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Croatian Museum of Tourism

TIME : 2016/2/18 17:11:36

Spread between three historic buildings, this museum houses a permanent collection of old photographs, postcards, brochures and posters tracing the history of tourism, and there’s always a well-presented travel-themed exhibition as well. But really, it's the buildings themselves that are the main attraction. The restored Villa Angiolina is one of Opatija’s grandest structures – a marvel of trompe l’œil frescoes, Corinthian capitals, gilded mirrors and geometric floor mosaics – though the addition of modern windows is unforgivable.

Verdant gardens surround the villa, replete with gingko trees, sequoias, holm oaks, Japanese camellia (Opatija's symbol) and even a little open-air theatre where costumed recitals are held. Neighbouring Swiss House (1875) was an outbuilding of the main villa, used partly as a buttery. Further west, past St James' Church, the Juraj Šporer Artistic Pavillion (1900) was originally built as a patisserie.