When talking about having a vacation in Europe, popular countries such as England and Italy may be the first ones that come to mind. But, let us not forget about Croatia, a small but beautiful country that has its own uniqueness, guaranteed to make your vacation feel different from the rest of the European countries. Set on the Adriatic Sea, Croatia’s Zagreb is a destination you surely do not want to miss. The capital city is the cultural hub of the country. Admire the diversity and mingle with the friendly local people. Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the top-notch attractions that will let you reconnect with nature, letting you marvel at the lakes and waterfalls. But, do not leave Croatia without bringing souvenirs back home. Keep reading to find out what to buy in Croatia.
1. Cravat (traditional Croatian tie)
The first one on the list is cravat, a traditional Croatian tie that is perhaps the most unique kind of tie you will ever see in your life. The first time the cravat was seen was back in the 16th century when it was worn by the Croatian troops. Interestingly, the French adopted the style and that is why you can see the resemblance of cravat in France as well. In Croatia, people wear cravat as part of the modern business suit, but people in your home country may think that it is weird to wear a cravat to work. As such, you may want to wear the cravat to an event like a costume party just for fun or to show off that you have been in Croatia.
2. Croatian lace
Croatian lace may look like a usual lace if you see it in a glance but when you take a closer look, you can see how complicated and detailed it truly is. Back then, Croatian lace was used to decorate the clothing of the empresses and emperors in Croatia as well as across Europe. Nowadays, Croatians can typically be seen wearing it. There are numerous varieties of lace and to find the most beautiful varieties, you should visit souvenir shops that are more upscale.
3. Vucedol dove
The Vucedol dove is perhaps the most unique and cutest souvenir that you can find and should bring home from Croatia. Many of you may not be aware that Vucedol was one of the earliest settlements in the country. The Vucedol people lived in Croatia for approximately 400 years and they were known for their exceptional skills in making ceramics. Among the ceramics produced back then, the most beautiful one was in the form of a dove. Thus, the Vucedol dove is highly popular compared to the other kinds of Vucedol ceramics.
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4. Licitar heart
A licitar heart was used for the first time in the 16th century as the symbol of love. People gave licitar hearts to someone they loved, whether a boyfriend or girlfriend, a brother or a sister, a friend, or a parent. Back then, licitar hearts were made from gingerbread but nowadays, many of them are made of plastic. The hearts come with a combination of red and white colors and usually, you can see an array of images or sweet phrases on them.
5. Sokacka jacket
Among the other unique souvenirs that you can find in Croatia, the sokacka jacket is perhaps the most useful one as the thick jacket can help to keep you warm during winter time or whenever the weather gets cold in your country or when you are on a vacation. The jacket is made of wool and its origin was Slavonia, a region in the continental part of the country.
6. Zovnica (handwoven wool bag)
If you are fond of items that are made of wool, in addition to sokacka jacket, you should also consider buying a handwoven wool bag called zovnica. Zovnica is an attached accessory to the traditional folk costume and the Croatians usually wear it during special celebrations, holidays or on Sundays. Zovnica comes with an array of designs nowadays and most of them are bright and colorful.
7. Rakija (Croatian wine)
Rakija is not just an ordinary Croatian wine, it is a homemade Croatian wine, which makes it pretty special in Croatia. Do not worry about where to find your bottle of rakija. Supermarkets and open-air markets are known to sell plenty of rakija bottles. If possible, you should try to find travarica, the most popular rakija. Imagine the excellent taste of grape brandy that has been mixed with a blend of herbs and spices. You can bring some bottles for yourself and your friends or relatives.
Tip from Content Creator
To all my alcohol drinkers, rakija here’s something you must try in Zagreb. It’s Croatia’s national drink and it’s amazing! Don’t drink too much, because its alcohol content is 40%! Depending on where you are in Croatia, you will find that rakija is made with different ingredients.
Taste-wise, it’s really sweet - at least the one I tried. And I’m not much of a drinker, so you can believe me when I say it does not taste like wood or trees. Give it a try, drink like a Balkan!
8. Morcic (Croatian good luck charm)
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Last but not least, you may want to bring home with you a Croatian good luck charm called Morcic. Morcic can be seen in the earrings, bracelets, rings, and other kinds of jewelries worn by the Croatians. You can see that morcic comes with a black head with a white turban on the top of the head. Why white turban? Because morcic was inspired by the story of the battlefield between Croatia and Turkey. The Turkish troops were defeated and the only remaining thing on the battlefield was the turbans.
Come back home with pieces of Croatia
You may have explored all the attractions in Croatia and are ready to bring home the beautiful memories with you. But, memories may fade as time goes by. That is why the existence of souvenirs or gifts is important. Be sure to buy your favorite truly Croatian things that will help remind you of your incredible vacation in the country.
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