Majestic Victorian Buildings and Luxurious Promenades
Opatija is unlike any other town in Istria or Croatia. With its grand Victorian architecture and a scenic, winding promenade along the rugged coastline, it has a unique charm. Once a favorite summer spot for Austrian aristocrats, this enchanting seaside city invites you to stroll along the Lungomare for hours. Let’s explore Opatija, the Queen of Kvarner Bay.
Birth of a Tourist Destination
The story of Opatija as a tourist hotspot began around 1845. It was during a dinner at Villa Angiolina when Empress Maria Anna, wife of Ferdinand I of Austria, first discovered the town and fell in love with its mild climate and stunning views of Kvarner Bay. Soon after, when Emperor Franz Joseph I also became smitten with the area, Austrian nobility flocked to build opulent villas and hotels in the Victorian style.
Villa Angiolina, built in 1844 by Rijeka patrician Iginio Scarpa, and Hotel Kvarner from 1884, are prime examples of Opatija’s Victorian architecture. Other luxurious hotels like the Hotel Imperial (1885) and Hotel Palace Bellevue (1889) continue to maintain their four-star status today.
Opatija quickly evolved, with the construction of sanatoriums, pavilions, bathing areas, promenades, and parks. By 1889, it was declared the first seaside climatic health resort on the Adriatic, offering luxurious relaxation and vacation opportunities to visitors ever since.
A Turbulent and Surprising History
Opatija’s history stretches far beyond its Austrian peak. It’s easy to envision Illyrian ships navigating its shores during the Iron Age. When Illyria became a Roman province, luxurious Roman villas likely dotted the slopes of Opatija, enjoying the same views we admire today. The Roman settlements of Castrum Laureana in present-day Lovran and Tarsatica in today’s Rijeka positioned Opatija right between them.
Over the centuries, Opatija and its surroundings experienced rule under various empires: Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Langobards, Croats, and Franks. When western Istria fell under Venetian influence, the eastern part, from Kvarner Bay down to Dalmatia, became part of the Kingdom of Croatia in 925. The last Croatian king’s death without an heir led to the crown passing to the Árpád dynasty, with King Coloman of Hungary becoming “King of Croatia and Dalmatia” in 1102, starting over 400 years of Hungarian rule.
Opatija first appeared in records during the Middle Ages, deriving its name from the Italian “Abbazia” (abbey), due to the hamlet that developed around San Giacomo della Preluca, a Benedictine abbey mentioned in 1453.
After the medieval Kingdom of Hungary fell, Croatian nobility opted to join the Habsburg Empire, becoming part of Austrian rule under King Ferdinand I von Habsburg in 1527, a status that lasted until WWI.
Top 5 Sights in Opatija
1. Lungomare Coastal Promenade
This 12 km promenade stretches from the fishing village of Volosko, north of Opatija, to Lovran in the south. Officially named Franz Joseph I Promenade, its construction spanned 22 years, finishing in 1911.
2. Villa Angiolina
This summer villa, which transformed Opatija’s destiny, is located in the delightful Angiolina Park by the seaside and now appropriately serves as the Croatian Museum of Tourism.
3. Hotel Kvarner
The oldest hotel on Istria’s east coast, this majestic seafront building from 1884 enhances the beauty of the promenade even on cloudy days.
4. Maiden with the Seagull
Created in 1956 by artist Car, this graceful statue in the water is a focal point while walking along the Lungomare.
5. Sea Baths
With about 100 small stone staircases descending from the Lungomare into the ocean, the easily accessible sea baths at the concrete beach of Slatina allow for a dip even when the sea is rough.
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