5 Facts About Croatia You Didn't Know

hanks to its beautiful Adriatic coast, stunning national parks and sunny climate, Croatia has become a popular tourist destination. However, a vast majority of more than 11 million visitors who come to visit Croatia every year are from other European countries (particularly from Germany, Czech Republic and Italy), which is why Croatia remains relatively unknown for people from other parts of the world. Yet, as you will find out in this post, this little Slavic country should definitely be on every world traveler´s bucket list. To learn more about Croatia, its history, nature, culture and people, check out these 5 intriguing facts about Croatia you probably didn’t know.

* Occupying a total area of just about 57,000 sq km (22,000 sq mi), Croatia is a small country but it has over 1200 islands and islets, 48 of which are permanently inhabited.

* Nikola Tesla, the famous Serbian-American inventor, was born in the Croatian town of Smiljan. In 1856, the area was a part of the Austrian Empire.

* Croatian money is named after a little mammal. Their currency is called “kuna” which means “marten”. The origin of the name dates back to times when trappers traded marten´s furs so widely that the animal became synonymous with the money itself.

* Once home to bloody Roman gladiator fights, the amphitheater in Pula, Northwestern Croatia, is one of just three preserved ancient amphitheaters in the world.

* Croatia is mainly known as a seaside destination but it also has beautiful mountains and excellent hiking trails. With a height of 1,831 m (6,007 ft), Dinara is the highest peak in the country.