Medjugorje - one of the most famous catholic sanctuaries in the world (Medjugorje)

Member Name: Crouser

Product:	Medjugorje
Date:	25/05/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mild climate during the winter, close to the Adriatic, rich gastronomy and wine tours

Disadvantages: hot and dry summers, too many benches with plastic relic goods, too crowed in June

The parish of Medjugorje is situated in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, between mountains in the North and maritime area on the South. Main cultural and administrative center of Herzegovina is the town of Mostar. When you drive from Mostar towards South-West, following the flow of river Neretva, you'll come to Medjugorje.

So, how it is to live in Medjugorje? Because of the mountains area behind, winters can be sometimes very sharp (because of the sharp wind called Bura), but luckily, the Adriatic Sea, which is also rather close, helps Medjugorje to sustain mild and not so cold winter. Summers are mostly dry and hot, and the best time for you to visit this unique and little place is middle of spring, when most of the plants are still green and there is no tourist jam.

This part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is mainly famous for religious tourism, but lately people come to visit Medjugorje not only because of Our Lady's apparitions, but also for the gastronomy offer which is rather vivid because it's near the Adriatic (so you can enjoy "frutti di mare") , and it offers many continental specialties as well. I must mention that this region is famous for world's unique stony wine yard (located in village Blizanci, between Medjugorje ann Citluk), which covers area over 100 hectares. Wine form this wine yard is famous "Stony wine". Tourist agencies offer visits to Herzegovina wine yards and wine tours, so you can see (and taste) all of its' brands - mostly Zilavka (white wine) and Blatina (red wine)

In Medjugorje, you can find accommodation in one hotel Annamaria (unfortunately uncategorized) and you have plenty of private apartments as well. There's no special restaurant or tavern there, mostly, there are pizza places, or typical "ala cart" restaurants and fast food bars.

Religious tourism started in the 80-ies (last century) after the Our Lady's apparitions in 1981 and it is estimated that Medjugorje visits over one million people every year. "The busiest" day in the year is the Anniversary of Our Lady's apparition, on the 25th of June when river of people flows to the sanctuary of the Queen of Peace.

After so many years of respecting this phenomenon, Medjugorje became oriented only towards religious tourism which can be pretty annoying - when you find yourself walking through dozens of benches offering low quality plastic souvenirs. It makes me so sad to see that so many "merchants" use Our Lady only for financial benefit. I guess this is the only, but rather huge minus in this beautiful and very magical place. Hopefully, the innocence of nature surrounding this area will help you forget so many "plastic toys" that destroy the holiness of Medjugorje.

Summary: For all gourments and wine lovers