Only
a handful of miles from Zadar, the tiny old village of Kozino (population
482) nestles on top of a long, gentle hill covered in pine forests, vineyards
and olive groves. A stroll down the hill leads you past a quaint little church,
whose bell-tower dominates the old village.
Emerging from behind the
last row of houses a magnificent view of the sea and the islands breaks in front
of you. From there a narrow, winding road takes you down a gentle slope and through
the fields to the new part of Kozino, that lies stretched along the rugged
coast.
Even at its busiest (the first three weeks in August), this new
part of the village retains its island-like sense of remoteness, but with the
old-town centre of Zadar being less than a 20 minutes drive away.
Aside
from sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling, this wonderful location makes an ideal
base for exploring - both its immediate surroundings as well as the numerous sights
and national parks in the region. | | 
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a few minutes drive from Kozino, (or preferably a pleasant afternoon stroll through
the fields!), Petrcane has a perfect blend of vibrant atmosphere and rustic,
old-fashioned spirit. Charming alleyways of the old village form a small maze
framed with traditional Dalmatian stone houses. Stop and sneak a peak into their
hidden-away courtyards decorated with fig trees and colourful oleanders, or keep
on towards the old village harbour.
This turns into a lovely sea-front promenade, lined with modern, attractive villas
and family houses that remain mostly hidden away behind their verdant gardens
and front yards planted with fragrant pine, lemon and palm trees.
Petrcane
has a post-office, several restaurants and cafe-bars, a few well-stocked food
shops, and a number of stalls that sell local fruit, vegetables, souvenirs and
toys. Hire a dinghy or a bicycle to explore the surroundings, take a riding lesson
from the local riding school or just laze the day away on a beach.
Sitting
on one of the promenade’s benches, or dining on a terrace of one of the sea-front
restaurants, you can enjoy the views of the large sandy bay with the village harbour
and the pine-clad peninsula that embraces and shelters it from winds. The lush
green islands of the Zadar archipelago lace the horizon, providing a spectacular
backdrop for the setting sun.
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