Much of the eastern coast of Italy borders the Adriatic Sea. From Puglia, located on the "heel of the boot" all the way up to Trieste in northernmost Italy, the 500-mile shoreline delights residents and visitors alike with alluring beaches and captivating cities. The picturesque city of Venice, with its charming canals and romantic gondolas, stretches across 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea.
Situated on the northeastern section of the Adriatic Sea, Slovenia occupies 29 miles of coastline. The strong and sometimes dangerous Bora winds create sudden squalls as they blow off the sea. Consequently, even the architecture reflects influence by this weather phenomenon. Dense cities with narrow streets such as Piran and Izola dot the coastline, and many roofs have rocks on top of them to prevent the clay tiles from blowing away.
Due to the 1,200 islands, islets and reefs in the sea that contribute to Croatia's 3,852 miles of shore, 75 percent of the Adriatic coastline borders this country. Croatian beaches boast clear, clean waters, unlike those in Italy, which are just a short distance across the sea. Fifteen cities are located on the irregularly-shaped coastline, with the 188,694 inhabitants of Split comprising the largest of them.
The borders of Bosnia & Herzogovina are primarily situated inland, but 16 miles in the southwestern part of the county border the Adriatic Sea. Neum, a beautiful town of 4,600 people, is the only city in Bosnia & Herzogovina located on the sea. The sandy beaches and relatively inexpensive hotels draw many vacationers, and the city can accommodate as many visitors at one time as the size of its population.
Montenegro, which means Black Mountain, gets its name from the lush black pines that cover the region along the 182-mile stretch of coastline. Tourist attractions include the breathtaking Boka Kotorska Bay, which has been listed as one of the ten most beautiful bays in the world, and five equally-astonishing rivieras that delight sightseers with their offerings.
Albania, located on the southeastern section of the Adriatic Sea, occupies 186 miles of its coastline. The Ionian Sea lies directly south of the Adriatic, and Albania also stretches 93 miles along this body of water. Each year swimmers enjoy the shallow waters of the Adriatic Sea, while sun lovers can stretch out on the long, sandy beaches.
