At Saint Mark’s Church, in the capital city of Zagreb, Croatia

 "I realize that Zagreb’s heart lies not in one place. And such is its charm and magnetism that it can ensnare every visitor. I think I will leave a bit of my own heart back in Zagreb. But then again, I buy a licitar heart, and a piece of Zagreb will now be with me, gently reminding me of the thrum of a place located thousands of miles away." -- Anita Rao-Kashi

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Central Croatia (or "Croatia Proper") is one of the four historical regions of the Republic of Croatia -- together with Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia. It is located between Slavonia in the east, the Adriatic Sea in the west, and Dalmatia to the south. In contemporary geography, the terms Central Croatia and Mountainous Croatia are used to describe most of this area, the former referring to the northeastern part and the latter to the southwestern part; the far western part is known as the Croatian Littoral. Croatia proper is the most significant economic area of the country, contributing more than 50% of Croatia's gross domestic product.
+The country's geographic heart, Central Croatia is the most densely populated region of the country and the nation's economic, political, and cultural center. This core region is home to several important urban centers, including the country's capital and largest city, Zagreb, and smaller regional provincial cities, including Varazdin, Karlovac, and Sisak. The physical landscape is a combination of mountains and river valleys. Each of these cities is located on a major river, yet Sisak is the only city that can be linked by water to other locations in Europe. River barges and boats can travel on the Sava River, which is navigable to Sisak, into the Danube; from which, much of Europe is accessible by a tight network of rivers, canals, and seas.

+ The boundaries of Croatia proper were shaped by territorial losses of medieval Croatia to the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman conquest starting in the 15th century. In effect, Croatia proper loosely corresponds to what was termed "reliquiae reliquiarum olim magni et inclyti regni Croatiae" (the relics of the formerly great and glorious Kingdom of Croatia) and the subsequent Kingdom of Croatia within the Habsburg monarchy. The region contains most of the 180 preserved (or restored) castles and manor houses in Croatia, as it was spared any large-scale war damage throughout its history. The west of the region represents a natural barrier between the Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian Basin, and this -- along with Ottoman conquest and resulting military frontier status -- has contributed to the relatively more gradual development of the economy and infrastructure of that area.

+ Depicted here is Saint Mark’s Church; with its uniquely colorful tiled roof it is a Zagreb icon. One of the oldest buildings in the city, it dates from the 13th century. (Located on St.Mark's Square in the city's Upper Town, the church is protected by the Republic of Croatia as a cultural heritage.)