This volume is the first scholarly study in the English language of Croatia's extraordinary artistic heritage. Leading specialists analyse the key cultural developments in this small country's history, from the extensive Roman remains on the Adriatic coast, through the gothic splendour of the Dalmatian cities in the Middle Ages and intensive artistic exchange with Italy during the Renaissance, to the grand houses and art collections of continental Croatia. The essays address iconic monuments like Diocletian's palace at Split and the walled city of Dubrovnik alongside more unfamiliar treasures, some never published before. This books sets Croatia's cultural past in context, reflecting the country's unique history at the crossroads between Italy, Central Europe and the Mediterranean. With contributions by leading British, American and Croatian writers and scholars, including John Julius Norwich, Timothy Clifford, Marcus Binney, Brian Sewell and Sheila McNally this book presents for the first time a portrait of the culture of this captivating and too little known country.

Croatia is a country in southeastern Europe, bordered by Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the southeast, Montenegro to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. The country is also known as Hrvatska in Croatian, and its capital and largest city is Zagreb. Croatia has a population of approximately 4.05 million people, with the majority of residents identifying as ethnic Croats. Croatia has a rich cultural history that dates back to prehistoric times. Its strategic location between Central Europe and the Mediterranean has made it an important crossroads for various civilizations, including the Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Austro-Hungarians. Croatia gained its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and has since become a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations. The country is known for its stunning coastline, beautiful national parks, and rich culinary traditions, and it has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years.

Every summer season, the sun-drenched coasts of Bulgaria and Croatia turn into densely inhabited, intensively exploited tourism industry hotspots. This book traces the various architectural and urban planning strategies pursued there since the mid 1950s, in order first to create then to further develop modern holiday destinations. It focusses on individual resorts and outstanding buildings have been economically and physically restructured, in a myriad of ways, leaving a legacy of deserted ruins, cautious renovations, exorbitant conversions and on-going public protest.

In the renaissance also architecture from c. 800–1200 was regarded as a useful source of inspiration for contemporary building, sometimes by misinterpreting these medieval architecture as roman structures, sometimes because that era was also regarded as a glorious ‘ancient’ past.

Bringing together case studies from Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia, this book provides an exploration of the relationship between architecture and nationalism. It includes essays grouped together in three thematic sections: Revisiting Nationalism, Interpreting Nationalism and Questioning Nationalism.