Contemporary Croatia is a land of contrasts and contradictions, with diverse geography and cultures. You'll find primitive Stone Age settlements, glittering seaside resorts, vestiges of Greek and Roman antiquity, pristine natural wonders, and newly cosmopolitan cities. It is famous as a sun-drenched tourist destination and infamous as the site of one of the most vicious European wars in modern times. Croatia is a nation that has successfully protected its heritage, despite invasions by neighboring nations who played keep-away with the land and pushed aside Croatian culture in favor of their own. Modern Croats are fiercely independent survivors, who through the ages again and again emerged from ethnic conflicts and foreign occupations to reassert their national identity. Fortunately, Croatia's wars are in the past and the newly vibrant nation is now facing the 21st century poised to embrace progress, global commerce, tourism, and independence, as it pushes forward to claim a place in the European Union. To understand how far Croatia has come and to find the source of its strength, look into the heart of the Croatian people. Shared hardship coupled with fierce loyalty and solidarity are the catalysts fusing Croatians into a people eager to proclaim their heritage after having spent much of the last thousand years or so anticipating war, at war, or recovering from war. Contemporary Croatia is confidently racing toward prosperity while shaking off its underdog image as it focuses on the future and builds on its past.
