"The most beautiful sunset in the world" 2011-09-12 By Tomislav Georgiev for Southeast European Times

The Croatian Riviera has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists over the last few years.

The country -- once torn by war -- today is a Mediterranean paradise.

Over 10 million tourists visited Croatia in 2010, and the number is expected to be higher this year, according to media reports.

Most visitors are from Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the UK. The number of tourists from the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and Australia have also increased.

One of the most popular places in Croatia is Zadar, a town with unique architecture, monuments and crystal blue sea.

Churches, ports, markets, stone streets, beautiful restaurants and delicious food attract millions of tourists every year.

Forum is one of the most popular sites in Zadar, with its famous 22m-diameter "Greeting to the Sun".

“Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world,” world famous filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock wrote about one of his trips to Zadar.

A ferry connects Zadar to the surrounding islands.

Menu Island, Kornati Island National Park, Ugljan Island and Pasman Island are 30-minutes away.

Ancient stone houses and old fishing boats make tourists feel like they are stepping back in time.

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