Opatija

Hills of bay laurels surround the town of Opatija, a city known for over 150 years as a tourist destination. The Illyrian Liburni tribe first settled the area, and the area was discovered by the Croat peoples in the eighth century. Unlike western Istria, which ended up in the hands of the Venetians by the Middle Ages, the area in and around Opatija was ruled by Austria-Hungary. By the middle of the nineteenth century, aristocracy and gentry from Vienna were being received in Opatija by a well-known merchant, Iginio Scarpa. Within a generation, the small, sleepy village turned into perhaps one of the first luxury resorts in the Mediterranean.

Today, 6,600 people live in the town of Opatija, and many of them have jobs in the tourism industry. Most businesses and attractions of interest to tourists will be to the east of Nova cesta. Ulica Marsala Tita is the other main north-south road, and serves as Opatija`s `high street`. Park Angiolina and the cruise port sit between Ulica Marsala Tita and Kvarner Bay. St. Jacob`s Church also sits just off Ulica Marsala Tita. When Opatija`s southern boundaries meet Icici`s northern boundaries, Ulica Marsala Tita changes names to Liburnijska ulica. Opatija`s famed seaside promenade, the Lungomare, also continues on to Icici. (Its full length runs from Volosko to Lovran.)

Volosko and Matulji (North of Opatija)

Just over a mile northeast of Opatija and about seven miles from Rijeka is the small village of Volosko. While Opatija thrived on welcoming tourists to Kvarner Bay for over 150 years, Volosko was completely different. Even today, much of Volosko`s local economy hinges on the fishing industry. You can walk the Lungomare from Opatija to Volosko and explore the winding alleyways of this charming, Old World hamlet.

Two and a half miles above Opatija (quite literally, as it sits on top of a hill of bay laurel trees) is the town of Matulji, which will most likely be seen by visitors as either a stop on the train since it is the closest to Opatija, or via road, driving in from Rijeka. 3,700 people live in Matulji, and many of its residents work in Opatija to the south or Rijeka to the east.

Icici, Ika and Lovran (South of Opatija)

Sometimes it can be difficult to spot where Icici begins and Opatija ends. As noted earlier, in the Icici town limits, Ulica Marsala Tita is called Liburnijska ulica. (It is once again referred to as Marsala Tita once entering the town below Icici on the coast, Ika.) Icici thrived as a town due to the popularity of, and the proximity to, Opatija, and essentially grew into a bedroom community. Today, 800 people live in Icici and almost all of them work in the tourism industry. Many other residential properties are operated as vacation rentals. Icici sits in the shadow of Ucka Nature Park, and the Marina Admiral, just west of Icici Beach, is the largest yacht marina on this portion of Kvarner Bay.

South of Opatija and Icici is the village of Ika, with a population of just 466. The Croatian School of Tourism and Hospitality Management is located in Ika, next to the Lungomare. Most commercial buildings are concentrated around Primorska ulica and Ulica Marsala Tita. Vacation rentals dot the hills in and around Ika.

About half the size of Opatija, the town of Lovran is the terminus of the Lungomare, and the final town on what some term the `Opatija Riviera`. Hundreds of years ago, Lovran was a large fishing settlement, and it dwarfed Opatija and even Rijeka and Pula in importance. But with their rise, so Lovran declined. Austro-Hungarian nobility started buying and building villas here in the mid-1800s, in order to be close to Opatija, and Lovran`s tourism-based economy was born.