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Travel destinations Comments: 0 Sep 07, 2018

Rijeka, the third biggest city in Croatia, as well as the biggest port of the state, thanks to its favorable position was even from the 19th century one of the most important ports in the middle Europe. Rijeka has around 129 000 citizens. Lies in a bay of West Croatia, in the Kvarner Region.

• Trsat Castle and the Church of Our Lady: They sit high upon a hill and offer a superb panoramic view over Rijeka. While they can be reached by bus that departs from the city center, there is a more interesting way to arrive to these amazing mediaval buildings for those who are adventurers in spirit, and that way starts from Titov Trg at the River Rječina, up the Petar Kružić Stairway, and along a pleasant pathway to Frankopanski Square (the castle is just a short walk past the church). Long a pilgrimage site attracting large numbers of followers over the years, The Church of Our Lady of Trsat, besides being a famous pilgrimage route for both locals and tourists, it is also famous for its "miraculous" icon of Mary, believed to have been painted by St. Luke.

• Saint Vitus Cathedral: Rijeka Cathedral - also known as Saint Vitus Cathedral and formerly the Church of St. Vitus – this Baroque structure situated in the verz heart of the old city of Rijekawas designed by Giacomo Briano, a well-known Jesuit architect in 1638. The Cathedral basis is made of a unique round floor plan, while the original structure was built on top of an even older structure and was completed only after 100 years in 1744. Highlights include a large 13th-century crucifix which, as the legend has it, started to bleed after a disgruntled local threw a rock at it, along with a number of fine Baroque altars.

• The Governor's Palace: Once the residence of the Hungarian governor, the Governor's Palace is now the site of the Maritime and Historical Museum of Coastal Croatia. This splendid old neo-Renaissance building is worth visiting due to the fact that design of the building was done by Hungarian architect from Budapest, Alajos Hauszmann in the late 1800s and represents a homogenous mixture of styules embodied in its well-preserved grandeur. Enthusiast of nautical equipment can enjoy in interesting exibition of model ships. What tourist also fing interesting is the selection of archaeological findings ranging from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, as well as an ethnographic collection and furniture displays. The museum was established in 1876 but has been housed in the Governor's Palace since 1955.

• Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes: Built in the early 1900s to mark the 50th anniversary of the miracle of Lourdes, the Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (Kapucinska Crkva) is one of Rijeka's most recognizable attractions. This picturesque church is frequently used on postcards and promotional material. Due to financial reasons, this splendid church designed by Budinić was never fully completed after the building process was stalled for years. However, anticipating the potential of the church, generous townsfolk and parishioners, donated enough of monez to se it completed, resultng in a beautiful neo-Gothic structure with a splendidly ornate facade, and an richly decorated interior with frescoes by Romulo Venucci, a local Croatian artist.

• Risnjak National Park: Crowned by the 1,528-meter-tall craggy peak of Veliki Risnjak, the heavily forested Risnjak National Park (Nacionalni park Risnjak) is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Adventurers will be thrilled to hike along one of the park's best-known trails, the Leška Trail, awhich takes up to two hours to complete even for those who are not in perfect shape.. Created in 1995, this excellent park has 12 separate areas with signs directing visitors in both English and Croatian, including a more challenging three-hour trek that leads to the summit of Veliki Risnjak. Named for the rare lynx that inhabits the area, the park has a wide variety of fauna ranging from large animals including bears and deer to more than 50 varieties of birds. One of the famous attractions of the Park is the Source of Kupa, a bottomless turquoise pool of water that's considered as the starting point of the Kupa river.

• Stairway to Heaven: The Petar Družić Stairway: Part of the historically important pilgrimage path to the Church of Our Lady of Trsat, the Petar Družić Stairway in Rijeka is a must-see when walking the old city's many pleasant lanes and alleys. Part of the lower portion of the stairway leading from Krizanićeva ulica was built by Captain Petar Kružić of Klis in the 16th century, with the remainder of the stairs added later. Today, the stairway consists of 538 steps in total leading up through the Rječina Gorge, a steep and sometimes difficult climb, but one that's well worth the effort. Along the way are a number of quaint, small chapels dedicated to various saints and used as resting areas for participants of the pilgrimage.

• Korzo - Rijeka is reflected in Korzo, at Korzo you can read Rijeka. Korzo is the place where you can hear the typical rhythm of Rijeka’s steps which, regardless of the time of day, echo through this main Rijeka’s street. . It got its name after the Italian word corso which stands for “path” because Rijeka was under the strong influence of Venetians for many centuries. The main monument on Korzo and the symbol of Rijeka would be the City Tower.

While not always included on travel itineraries to Croatia, the port city of Rijeka offers many excellent reasons to visit. For centuries an important transportation and transit hub, it serves as a good day trip from nearby Opatija. Time spent wandering its many old streets and avenues with their fine 18th-century homes and buildings is well spent. Particular highlights include its old castle and churches, as well as a number of impressive museums and galleries. Also worth visiting is Risnjak National Park, a heavily treed, mountainous area with numerous trails that serves as a big draw for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is also famous for its annual carnival, the largest such event in Croatia.

In BusTicket4.me you can easely find the routes to go to Rijeka: