Zadar Off The Beaten Path

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Telascica is unique for its bay which is among the safest in whole of Adriatic, it is the largest havens of the Adriatic that includes 25 small bays, the rough cliffs which rising up to 161m above the sea level and falling down vertically up to 90m bellow the sea level, and finaly it has the salt lake (called "Mir") with its curative characteristics.
The Nature Park has over 300 species of flora and is very rich with characteristic Mediterranean vegetation. This region has more than 2500 hours of sunshine a year and is known for the mild climate during winter; the average temperature in January is higher than 7 C degrees and annual average higher than 16 C degrees.
The area of Telascica has been inhabited since ancient times, as can be seen from Roman remains in Mala Proversa and numerous pre-Romanesque churches and chapels.

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Telascica Nature Park is situated in the south-east part of island Dugi Otok. Actually, it is bay of extreme beauty surrounded by 13 islands and islets, proclaimed a Nature Park in 1988. The whole area of nature park is distinctly contrasted area with peaceful beaches and laid down coastline on one side and wild and rough cliffs on the other which overlooking the open sea. Telascica is home of Aleppo pine trees and holly oak woods, but it is aslo cultivated area of vineyards and olive-trees.

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Maybe it deserves extra page to build about this little historic town, nevertheless - one can have pleasant day trip to Nin while staying in Zadar over few days... and it is definitively worth to devote couple of hrs to catch some colored moments of setting sun in the walled town, within shades resting upon historic streets, churches and squares. It is since stone age when his history begins and it first became famous across his borders in Antiquity when its Liburnians were famous boat constructors and seamen.
One of the Croatia's most unique shrines lays in the heart of Nin: the church of St. Cross with monumental, solid form and cross-shaped ground floor from 11th centutry. Its simple interior display little or no detail, yet its natural illumination through tiny openings provide strong visual experience.
In nearby Zaton, her relative, St. Nikola dominates a small hill and represent yet another iconic architecture.

A lot can be said about many individual historic buildings in Nin, also about famous figure of Grgur Ninski whose tectonic sculpture dominate one of the town's main axis, yet there are more on that on Nin pages of individual VTers who had focused on place.

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Arsenal (the Armory) is the 16th century structure and served as logistic centre to naval fleet that protected the Venetian's Republic valuable trade routes. Not far from it, in opposite direction, is small Arsenal having the same purpose as its bigger brother.
Today Arsenal become the home of art and entertainment, a sort of covered city square offering relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle. A visitor could enjoy in art, reading, dining, wining or watching live concerts.

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Dugi otok prides itself as 'undiscovered' long island and they're probably quite right about it. We visited in September for a week when it's probably best time to go there, but there are possible day trips throughout season with many agencies from Zadar to its most touristy part on the islands: Telašćica Park of Nature with cliffs, shallow salty lake Mir with donkey beach, including swimming at the island.
I'd say: spend there few days if you have time, avoid the crowds, rent a boat, scooter or bike on the island and discover it by yourself. It's beautiful place to be with many diverse and excellent beaches, wild sunsets, deep clear water with plenty of fishes and wonderful scenery. Take public boat (catamaran) to Sali or Božava or ferry to Brbinj if you want to go by car, there are several departures daily from Zadar. Ferry ride takes 1 hr 20 min while catamarans ply almost half the time of ferry (they're operated by Jadrolinija).
More on Dugi otok will be on my separate page.

Zadar has few scattered pocket size parks or squares of which some are entierly renewed and re-dressed within new urban fashion. Add benches, a tree or two and maybe a cafe - and you get pleasant intimate atomsphere, secluded with thin boundary just a step or a breath away from some of the main streets in town. An urban living room!

Within privacy of those pretty urban gardens, the benches are used by locals with a bottle of wine, chilling and having more and less passionate conversations - and perhaps nobody bothers about it.

On the lane behind a wall, entierly different (and maybe indifferent) world exists - that of shops and tourism oriented businesses, and a crowd of aliens on their holiday routines.

Without really looking for it - we found it when looking a place to eat and learned about it later (but note - there's only a little of information on it). What you can see today is just the foundation of this small church from pre-Romanic time with an interesting shape built somehwere 10th or 11th century. As it was destroyed already in 16th century, its ruins were covered and then as the archeologic research advanced, it had been finally conserved and protecetd in 1966.

One may find it in graphic contrast with residental block building behind the ruin... but in general, this little remains of church are taking rest in quiet surroundings, hardly even noticed with its rather modest form, almost hidden in the grounds.

Its finding is cherished by those whose have deep interest with archeology and curious historians.

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There really is not a town-per se. It has a restaurant and about 20 farm houses. Located 30 miles form Zadar going toward autostrada A1 from E65 highway. There are only about 20 farm houses in the area, and the town spreads out about 1 mile square