Just a little more than a decade ago, Croatia was just one of the provinces of Yugoslavia embroiled in a ferocious civil war. Few could have guessed that Croatia would become a popular tourist destination once the confict ceased. Now, with the slogan, "The Mediterranean as it once was," the country bills itself as an alternative destination to its more developed and better known Western European counterparts, such as Greece and Italy.
Tourists seem to have gotten the message and are flocking to the country. Second home buyers and property investors have taken note too and have their eyes on Croatia's unspoiled coast. In recent years, locals have taken seriousy the preservation of the stunning beauty of coastal towns, such as historic Dubrovnic, and the classic architecture of larger cities—which ranges from medieval to art nouveau in the capital, Zagreb.
