Opatija Off The Beaten Path

I just missed snow in Opatija for a day or two.
That was the coldest week in this winter .Temperatures were low for this time of year and it doesn't happen very often that snow covers Opatija and surroundings.

There are a lot of beautiful sights when walking on the promenade. From little sand bays to trees in unusual forms....

This rock fell from the hill and stopped just before falling in the water.

The Promenade passes by most of the significant structures of Opatija’s history - from North Strand, the port, Lido, villas Angiolina and Amalia, hotel Kvarner, St. Jacob’s church and finally the hotels with the villas of the South Strand.

2 more images

Worth of visiting is the votive 16th century church of St. Rochus, built after the plague bypassed Volosko. The Baroque church of St. Anne, with five altars, was built in 1708 and consecrated in 1844.
Andrija Mohorovicic (1857-1936), a well-known Croatian geophysicist and meteorologist, who discovered the so-called "discontinuity level surface" (called the Moho layer) in 1909, was born in Volosko.

1 more image

Volosko was formerly a separate settlement, but now a part of Opatija since 1932. It is a typical Mediterranean townlet with stony houses formerly belonging to sea captains and with a pier for smaller boats. The old crest of Volosko is indicative of this, showing a sailboat with sails set.
Steep narrow streets and steps lead up the hill from the first row of houses on the shore. Volosko is marked with the name Volon (could be linked to the Italian vollone, which means big bay) on a 16th century map.

OK in all honesty, I would suggest taking the bus to Veprinec and doing your hiking in another area altogether. But if you really do want to hike up, at least treat yourself to a ride down. Don't risk going by those guard dogs more than you need to! In my case, I met some poeple at a restaurant at the top and they offered me a ride. that was another story... and I'll have to tell you another time.

For now, our tour of Optija draws to a close. Don't be fooled though -- there is much much more to see in this area of the Istrien Peninsula in Croatia. Be sure to visit my Pula, Rijeka, Rovinj and Porec pages!! Thanks for dropping by -- I hope you enjoyed my story.

OK, the church isn't much, but peek over the other side of the yard and you'll get a view of the entire area. It's impressive! I just wish there weren't so many telephone wires preventing more ecpressive photography...

When you do arrive at the top, this is the tiny church you will see. It is nothing particularly special and not worth a 2 1/2 hr. hike through other people's back yards, for sure. You can't go in either. So if you choose this church to be your ultimate goal of the hike, don't go. You'll be disappointed.