paradise. THE MAGNIFICENT PLITVICE LAKES Nestled in the heart of the mysterious Lika mountains in central Croatia, and surrounded by thick forests brimming with wild animals, awaits the ethereal beauty of the Plitvice Lakes. Here, crystalline water runs through a chain of 16 terraced lakes, flowing over distinctive travertine deposits while creating waterfalls up to 100 metres wide; one of them is the particularly impressive 76-metre-high Veliki Slap (Big Waterfall). While walking along the wooden footpaths beside the green-and-blue-tinged lakes, the fresh air and the sharp sounds of the waterfalls will make it clear why UNESCO protects Croatia's oldest national park as a “World Heritage” site. Plitvice Lakes are spectacular during all of the seasons.

Set sail on an adventure through the beauty of the Lošinj archipelago. Enjoy the pristine, crystal clear Adriatic until you reach the open sea, where the real fun begins. The crew of your Blackfin 33 boat, who have years of professional game fishing experience, will make sure you come home with a story to be proud of. Programme details: Departure from Čikat Bay, sail to the location for roughly an hour. You will fish for 3 - 4 hours, your picture will be taken with your catch, then the hook will be cut out, the tuna will be returned to the sea, and you will return to port. Total length of experience: 5 - 6h, longer if necessary. OFFER INCLUDES: Blackfin 33 boat Professional guidance Equipment and lures Boat fuel

Apoxyomenos is a young and beautiful, perfectly built and nude athlete; the personification of the classical ideal of beauty admired by the ancient world. Caught while cleaning sweat and dust from his body after exercising, this young Greek athlete was immortalised into a bronze statue by an accomplished master sculptor in the middle of the 4th century B.C. They called him Apoxyomenos (the Scraper), an image so dazzling that many wanted one just for themselves. Ancient Greek sculptors created new sculptures regularly, but bronze was a sensitive and expensive material. This resulted in the majority of sculptures perishing forever, decaying with age after being recast. Only two bronze statues of Apoxyomenos have survived throughout the centuries – the one exhibited in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and this one in Lošinj, exhibited in the Museum of Apoxyomenos since 2016. When and why did the Hellenic statue of Apoxyomenos end up in the depths of the Lošinj sea? Who was the statue intended for? How was it discovered 45 metres under the sea? What were some of the unusual discoveries made about the statue during its six-year-long restoration? Why has the figure, exhibited around the world, induced such excitement and awe? You can find all of the answers to these questions at the Museum of Apoxyomenos, located on the main waterfront of Mali Lošinj. We’ll even reserve tickets for you and organise private transport to the museum if necessary, while your only task will be to enjoy the unbelievable tale of the Apoxyomenos. Note: While you might be tempted, remember, the statue of Apoxyomenos is for your eyes only.