Conservation and restoration works on Orlando’s Column, one of Dubrovnik’s most iconic cultural monuments, reached an important milestone in October 2025 as experts completed several key interventions that advance the multi-year restoration project toward its final stages.

Following the successful release of tension from the monument’s central metal rod—considered a crucial step in stabilising the structure—conservators proceeded to cut the top of the rod and carried out detailed consultations regarding the continued monitoring of the column’s condition.

Preparatory phase completed, new works underway

These interventions mark the completion of the preparatory phase for ongoing conservation works, which now include:

• comprehensive surface cleaning,

• installation of a stone cap to replace the removed nut of the central rod,

• treatment of the capital’s upper surface to prevent rainwater accumulation, and

• preparation for the reinstallation of the protective fence that was temporarily removed at the start of the project.

By the end of November, conservators will also carry out partial restoration on the column’s shaft, addressing minor damage such as small cracks, flaking stone, and deteriorated past repairs.

Major structural repairs expected in spring 2026

The next phase, scheduled for spring 2026, will involve filling and sculpturally retouching the column’s major structural cracks. An upgraded monitoring system—capable of tracking the monument’s condition without the need for external scaffolding—will also replace the existing one.

During this period, conservators will restore the fence at the top of the column, repair corroded metal elements, and stabilise Orlando’s iconic sword.

If the timeline proceeds as planned, technical and conservation conditions for the removal of the protective scaffolding should be met by spring 2026. The Croatian Conservation Institute will then prepare detailed long-term maintenance guidelines to ensure the monument remains stable and protected for future generations.

Improved monument protection under discussion

In cooperation with the City of Dubrovnik and the relevant conservation authorities, additional protective measures are also being considered, including a discreet perimeter barrier, video surveillance, or other forms of psychological deterrence aimed at safeguarding the area around the column.

The restoration of Orlando’s Column—conducted by the Croatian Conservation Institute with support from the Ministry of Culture and Media, the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Conservation Department and the Dubrovnik Restoration Institute—continues to follow the highest professional standards to ensure the long-term preservation of this key symbol of Dubrovnik’s historical and cultural heritage.

Croatian cellist Ana Rucner is experiencing a new wave of international success in China, where music, technology and emotion are increasingly becoming her second artistic home. Following the release of her original album Balkanija under Hit Records, Rucner’s recent performances across Asia have drawn significant attention from audiences and industry leaders alike.

Her latest achievements include standout appearances at two of the most influential music and cultural events in the region: the Music China Expo in Shanghai and the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

At the prestigious Music China Expo—the leading music-instrument fair in Asia—Rucner received a rare honour: she became the first artist in the world to premiere Yamaha’s brand-new electric cello. The cutting-edge instrument, combining high design, innovation and a modern sound, was unveiled during her performance, marking a major milestone in her collaboration with the global music brand.

A groundbreaking fusion of art and technology

The highlight of her stay in China was her performance at CIIE, one of the world’s largest economic and cultural expos. In a futuristic show blending art and technology, Rucner performed alongside her E-band and robot musicians, introducing a bold new artistic concept unlike anything previously seen on the international stage.

“Music is a universal language that knows no borders. China inspires me every time and reminds me how art can unite worlds, tradition and innovation,” Rucner said after the event.

The following day, she delivered a solo concert at the same venue, reaffirming her artistic range and her ability to seamlessly bridge cultures through performance.

Concerts, festivals and new collaborations

During her China tour, Rucner also performed at major festivals, including the Hongqiao Grassland Music Festival, and formed several new partnerships with Chinese artists and producers. Croatian drummer and trumpeter Marko Duvnjak joined her at several concerts, strengthening the cultural exchange between Croatia and China.

With her energy, creativity and distinctive musical style, Ana Rucner continues to demonstrate that Croatian artistry has a global reach—and that passion, persistence and music truly transcend boundaries.

Next stop: India and a world-record concert

Rucner’s international journey continues later this month in India, where she will participate in the global event “One World, One Family”, featuring representatives from 100 countries. The celebration on 23 November will mark the opening of the largest free hospital for the poor, with 600 beds.

The event will culminate in a concert featuring 450 musicians from 40 countries, set to enter the Guinness World Records as the performance with the most musicians from different nations on one stage. Ana Rucner will be part of this historic moment, joined by four Croatian vocalists who began their careers in the renowned ensemble LADO.

@ana.rucner Iz Šangaja, s ljubavlju i decibelima. ⚡️ Električno. Elegantno. Emotivno. Yamaha cello. ???? #AnaRucner #fyp #balkan ♬ original sound - ana.rucner

Croatia will be directly linked with 69 foreign cities during the winter flight schedule, according to data collected by the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) from the country’s airports. The winter network includes connections to 25 countries, strengthening Croatia’s position as a year-round destination.

The largest number of direct routes this winter will connect Croatia with Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In addition to European connections, Croatia will maintain long-range routes to Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, offering wider global reach even outside the peak summer months.

Air connectivity crucial for year-round tourism

“Air transport plays a crucial role in the development of Croatian tourism, especially outside the main summer season when connectivity with key markets is essential for achieving strong results,” said Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board.

He noted that being directly connected with 69 international destinations makes Croatian cities more attractive to travellers worldwide.

“Efficient air traffic directly contributes to year-round and sustainable growth by encouraging visitor arrivals in different seasons, reducing pressure on peak travel periods, and making our destinations more accessible to global markets,” Staničić said.

Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam and Istanbul lead the network

This winter, Croatia is expected to see 151 unique air routes operated by 32 airlines. The strongest individual connections will be to Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam and Istanbul.

In terms of overall traffic, Zagreb Airport is expected to record the highest number of operations, followed by Split Airport and Dubrovnik Airport, confirming Dubrovnik’s continued importance as a winter gateway for international travellers.

Among airlines, the highest number of total operations on domestic and international routes will be operated by Croatia Airlines, Ryanair, Trade Air and Lufthansa.

Construction works are well underway on the new Srebreno–Kupari coastal promenade, a project set to dramatically enhance the appearance and connectivity of Župa Dubrovačka’s shoreline. When completed, the path will create a seamless pedestrian link between Srebreno and the developing Kupari tourist zone, adding around 300 metres of newly built, modern and safe waterfront walkway.

Local officials say the project marks a major step in shaping Župa Dubrovačka into a fully developed Adriatic tourist centre.

Two-phase project entering final stage

Municipal Mayor Marko Miloslavić explained that the project is divided into two phases.

The first phase included constructing retaining and boundary walls, as well as new access stairways leading down to the bathing area—preparing the entire route for final surfacing.

The second phase, which is currently ongoing, focuses on completing the promenade itself and installing new public lighting.

“We are in the middle of reinforced-concrete works, after which we will lay the final stone-paved surface and install lighting fixtures. This will fully complete this section of the promenade,” Miloslavić said.

Part of a larger coastal development plan

The Srebreno–Kupari walkway is one element of a long-term strategy to redesign and modernise the Župa coastline. The next stage is already in preparation.

“In 2026, we plan to prepare the project for a new section at the Beterina location, which will be submitted for co-financing through the Green Infrastructure Development programme in urban areas,” the municipal mayor added.

EU-funded investment

The total value of the works amounts to €211,274.58, of which €108,800 is being provided through EU funding via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), under the Local Development Strategy of LAG Dubrovačka Traversa.

The new promenade is expected to significantly upgrade the visual, recreational and tourism appeal of Župa Dubrovačka, improving coastal access for residents and creating an attractive new waterfront experience for visitors.

Workers employed by legal entities in the City of Zagreb earned an average net salary of €1,626 in August, according to newly published data from the City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning. The figure represents a 0.2% increase from July and a 7.5% jump compared with August last year.

The median net salary — the amount earned by the middle worker when all incomes are lined up from lowest to highest — stood at €1,400. This means that half of Zagreb’s employees took home less than that amount, and half earned more.

Highest and lowest-paying sectors

The most lucrative sector in Zagreb in August was crude oil and natural gas extraction, where the average net salary reached €2,394.

On the opposite end of the scale, the lowest average net salary was recorded in leather and related product manufacturing, where workers earned an average of €953.

Zagreb remains above the national average

Zagreb continues to outpace the country’s overall wage levels. The national average net salary for August was €1,446, meaning employees in the capital earned on average €180 more than the Croatian average.

Retail prices in Dubrovnik and the wider Dubrovnik-Neretva County continued to stabilise in October as the end of the tourist season brought the usual decline in demand. According to new data from the price-comparison platform Koliko.hr, essential food and hygiene baskets fell in price for the second consecutive month.

While Dubrovnik traditionally ranks among the most expensive regions in Croatia, October brought a notable shift: Požeško-slavonska County overtook Dubrovnik-Neretva as the priciest county for basic household needs.

Small but important savings for households

The basic consumer-hygiene basket for a four-member household in Croatia averaged €483.56 in October—down €2.62 from September. The most expensive basket was recorded in Požeško-slavonska County (€494.42), while the cheapest was in Sisačko-moslavačka (€476.82).

Although the report does not publish county-specific figures for Dubrovnik-Neretva in October, the shift in national rankings indicates that prices in the Dubrovnik region eased enough to fall below the top spot for the first time in months—welcome news for local residents after a high-season marked by elevated daily costs.

Three-member households saw a similar trend, with an average basket costing €384.29, and single residents required €248.70, both slightly lower than the previous month.

Consumer groups: prices still too high

Despite the small declines, Croatia’s consumer association warns that households, including those in Dubrovnik, continue to struggle with high living costs.

“Even with the drop, these are still large amounts that consumers must spend each month, without feeling they bought much,” said Ana Knežević, president of the Croatian Consumer Protection Association (HUZP). She added that rising electricity and gas prices remain a major concern, and stressed the need for the government’s upcoming package of additional price-controlled products.

Dubrovnik has been crowned the World’s Best Sustainable Destination for 2025 at the prestigious World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards. The announcement was shared on Facebook by Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković, who described the recognition as a milestone achievement for the city and its residents.

In his statement, Mayor Franković expressed “special pride,” emphasising that the award validates nearly a decade of systematic work toward responsible tourism.

“This is a major acknowledgement for our City, for all citizens, partners, and institutions who, through the Respect the City initiative launched in 2017, have shown how it is possible to manage tourism responsibly, protect heritage, and at the same time improve the quality of life for our people,” he wrote.

Dubrovnik’s sustainable transformation has included a series of pioneering measures: Croatia’s first electric vehicle-sharing system, advanced AI tools that predict visitor numbers, the integrated Dubrovnik Pass, and coordinated cruise ship scheduling in partnership with CLIA.

According to Franković, these efforts have proved that “visitor management, not volume, is the true path to sustainability.”

The city has also improved its official GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) score by an impressive 16% since 2019—an achievement that places Dubrovnik among the global leaders in sustainable tourism strategies.

The organisers praised Dubrovnik’s achievements, calling Respect the City “a pioneering model for managing overtourism while preserving cultural heritage and enhancing residents’ quality of life.” They noted that the project positions Dubrovnik as a sustainability leader in the Mediterranean by balancing economic benefits with the protection of its UNESCO-listed Old City.

They also highlighted a series of measures that have transformed the city’s tourism ecosystem:

• Croatia’s first electric car-sharing scheme

• AI-powered visitor forecasting technology

• The integrated Dubrovnik Pass, improving both visitor flow and attraction access

• A bus reservation system and coordinated cruise schedules with CLIA and port authorities to reduce peak congestion

“These innovations prove that managing flow, not numbers, is the key to sustainable tourism,” the organisers said.

“Our City is now an example to the entire world of how smart decisions, data, and cooperation can create a successful and sustainable future,” the mayor added, thanking everyone who contributes daily to making Dubrovnik “a city built for its citizens and a model for the world.”

Dubrovnik’s new global title reinforces its position not only as a world-famous cultural gem, but also as a frontrunner in future-focused, responsible tourism.

@graddubrovnik ???? Libertas Dubrovnik predstavio je novo specijalizirano vozilo za prijevoz osoba s invaliditetom! #libertasdubrovnik #libertas #graddubrovnik #dubrovnik ♬ original sound - Grad Dubrovnik

Even football millionaires sometimes choose simplicity. Luka Modrić and Mario Pašalić, two of Croatia’s biggest football stars, surprised passengers over the weekend by boarding a Ryanair flight from Bergamo to Zagreb — where tickets can cost less than 20 euros.

if Modric can fly with us, so can you https://t.co/2cNv9WKml1

— Ryanair (@Ryanair) November 11, 2025

The flight landed in Zagreb late Sunday night at 11 p.m., carrying around 200 passengers. But it wasn’t the landing that caused excitement — it was the sight of Croatia’s national team captain and his teammate sitting among the crowd. According to reports, passengers quickly surrounded the duo, eager for photos and handshakes. Both Modrić and Pašalić patiently obliged, giving fans a night to remember.

The pair arrived in Zagreb ahead of Croatia’s final World Cup qualifiers, with upcoming matches against the Faroe Islands and Montenegro.

Even Ryanair couldn’t resist joining in on the viral moment. The airline took to social media with a cheeky post that read:

“If Modrić can fly with us — so can you.”

The post quickly spread, sparking laughter and playful comments from fans. One joked, “Modrić probably didn’t have enough legroom,” while another added, “He’s known for handling tough situations — even Ryanair flights.”

Others demanded proof before believing the story: “Until I see a photo — I don’t believe it!”

Whether a clever PR moment or simply two footballers catching an easy flight home, one thing’s certain — Luka Modrić has once again shown his down-to-earth charm. And this time, not even first class could compete with a Ryanair aisle seat.

@ryanair coming soon ???? #stitch ♬ original sound - Ryanair