Exploring The Beauty Of Rijeka, Croatia: From The Beach, Church and Castle.

Hello fellow travelers! I'm thrilled to share our first experience in Rijeka, Croatia. It is located in the northern part of the Adriatic coast, in the region of Primorje-Gorski Kotar. And its is also the country’s largest port. It plays the important role in maritime trade and industry.

First Stop in Rijeka: Beach

We went to Rijeka by car, my husband drove long hours for our summer vacation last August 2023. When we arrived in Rijeka, it really welcomed us with the beautiful city by its so blue sea water. The owner of the apartment where we will stayed, called my husband. The apartment is not yet ready and they need to finish cleaning. So instead of waiting in the car, we decided to drive to the nearest beach.

It's the best decision for us not to waste our time without doing nothing.
The beach was not crowded and pet friendly. Our dog was on vacation too. Few people enjoying swimming and the sun.

Directly we went to the toilet and quickly changed into our swimwear. Aya and I ran directly toward the sea. While hubby and Zoe do sunbathing. The first dip into the sea was cool. It was good because the weather was so hot. My husband got a call and the apartment was ready. But he told the owner we would come in the evening.

We didn’t want to leave the beach and we're hungry. It was late lunch already. There are food stalls on the beach. We were eating and enjoying the beautiful blue sea and salty air.

Second Stop in Rijeka: Up to Trsat.

After our time on the beach, my husband decided to explore Trsat. It sits high above Rijeka City. After parking the car, we started our journey to Trsat. As we started ascending, the city's atmosphere was peaceful. Along our way, the beautiful city has charming buildings and narrow streets. The city has lots of stories and history to tell that shapes the city. Cozy coffee shops, stone buildings ,and architecture around the place was breathtaking.

Instead of going first to the castle, we decided to visit the beautiful church which is just near the castle. It is named The Church of Our Lady of Trsat. The place was so peaceful and quiet and it felt so special from the moment we saw it. It's also a pilgrimage site. The walls are glowing in the sun. It was a simple church but its history is timeless and the bell tower was like reaching the blue sky. Like a portrait on the painting.

We stepped inside the church, it really amazed me the interior. Simple outside but the interior inside was stunning. High ceiling and soft lights inside. It was quiet and cool. It caught my attention was the golden altar. It was a masterpiece that blends the Gothic and Baroque styles. We stayed inside the church for a few minutes.

Outside the church, it was so calm with large trees around it. The place was good for sitting and relaxing. Seeing the beautiful view of the city. It's a charming place outside and I can say the faith and history is there.

Outside the church you can also found the statue of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.

Third Stop: Up To The Trsat Castle.

From the church journey through history, we continued walking upwards to the castle. The famous Petar Kružić Stairway—a steep stone staircase that winds its way up to Trsat Castle. Originally built in the 16th century as a pilgrimage path. It is said to have around 500 steps.

Half way up there's a small coffee shop inside the castle. And we decided to sit and have a coffee and chocolate drink for the kids. It was perfect, resting for a while, enjoying our drinks, peaceful moments with a beautiful view.

After our drinks, Aya and I continued our climb. And slowly the walls of Trsat Castle (Gradina Trsat) came into view. The castle is not as big as other castle's I've been to. But it has its own character from arched gates to stone towers.

Finally we reached the top, the view was absolutely amazing. We saw the breathtaking view of the Rijeka Bypass Bridge and its officially known as the Rječina Viaduct. And we can see the port, the endless blue sea, all of Rijeka City. The from the top was amazingly view. Imagine its in the top of the hill. We take our time capturing beautiful photos and watched the beautiful view. It's not always like this. Were just enjoying the moment.

Slowly going down, Aya saw a cat in the castle. She can't resist touching it. I give her time to see and touch the cat.

Our day comes to an end. It's time to go to our apartment. Our first day in Rijeka was full of surprises. We saw the sea, swam at the beach, visited a peaceful church, explored an old castle. All of this we will never forget.

The city welcomed us with its beauty and peace. Thanks for the wonderful memories we had of Rijeka. ❤️

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