Istrian cuisine, prepared for centuries according to traditional recipes, is based on the fruits of its soil and sea. In the Labin area, all the dishes are prepared with valuable self-grown herbs, wine vinegar and olive oil. Maneštra, thick boiled soup made of various kinds of vegetables and some dried meat, has been prepared in every household in Istria since the ancient times. Chicken, beef or game sauce is served with pasta, traditional fuži, gnocchi, pljukanci or pasutice. Dried pork or Istrian prosciutto used to be served only on special occasions, while fritaja, scrambled eggs with wild radicchio or asparagus was eaten almost daily. In addition to prosciutto, top-quality meat specialities also include pork loin and sausages that can be eaten raw or grilled. Beside the meat delicacies, taste the wealth of sea food specialities. Depending on the fishing season, the restaurants in Rabac in hot summer days offer fresh and delicious fish and shells.

But there is something really special and characteristic for this area, Labinske krafi. I personally think this is the queen of pastas. It is mostly prepared as a hot dessert stuffed with a blend of cheese, eggs, walnuts and raisins, and covered with sweet sauce, but it can also be served savoury, with meat sauce. In our hotels you get a real opportunity to taste these Labin delicacies, as well as many other.

Come and feel love go through your stomach!

Huffington Post has recruited Yen Lee, founder of the Uptake.com tourist site, to analyse over 200 million Facebook comments, statuses and photo captions and come up with this list. According to Mr Lee’s analysis, Dubrovnik came in as high as second on the top 10 list, preceded only by Luang Prabang, Laos, and followed by Granada, Copacabana and Portland, among others.

“Facebook buzzed about the pearl of the Adriatic throughout 2011. This destination has been popular for years and lately travellers have been simply thrilled by its beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and fascinating history. The old city walls surrounding Gothic palaces, Renaissance churches and much more are a must-see sight,” the Huffington Post team has said about the famous Croatian city.

But Dubrovnik is not only a city of impressive buildings, art, museums and beautiful beaches; the Babin Kuk peninsula, nested in an oasis of pine, cypress and oak trees, is situated near the old city. Here you can choose from five Valamar hotels that offer unique views of the 13 Elaphiti islands and provide accommodation in comfortable and modern rooms with many amenities that will enrich any type of vacation. See for yourself why Dubrovnik has been one of the world’s most popular destinations for years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yen-lee/top-10-travel-destination

It is unique, traditional, refreshing, imaginative, astonishing, all of this and much, much more. Whether you are looking for inspiration, activities, relaxation or you want to discover hidden treasure, in Istria you can explore your own route…

For decades Istria has been one of the most successful tourist destinations in Croatia. During the last 10 years most of the hotels have been renewed, and campsites and private accommodation, as well as the services they offer, are classified much higher… There is no doubt Istria will keep attracting tourists in the following years as well.

The cuisine here is based on healthy products of the rich soil, prepared with olive oil and seasoned with aromatic herbs. These are dishes prepared with few ingredients, but lots of love, which you will certainly feel! Famous wines of the local vineyards, such as malvasia, teran, merlot and muškat will complement this ingredient perfectly.

Scattered along the coast and across the hills, among the vineyards and olive groves, these small towns in the Istrian hinterland resemble the scenes from appealing, romantic paintings. These authentic medieval forts have the air of tranquillity of inland Istria. The views of the coastal towns, on the other hand, evoke the true spirit of the Mediterranean; these are typical coastal towns with Roman harbours, ships and stone fronts.

Visit Istria and do the right thing for your health and beauty. Enjoy your holiday and save! Choose one of the service packages from our “Special Offers” and plan a real vacation for yourselves.

These three awarded hotels, as well as all Valamar hotels, are located in the immediate vicinity of the sea. They are distinguished for their rich and well-organized sports and recreational contents, beaches with Blue flags and an animation programme for all age groups. All of this, and much more, makes them favourite destinations for families and all those looking for an active holiday.

HolidayCheck is a leading European portal for planning travels and sharing experiences afterwards. It is available in ten languages, and visited by 20 to 30 million visitors each month. These internationally acknowledged awards for outstanding services, which have been awarded by HolidayCheck to hotels all over the world for seven years, are the result of high quality ratings awarded to our hotels by thousands of users of this portal after their stay in 2011.

It is also noteworthy that hotels Valamar Club Tamaris and Valamar Bellevue are among the most awarded hotels in the Valamar group. Among numerous awards, we would like to point out that the leading European tour operator TUI listed them among 100 best hotels in the world in 2010, i.e. in 2011. The representatives of Valamar and the awarded hotels will receive their awards during the international tourism fair ITB at the beginning of March in Berlin.

Come to Istria and find out what makes the awarded hotels so successful!

“King’s Landing might be the single most important location in the entire show. The minute we started walking around the city walls we knew that was it. You read the descriptions in the book and you come to Dubrovnik and that’s what the actual city is. It has the sparkling sea, sun and beautiful architecture. We are very grateful to be here” says David Benioff, executive producer of the show.

Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the show, is delighted by the peace of the island of Lokrum, while Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) spoke about the natural beauty, people and the food of the area.

“Everything about this place is just gorgeous. You can take a ferry to Lokrum in ten minutes and you can go swimming in the cleanest water I’ve ever seen”, say Dinklage.

The cast and crew of “Game Of Thrones” filmed in Dubrovnik in September and October of the last year. The authors have already expressed their admiration for the Dubrovnik city walls, saying they bear a remarkable resemblance to what they had pictured King’s Landing to be. In the end D. B. Weiss added he hoped they would return to Dubrovnik the next year, but also in the following years, which indicates they might once again film the show in Dubrovnik in 2012.

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The traditional International Rijeka Carnival, hosting the International Carnival Parade, is one of this important event’s programmes, gathering an increasing number of participants and spectators from the country and abroad every year.

The International Carnival Parade is a festival of traditional and urban carnival groups formed from associations of citizens who, through masks and costumes, offer their view of current social events. Nowhere else in the world will you get to experience such a unique mixture of a European city carnival based on historical and cultural customs with elements of folklore and mythology - something you simply must experience and take part in. So, be whatever you want and join us on 19 February in the Rijeka Carnival!

Also, do not miss our town of Labin and its masquerade ball which will be organized by the local group of masquerades called “Labinjonska kompanija, domoca folšarija” on 3 February.

Surprise your loved one by giving them something special. Spend an unforgettable Valentine’s Day and enjoy the romantic moments of a candlelight dinner. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to visit Istria, or rather, the Valamar Diamant hotel, where a number of diverse attractions await that you will surely fondly remember. At the Diamant hotel you will find romantically decorated rooms with flowers, champagne and strawberries with chocolate. The high point of the evening will be the lovers’ ball, with candles and romantic music. Also available is a wellness centre, where you can fully relax surrounded by candles and sipping champagne, cocktails, warm tea or enjoying savouring fruit.

May Valentine’s Day be your opportunity to celebrate your love.

P.S. On Valentine’s Day, girls and women around the word receive a total of 50 million roses each year.

Central Istria is rich in long hiking trails, among which we highlight the Parenzana - the path of health and friendship, a magical route of 78 kilometres in length which stretches along the Slovenian coast, Savudrija, Buje, Grožnjan, Vižinada and Porec. Other hiking trails, such as Sveti Zenon by Brtonigla, Pazinska jama (Pazin pit), the Pazin trail, Venecijanskog lava (Venetian lion trail) by Višnjan and Plas - Ucka Nature Park are also surrounded with a beautiful scenery rich in olive groves, vineyards and Medieval towns, and give an unforgettable view of the coast.
The mild Mediterranean climate of the region allows light recreation throughout the year. Visit Istria and choose a trail, and if you wish to stay in our region for some time, you can find accommodation in one of Valamar’s hotels or campsites.

Treat yourself to an unforgettable active holiday!

The author gives us an overview of the nativity scene (crèche) culture of Dubrovnik from 18th century onwards, provides insight into the art of making crèches in Dubrovnik churches and introduces the people creating them. The crèche of the Sisters of Mercy and the ones in the Franciscan Monastery of the Friars Minor, the church of St. Ignatius and the All Saints church have been given a special place in the exhibition.

In Dubrovnik and all over the Croatia the nativity scene or the crèche is referred to as Bethlehem. It is worth noting that the first mention of Christmas celebrations in Croatian historical publications dates back to the 1272 Dubrovnik Statute, which mentions the gifts that the prince had to share with the butchers, millers, ship owners and sailors.

The people of Dubrovnik were particularly fond of referring to the representation of baby Jesus as Bethlehem. Bambin had its place in a glass box in representative areas of Dubrovnik households, and on Christmas Eve it was placed on a mossy surface or an artificial, decorated cave and was a place of worship and assembly of the whole family.
Today the church collections of Dubrovnik boast eight Bambins from the 19th and early 20th century.

The original Bethlehems and their parts, dating back from the 18th to early 20th century are also a part of the exhibition, primarily thanks to private owners. One of the highlights of the exhibition is an 18th century Bethlehem made in southern Italy and located in the Church of the Assumption in Pakljena on the island of Šipan.

After visiting the Saints’ Path and enjoying a walk in the crisp sea air, warm up and refresh yourself in restaurants offering traditional local holiday delicacies and feel the spirit of Labin yore and hospitality by the fire.
Once again the children of Labin had the opportunity to enjoy the unique ride in the Santa Claus train, who came all the way from the North Pole just to be there.
Young people can enjoy the traditional “Labin Christmas Rock Festival 7″, which will take place on Saturday, 24 December. The aim of this music event is to raise awareness among youth about the importance of human dignity and the freedom of thought in everyday life.

It is said that the most important thing about Christmas is its spirit. The silent feeling of the solemn and the sacred. Everyone can feel it, regardless of whether they are believers or not. It is elusive like the wind, it sneaks up to us to touch our hearts and make our holidays even more special.
This year try not to prepare too much food and buy overly expensive presents; instead try to focus on what really matters - extending a hand to our loved ones.