CRIKVENICA
Crikvenica
is situated in the Kvarner bay at the Adriatic sea, at a distance of
35 kilometers from Rijeka, a big road and railway junction and the centre
of the district of Primorje and Gorski Kotar, a part of which is also
the town of Crikvenica. The whole town of Crikvenica is in fact a riviera
with a row of almost connected small tourist resorts: Selce, Crikvenica,
Dramalj and Jadranovo. The town spreads on about 28 square kilometers
in the coastal zone, which is about 15 km long and about 2 km wide,
and is squeezed between the sea and the elongated littoral reef of an
average height above sea level of about 300 m. The neighbourhood of
the airport on the island of Krk, the passenger and the cargo sea ports
in Rijeka, as well as a good road and railway connection with Middle
Europe contributed to an early development of tourism which has in the
region of the present Riviera of Crikvenica a tradition of more than
one hundred years.
Due
to the favourable position of Crikvenica and its being sheltered from
strong winds - from the north thanks to the slopes of the mountain of
Kapela and from the south thanks to the island of Krk-its climate is
mild and relaxing. The characteristics of the climate of this region
are dry, fair and pleasantly warm summers and mild winters with a healthy
local system of winds. The amplitude between the average annual temperature
maximum and minimum is small. The centenary average of temperature is
14.2°C, and the average summer temperature is 23.6°C. Snow, fog and
a temperature below 5°C are very rare. The temperature of the sea reaches
in summer not more than 27°C. The sea air distinguishes itself by purity
and by dispersed desirable oligominerals and there are no noxious pollen
allergens or waste gases. Among the biometeorological data it is important
that the TWH index (relation between temperature, speed of the wind
and humidity) expressed as the feeling of pleasantness is very favourable
for the most part of the year. Owing to such climatic and ecological
conditions the first tourists began to arrive in Crikvenica on an organized
basis more than one hundred years ago primarily for medical 
reasons.
Recreation, vacation and entertainment were only additional reaso ns.
In 1906 Crikvenica was officially proclaimed a health resort and a seaside
resort. The fact that balneotherapy,
climatotherapy and thalassotherapy are highly valued in the most famous
medical centres of Europe has prompted the construction of medical centres
and establishments in Crikvenica. First a medical establishment for
Austro-Hungarian officers and the children's home Ladislavovac
were completed, followed by hydropathic establishments in the hotels
Therapia and Miramare and the sanatorium of Dr Seidl, then also the
Czech colony and the teachers' home Vila Ruzica. After the second world
war establishments for thalassotherapy for adults and children were
founded with in-patient clinics for curing and
rehabilitation, particularly for illnesses of respiratory organs and
rheumatism. The present Thalassotherapia is a well organized establishment
equipped with most modern apparatuses and equipments. It offers to in-clinic
patients and tourists a wide range of medical services in curing and
rehabilitation. This institution serves for teaching purposes to the
Medical School in Rijeka. The observation and investigation of meteorological,
ecological and aerobiological parameters initiated a century ago are
now being improved and scientifically elaborated.
