For centuries, the island was owned by the Greeks, the Romans, the Venetians, and the Turks, which could not but affect the mentality of the locals. For example, the true Turkish love for coffee is in the blood of, perhaps, every Croat. Despite the difficult cultural and historical path, the locals ardently love their country. In no case should you call them Yugoslavs or criticize Croatia – they will get offended immediately. The locals are quite polite with tourists, which is not surprising, because the travelers bring here the lion's share of income.
If you like to swim and sunbathe, then try to go to the Lopar area. The fact is that here you can find not one or two, but almost two dozen different beaches, so choosing the one that you …
Open
If you have asked a Croat for something, remember that here, on the one hand, they do not like to refuse, and, on the other hand, they like to postpone everything for the mythical “tomorrow”, which never comes. In general, the Croats are people of contrasts. They are not too punctual but they expect punctuality from the others. They are completely unreliable but if they do something, they do it very quickly and efficiently, even if in the process it seems that nothing good will come of it. Only here a hairdresser can talk on the phone, watch TV with one eye, and give a perfect cut to a client in ten or twenty minutes.
Please note that the Croats won’t say a word to you, even if your actions violate the local norms of morality or legislation. By the way, despite a large number of nudist beaches on the island, you shouldn’t walk around the streets of the local settlements without a T-shirt or in a bathing suit. In the villages, they will simply look at you with disapprovment, but in the city, you can get a fine for an administrative offense. Everyone is hospitable here, but if you accidentally wander into the territory of a private property, the owner can react rather sharply. Up to open rudeness and aggression. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
A choice of beaches on the island of Rab is very large; there are sandy, pebble and rocky sections of the coast, as well as many great wild beaches featuring pristine beauty. The most …
Open
The island still has some traditional customs. For example, the groom’s parents, like hundreds of years ago, take a veil from a bride during a wedding ceremony and clothe her in an apron and kerchief as a sign of status change. Despite the fact that national costumes have not been in use for a couple of centuries now, many families still have them and like to wear them during various festivities. Folk music, played with native Croatian instruments, for example, tambours, is also popular. Here they sing the songs about love, country life, about the heroes and villains of antiquity, often based on folklore sources.
Local women often become leaders in the family and at work, although there are plenty of women who prefer a career as housewives and want to feel comfortable. It is in the blood of any Croat men, to show his attention to any woman. So if you travel around the island by yourself, then you will definitely not lack compliments and a large dose of flirting. In the evening, the towns and villages are filled with walking couples and singles in beautiful outfits. This evening promenade is called “corzo”. On weekends, many locals go to the noisy and lively picnics out of town or to the beach with family and friends.
The island has many original and attractive hotels. Old Town Rab apartments enjoy continuous popularity among tourists. Apartments are located in various historical buildings of the capital, …
Open
Most Croats are Catholics, and therefore Catholic Christian holidays are traditionally widely celebrated on the island. Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, Candlemas are celebrated here at a fairly large scale. On the day of the city of Rab, at the end of July, large-scale celebrations with fireworks take place, as well as on Independence Day on October 8th, State Day on June 25th, and the Carnival before Great Lent. A fairly well-known eco-ethnofestival in Lopar and various festivals in honor of the new harvest are held on the island as well.
Rab Island - guide chapters
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
National traditions of Croatia
For a long time, Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia. Today, it is a separate country. Local people, as a rule, react negatively if they are called Yugoslavs. The Croats are most susceptible to the influence of Western countries comparing to other peoples of the Balkan peninsula. Their mentality, especially in the coastal areas, is closer to Italian than to Slavic. Italy and Hungary played an important role in the history of these places. The dominant religion in Croatia is Catholicism; it is professed by more than 85% of the total population of the country. Regular Turkish raids formed the national self-consciousness of the people and their pride of the independence.
…
Open