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Risnjak National Park

Crowned by the craggy peak of Veliki Risnjak at 1528m / 5012ft Risnjak National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is heavily forested and has over 20 different plant species and interesting karst geology.

One of the Risnjak National Parks best known trails is the Leska Trail. The Leska trail is not considered to be difficult and takes the average hiker approximately two hours to complete. The trail created in 1995 is has 12 separate ares of interest signposted in English and Croatian. Another trail leads to the summit of Veliki Risnjak and is a challenging 3 hour trek.

Named for the lynx that inhabit the area the park has a wide variety of fauna ranging from large animals like bears and deer to over 50 varieties of birds.

Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

Built in the early 1900s on the 50th anniversary of the miracle of Lourdes, the Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (Kapucinska Crkva), is one of the town's self proclaimed highlights. It is the main feature on many Rijeka postcards and promotional material. The Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was designed by Budinic, although the project ran into financial problems and was stalled for years. Donations were raised to complete the church. It has a neo-gothic façade with ornate detail and the interior boasts frescoes by Romulo Venucci, a local Croatian artist.

City Tower

Built into and along side the surrounding buildings, the City Tower (Gradski Toranj) in Rijeka was originally a part of one of the main gates leading into the city. The gate survived the 1750 earthquake relatively intact and the tower was erected following that event. The clock in the City Tower was also added during the late 18th Century, and followed shortly thereafter by the dome in 1890 when the tower underwent a reconstruction. The tower is adorned with coats of arms and is located on the Korzo, which is a main pedestrian street in Rijeka.

Cathedral of St Vitus / St Vito

The Cathedral of St Vitus (Katedrala Sv Vida), formerly the Church of St Vitus, is a Baroque structure based on a round floor plan. The original design, which was built on top of an even older structure, was created by Giacomo Briano, a Jesuit architect. The project took over a hundred years to complete. It was finished in 1744. Legend has it that someone threw a rock at a crucifix hanging in the church and the image of Christ began to bleed. Although, this theory is challenged by many skeptics even within the town. The Cathedral of St Vitus contains Baroque altars, and of course the 13th Century miraculous crucifix.

Bakar

The small town of Bakar, just east of Rijeka, fell out of favor with tourists when a number of industrial plants opened in the area. Since those industries have left, the town has once again been attracting visitors. There are a number of small attractions in Bakar, which are worth seeing.

Bakar is divided into two sections, Grad and Primorje Grad is the old town and Primorje is the new town located along the coast. In Grad is the triangular shaped Frankopan Castle, which dates to the 15th Century and is still in good condition. Also of interest, the Bakar Civic Museum contains stonework from the Roman era and Middle Ages. The local church has some notable religious art and a 14th Century Crucifix.

April - October

June - August -> 27(°C) - Summer
December - February -> 3(°C) - Spring

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