Croatia Hand-Stitching Retreat

This morning we'll enjoy our first hand-stitching workshop with Pat in the hotel. Refreshments will be provided.

This afternoon we'll travel by coach to Trogir, a well-preserved medieval town, often described as a living museum. Trogir's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its collection of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Walking through its narrow, cobbled streets with our local guide, we'll encounter centuries-old stone buildings, charming squares and hidden courtyards. The palm-lined waterfront promenade is dotted with cafés and yachts, its restaurants serving fresh seafood and local Dalmatian cuisine.

After the guided tour, there's free time to explore at your own pace: browse the boutiques or watch the world go by from a café.

Zadar is a historic coastal city in northern Dalmatia, Croatia, known for its unique blend of ancient heritage and modern innovation. With roots dating back over 3,000 years, Zadar has been shaped by Roman, Venetian and Byzantine influences, all of which we'll see in its architecture and cultural landmarks on our guided tour today. The city's old town sits on a peninsula, where Roman ruins and medieval churches line its charming stone streets. The waterfront promenade offers beautiful views of the surrounding islands.

The Ethnology department of the National Museum houses costumes, home textiles and folk handicrafts, along with a collection of weavings and tapestries by artists Ivan and Ana Tomljanović. Our guided tour will take us through complete costumes featuring embroidery and lace, woven blankets, items for processing textile fibres, and tools for weaving, knitting and embroidery. The weaving and tapestry collection contains artistic woven textiles created between 1946 and 1982, and tapestries created between 1964 and 2012, along with vertical looms and other associated accessories.

After the visit, enjoy free time to explore the city further before returning to Vodice.

Enjoy a full-day hand-stitching workshop with Pat at the hotel. Refreshments will be provided.

Krka National Park is one of Croatia's most striking natural reserves, known for its cascading waterfalls, clear turquoise waters and lush Mediterranean vegetation, offering a tranquil escape. We'll enjoy a guided tour of the park before continuing to Etnoland Dalmati, a cultural attraction that offers an immersive glimpse into traditional Dalmatian life.

This open-air heritage village recreates the atmosphere of rural Croatia as it once was, with its history and architecture brought to life through local customs. The site is made up of restored stone houses and workshops arranged around courtyards, reflecting authentic 19th- and early 20th-century village life. We'll explore the interiors, where traditional tools, furniture and everyday objects reveal how people once lived and worked. Food will also play a role in our visit, as we are invited to taste homemade Dalmatian products prepared using age-old recipes.

We have a final full-day workshop with Pat at the hotel. Refreshments will be provided.

Pag Island is one of Croatia's most distinctive islands, known for its stark, moonlike landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The historic town of Pag features narrow streets, stone buildings and a long tradition of lace-making, recognised as part of Croatia's intangible cultural heritage. The core motif, the eternal Gothic quatrefoil, has remained unchanged since the Renaissance.

Here we'll visit the Pag Lace Gallery, housed in the spectacular restored Ducal Palace, where we'll see how the lace is made and browse the exhibits produced by the skilful hands of Pag lace-makers.

We'll also visit the Monastery of Santa Margherita, housing a valuable collection of lace exhibits gathered over 150 years. The Benedictine nuns here were the main initiators of lace craft in Pag, using it for liturgical vestments and founding the first school for girls in the 16th century, where they were taught reading, writing and lace-making.

Pag is also famous for its culinary heritage. The island produces Pag cheese (Paški sir), a distinctive sheep's milk cheese known for its rich, slightly salty flavour, influenced by its aromatic herbs and sea air. We'll enjoy a tasting of this cheese followed by some free time before returning to Vodice.