A Visual Guide to Herzegovina

Pelješac Bridge

Our first stop in Herzegovina was at Neum where we had a beautiful view of the channel leading to the Adriatic Sea and the new Pelješac bridge which links Southern Croatia to the mainland of Croatia. This 1.5 mile long bridge cuts travel to the mainland by 37 minutes and bypasses the two border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. Traffic at the borders can be frustrating especially when there are big tour buses waiting to get through.

Neum

Kravica wildflowers in May

Kravica Falls

Kravica Falls is 25 miles south of Mostar. It’s a popular destination especially in the summer months. There’s an entrance fee. There are also restaurants, souvenir stalls and a huge parking lot for which there is a small fee.

Medjugorje

My pilgrimage to Medjugorje story here: https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2022/05/the-medjugorje-pilgrimage-trail.html

Apparition Hill, Medjugorje

Stari Most

For more information about Stare Most, check my travel article here: https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2022/05/highlights-of-mostar.html

Neretva River and Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque

Neretva River

Minaret of Tabačica Dzamija Mosque, Old Town Mostar

The Hammam Museum is in the background. The hammam (public bath) was widely used during the Ottoman Empire. This hammam was built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries and restored after the Bosnian war.

Kriva Cuprija, Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina

Kriva Cuprija (Crooked Bridge) is the experimental model of Stari Most

Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul

Popovo Polje

Driving south from Mostar towards Dubrovnik, we passed the karstic valley of Popovo. This is my favorite region in Herzegovina and it’s easy to understand why.

How to get to Herzegovina from Dubrovnik:

The best way to see Herzegovina without worrying about driving or border crossings is by taking a small group tour from Dubrovnik with selectdubrovnik.com. But if you want to spend more time discovering Herzegovina, renting a car might be the better option. Check with the rental company if you can take the car to another country (and get the documents you need to present to border patrol) if you are driving from Croatia. Here are some other options: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Dubrovnik/Mostar#r/Drive-train

*****

Images by TravelswihCharie

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and...

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

Church of the Beheading of St. John, Arbore Monastery Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Romania lies the enchanting region of Bucovina, home to a treasure trove of stunning monasteries. The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a testament to the region's rich history, spirituality and artistic genius. One of the most visited monasteries in Bucovina is Voronet. It was commissioned by Stefan the Great, Voivode of Moldova and one of its most admired rulers. Moldova was a medieval state that once encompassed parts of present-day Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. Voronet was built in 1488 to commemorate his victory over the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Vaslui and it was miraculously completed in three months time. Succeeding princes of Moldova continued the construction of more magnificent monasteries. The exterior walls of these structures were adorned with intricate frescoes, depicting biblical scenes, saints, and...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog