Local attractions
and
Destinations to be explored further afield
The villa's peaceful rural setting feels very remote from the hustle and bustle of the coastal areas packed with tourist crowds, and yet it is so close to a great variety of attractions. Apart from the ones available in the village itself, such as the trip to the beach, or a horseback ride along the village path skirting the rocky coastline to enjoy the spectacular views of the open sea... the first destination offering plenty of sightseeing, sport activities and evening entertainment, as well as a great choice of restaurants, is the charming resort of CAVTAT, also the municipal centre of Konavle, just a ten minutes' drive away from Lucivana.
Continuing further 15 kms from Cavtat, along the picturesque coastline road, you will reach DUBROVNIK, Croatia's crown jewel and a World Heritage treasure to protect and defend, as declared by UNESCO in 1979. The old city, the walk around its unique ramparts, the monasteries and the churches, the stone paved narrow streets climbing up to the high walls and fortresses, are simply a "must see" for every traveller to Southern Dalmatia.
If you head on westwards from Dubrovnik you will be able to admire a string of smallish islands that protect this part of the coastline from the open sea. Popularly known as the Elaphite Islands, Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan still offer that very sought after quality of life of "the Mediterranean as it once was", frequently mentioned in Croatia's catching promotional slogan. The Elaphite Islands and the isle of Mljet can easily be visited by boats which leave from Cavtat.
The mainland opposite these islands has its own attractions: from oyster breeding and salt beds in Ston, (another medieval community protected by high walls) to the Neretva River Delta with its nature park and Narona, an important archaeological site from the Roman age.
If instead of turning left at the road junction (some 150 m from the Lucivana gate) you were to turn right and head in the southeast direction, you will soon be abroad, in another country, i.e. in Montenegro and in Bosnia & Herzegovina. From the southernmost tip of Croatian territory at Prevlaka you can admire the entrance to the fascinating Kotor Fjord. Barely 25 kms away from Lucivana, this area of three separate bays cutting deep into the massive mountainous territory of Montenegro, deserves a whole day visit. An extensive area around the town of Kotor, and the town itself, make part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.
A very short drive from the Croatian border, through Montenegro, will take you to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country best known for the rich mixture of its different ethnic groups, cultures and religions, particularly noticeable in places such as Mostar, Trebinje, Stolac and Pocitelj, where a strong Islamic imprint mixes with landmarks witnessing Eastern and Western Christianity. The Old Bridge in Mostar is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and Pocitelj is placed on UNESCO’s Tentative List, awaiting confirmation.
PS: for walking tours around the Konavle area please see THIS LINK. |
