Croatia, with its unspoiled dramatic coast, is a place of bewitching beauty, one of the hidden jewels of the Mediterranean, and sometimes referred to as the "New Tuscany". Yet most travellers know little more than that it was once part of Yugoslavia. Its ruined Greek cities, Habsuburg gardens, border fortresses, the palace of Diocletian, Roman amphitheatres, Byzantine basilicas and walled medieval towns only mock our lack of knowledge with their unexpected diversity. This collection allows the traveller to glory in this past, adding a patina of understanting to the tangible architectural glories and whispered tales of three thousand years of civilization. The collection is edited by Stephen Lavington and Francis Gooding with an historical introduction by Peter Frankopan.