3 AMAZING CITIES TO VISIT IN HERZEGOVINA BESIDES MOSTAR

My last post was about beautiful historical town Mostar, but today I want to show you other amazing cities in the region of Herzegovina. You guys know how much I treasure Mostar and how important it is to me. Mostar is the largest and best known city in Herzegovina, the cultural and administrative centre of this region you might say. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that other cities don't deserve to be on your tourist radar as well. Honestly, one of the things that amazes me about Herzegovina is the diversity of its cities. Today I'll present three lovely cities to you: Ljubuški, Čapljina and Široki Brijeg. This is by no means a complete list. Another thing worth pointing out is that a lot of places  that get called cities, but in reality there are not that many cities in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina (only around 20). Popular tourist destinations such as Blagaj and Međugorje are often called cities while in fact they do not have a status of a city. 

As the name of the country indicates, there are two main regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and they are called (big surprise): Bosnia and Herzegovina. Generally speaking, Bosnia has a more continental climate whereas Herzegovina has a more Mediterranean climate. There are many wonderful cities in Bosnia as well and I promise to blog about them some day, but since I'm based in Herzegovina, I obviously visit local cities more often. Once again, these are two regions of the same country, so if you're visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, I definitely recommend visiting both of them, as I do believe that both have a lot to offer. So, let's start with seeing what these three cities I will present to you today have to offer. 

LJUBUŠKI CITY

Ljubuški started its life as an ancient settlement. Prior to our (our meaning Slav tribes) arrival, both Ilyrians and Romans had their settlements in the area. The old part of Ljubuški is a medieval town. Ljubuški of present day is a city that has so many things to offer, from amazing restaurants, stunning historical locations to utterly beautiful riverside. This name of the city is really interesting. Allegedly Ljubuški was named after the mistress of Herceg (also known as Herzog/ Grand Duke/King) Stjepan Kosacha. Legend has it that one of the most powerful historical rulers of this region Stjepan Kosača ( pronounced Kosacha) build his mistress a castle here so that he could visit her when he wanted. What we do know for sure is that there is a historical fortress settled by Kosacha and first recorded in documents back in fifteenth century. Do visit it if you are a lover of historical fortresses. Moreover, there are a lot of amazing places to visit in vicinity of Ljubuški, such as ČEVELJUŠA and KRAVICA waterfall so keep those in mind as well. 

LJUBUŠKI CITY

LJUBUŠKI PHOTOGRAPHY

ČAPLJINA CITY

I visit Čapljina city very often. Like with the most cities here, its name is Slavic in origin. It was probably derived from a bird 'čaplja' (latin name ardea, english name heron). Indeed, herons are  common in this area and we can assume that it was so in the past as well. Čapljina is such a lovely and pedestrian friendly city. Another reason for my  frequent visits are the locations near Čapljina itself, most notably the historical sight (featuring Roman villa) found at village MOGORJELO and nature park HUTOVO BLATO.  Another thing worth mentioning is the gastro experience and sports activities offered in the area. There are some lovely restaurants all around, and there is even an option of horse riding in the area. Mogorjelo (Roman Villa Rustica) is certainly a fabulous location to go horse riding around! If that is what you're looking for, you can inquire about that at local horse club Vranac. If you are a nature lover, you'll surely be enchanted with the nature surrounding Čapljina city, especially by nature park. Personally, I would say that Hutovo Blato is one of the most fascinating European wetlands and bird reservouirs. If you are a bird lover, it's a must visit! 

YOU CAN SEE MY MOST RECENT VISIT TO ČAPLJINA HERE

ŠIROKI BRIJEG CITY 

Široki Brijeg is a small city whose name is very descriptive. Literally translated, Široki Brijeg would mean 'A Wide Hill'. When you visit this city, you'll be able to see how it got its name. Široki Brijeg was named a city not too long ago, prior to that it was a village. Visually, it is still a very green area. The hills surrounding the town are covered by a thick forest. The houses are definitely more numerous than skyscrapers here. This little town is situated on river Lištica. Have you noticed how all the towns in Herzegovina are situated on rivers? If you are a riverside lover, Herzegovina is definitely the right location for you. Besides the greenery, this city can also boost of some lovely historical buildings and churches. A historical Franciscan gymnasium building and a historical catholic church are among the city's chief attractions. Both are located on a hill and offer a lovely panorama of the city. The Franciscan monastery and church consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is surely a place worth a visit. 

VISIT ŠIROKI BRIJEG WITH ME!

I will be linking this post with Mica's Weekday Wear Linkup. Thank you for reading and visiting. Let me know what you think about these little towns. Have you ever been to Bosnia and Herzegovina? Do you plan to visit it any time soon? Have a lovely day.