Zagreb, Croatia 2014 Summit
 
For more information on the Pre/Post conference tours please contact Dean White at Dean@worldflowercouncil.org
World Flower Council 31st Annual Summit
Pre Tour and Post Tour
September 5-11, 2014


Croatia/Montenegro

September 5 – D in flight
Depart U.S. Gateway

September 6 – B in flight, L,C
We will arrive in Zagreb and transfer to Hotel Dubrovnik.  The capital city of the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb is an old Central European city which has been a focal point of culture and science.  It has retained its charm, and a relaxed feeling that makes it a genuinely human city.  

As part of the tour of Zagreb, we will see Croatian National Parliament, St. Mark’s Church and Square, Government Palace, Old Town Hall, Lotrscak Tower and Ilica – the longest street in Zagreb.  Also during the city tour we visit St. Catherine Church, St. Mark’s Church and Mestrovic Atelier.  The rest of the day is free for shopping and exploring the city.

September 7
– B,D
Today, our tour officially begins.  Following breakfast, we depart for Pltivice for the Plitvice Lake Excursion.  Plitvice Lakes is the oldest Croatian National Park, protected by UNESCO and is top tourist destination in Croatia.  Plitvice Lakes National Park is a series of 16 bigger lakes and a few smaller lakes, gradually lined up and inter-connected by a series of waterfalls.  Enjoy the beautiful nation and relax in the greenery of the lakes and woods.

Lunch will be on your own.  

We will then motor to Split where we will be spending the night at Hotel Park – Spllt.

September 8 – B,L
After breakfast we will motor to Trogir for the city tour.  Trogir is a charming stone town under the protection of UNESCO and takes pride in the fascinating Romanesque cathedral, churches, towers and beautiful palaces.  Because of these architectural beauties, Trogir has the well-deserved nickname “The Stone Beauty.”  While in Trogir we will feel the lush beauty and visit stone monuments, the mystique of the streets and vaults, coolness of the sturdy walls and bastions, the harmony of color and form of paintings and carvings.

We then return to Split for lunch in Split City Center.  Split is the economic and administrative centre of Middle Dalmatia.  The guided city tour includes the Diocletian Palace, entrances to the cathedral and the Diocletian’s cellars.  While in split we will enjoy an oyster/seafood tasting,

We will then visit Botanical Garden Tresteno.  We drive along the coast to the Arboretum and gardens, situated on rolling terraces along the Adriatic.  Two plane trees, reputedly over 700 years old stand on the road above the entrance.  In the center of the garden, there stands a mighty oak, over 600 years old.  To conclude our day, we continue on towards Dubrovnik where we will check into the Grand Villa Argentina Hotel, where we will be staying for three nights.

September 9 – B,C
Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic Sea.  The United Nations declared this medieval town as a World Cultural Heritage site. Its fortresses, imposing walls surrounding the city, palaces, churches and small streets form a nice harmony with the nature and tell a history on their own.

After breakfast today, we will visit the Old City of Dubrovnik with a guide, visiting Palace Museum, Franciscan Monastery which was built in Romanesque and Gothic style.  The most interesting and the oldest part of the monastery cloister was built from 1327 until 1348 by the stonemason, Mihoje Brajkov de Bar.  The Rector’s Palace was the public center and a private residence during the government of the duke (rector).  We will also visit the Maritime Museum of Dubrovnik, which consists of 4,000 exhibits owned by the Museum, which illustrate the naval history of Dubrovnik and the surrounding region.

Optional activities today include refreshments at the City Café, enjoy Croatian wine and oyster tasting enjoying a glass of Croatian white or red wine with an oyster platter.  Other activities you could take in would be to Walk the City Walls, Ride up to Mt. Srd with the Dubrovnik cable car or take a regular boat line to visit the Island of Lokrum.  Lokurm is an oasis of peace and one of the favorite walking paths of the inhabitants of Dubrovnik and their guests.  Among the attractions of the Island of Lokrum, is a small lake called “Dead Sea,” where you can see special and endemic tropic and subtropical plants and other vegetation originating from Australia to South America.

September 10 – B,L,C
Following breakfast we will visit Montenegro, which is a small southern neighboring state of Croatia.  There is nowhere else that you can find, in such a small place, so many beauties, natural wealth, mild beaches, clear lakes, fast rivers and gorgeous mountains – like you can in the small country of Montenegro.

We will visit the Island of Our Lady and the Persat Island.  We then continue towards Kotor for lunch and a visit to Kotor Cathedral.  Kotor is a city of traders and famous sailors with many stories to tell.

September 11
– B
We will have free time in Dubrovnik following breakfast.  Then we depart for the airport, around noon and arrive in Zagreb to open the Summit.


Post Conference Tours

Croatia, Slovenia and Venice, Italy

September 15 – B,L
After completing the Summit we will depart Zagreb and motor 2.5 - 3 hours to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.  Upon arrival we will visit Ljubljana with a guide and a lovely lunch in Restaurant Spajza.

Offering everything a metropolis does, Ljubljana is, indeed, a people-friendly city, while still preserving its small-town friendliness.

This evening we will have an optional dinner at Restaurant “Pri Vitezu” by the Ljubljanica River.

September 16
– B,L,C
Today we motor to Bled with an excursion via boat with a visit to the old church and city castle, with lunch in the Castle Restaurant.  The pleasant trip on the lake includes a half-hour stop on the island where you can ring a wishing bell.  Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water.  We will complete our day with evening cocktails then free time or an available optional dinner in Restaurant JB.

September 17 – B,L,C
Our activities today include motoring to Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, with a tour in Rovinj.

Postojna Cave is the best-known cave in the world.  It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world’s largest karst monuments.  Predjama Castle is a picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle, perched in the middle of a vertical 123-meter high cliff.  This beauty has remained for more than 700 years.  We will have lunch at a local restaurant.  Let’s finish off the day with cocktails tonight and a free evening.







September 18
– B,L
Today we will visit Pula and the Istria countryside.   Upon arrival in Pula we will visit one of the most famous and important monuments, the “Arena of Pula” which was once the site of gladiator fights.  It was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian at the same time as the magnificent Colosseum in Rome.  We will then visit the Istria countryside and do a wine tasting and lunch in the Istrian Countryside Winery.  

Istria is indeed a feast for the eyes.  Its streams flow to the sea through deep valleys and gullies, which bring to mind the ancient local myths about giants.  As you get to know Istria you will notice more and more enchanting details: church facades and portals, tiny village alleyways with their specific architectural touches, the babble of a stream, the blossoming cherries.  Everything is warm-hearted and friendly here: nature, towns and people.

We will overnight in the Porec area.

September 19 – B,L,C
Early today we depart for Porec and take a catamaran for our trip to Venice, Italy.  Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel where we will leave our bags and do an afternoon tour of Venice.  Late today return to your hotel, enjoy cocktails and evening on your own.

September 20 – B,C,D
Today is a free day tour Venice as you wish.

September 21 – B
After breakfast we will transfer to the airport to fly from Venice to Vienna to the U.S., or from Venice to connect to your international destination.