ACI Marina Opatija Icici

ACI Marina Opatija is open year round. It is located in Icici, between Opatija and Ika.

Mt Učka, the highest mountain in Istria, protects the marina from strong bura winds. This mountain also hosted the first coastal spa resort in the Adriatic and was famous for exquisite tourism activities in the region since the time of Austria-Hungary. ACI Marina Opatija is situated in the town of Ičići. For yachts under 40 meters, this place provides the best anchorage in the entire northern Adriatic, and it is the proud keeper of a nautical tradition that is nearly three thousand years old. In the 9th century BC, Liburnians who lived in the area, built fast ships out of simple wooden planks and rope that took them as far as North Africa and Asia Minor.

Then there was a time when Opatija enjoyed a great reputation among foreign princes and nobles. And now ACI Marina Opatijais very popular among boaters from all over the world, longing to cruise the Adriatic. The reason lies not only in its excellent facilities and the Blue Flag it holds, but also in its proximity to important transportation routes. Zagreb, Trieste and Ljubljana international airports are only a couple hours by car, while transfers to and from Pula or Rijeka airports can be even shorter. Opatija has a sweet climate with rare bura winds. When combined together with a convenient location and good transport connections (if you don’t like flying, you can drive to Ičići from European cities like Vienna, Milan or Budapest in a few hours), ACI Opatija becomes an ideal spot- for short winter visits or as a start or end point of an Adriatic cruise at any time of the year. You can always plan a new route here in the marina, enjoying the spectacular view of Krk and Cres, the two largest Croatian islands.

The beginning of active tourism in Opatija dates back to 1844, with the rich and influential merchant Iginio Scarpa building the Villa Angiolina as a summer house. When celebrities ad nobles of the time including Maria Anna of Savoy and Empress of Austria began to stay at the villa, Angiolina’s fame at the Viennese court spread quickly. The Empress of Austria is known to spend three months there.

Opatija’s Slatina area is where the Croatian Walk of Fame stands. The stars were constructed between 2005 and 2008 with the intention to honour people whose work contributed to the promotion of Croatia. And you will find some important names there; such as scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla, writer Miroslav Krleža, and athletes Dražen Petrović and Janica Kostelić.

Also an important personality in the country’s history, Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph declared Opatija as a spa town in March 1889, and this is when the tourism in the city really boosted. Five years later he added to the hype by choosing Opatija to meet with German Kaiser Wilhelm II, an event which was reported on even by the Gray Lady, the New York Times.

Sightseeing: Opatija is a a well known holiday and health resort since the 19th century. You can find numerous villas, hotels and parks. Among the many places to visit, Villa Angiolina, stands out. This villa built in 1844 is a must-see also for its wonderful park. From above Opatija on Mount Ucka you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Kvarner islands.

Mooring: There are 300 berths for yachts up to 60 meters plus 30 along the shore. Mega yachts up to 40m in length can be accommodated.

Transport Connections: ACI Marina Opatija is located in the heart of Europe, only six hours’ drive from important European cities like Munich, Vienna, Milan and Budapest. You can find five international airports (Rijeka, Pula, Zagreb, Trieste, Ljubljana) within a 150 km radius, and it is connected conveniently by motorways to the rest of Europe.

Approach: From the sea you can easly spot the marina by its breakwater. The harbor can be entered from the northeast. There is a lighthouse (Fl R 3s 7m 3M) on the breakwater’s head. The lighthouse’s exact position is 45°18.9’ N 14°17.8’ E. Water depth at the marina entrance is 7 metres. The speed limit within the marina is 2 knots.