(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
The glamour and romance of Europe’s golden age of travel came alive last night in Opatija, as the Croatian Museum of Tourism opened its new exhibition In the Shine of Luxury and Elegance.
Dedicated to the centenary of Zagreb’s iconic Esplanade Hotel and Croatia’s connections to the Orient Express, the exhibition transformed Villa Angiolina into a journey through time.
The festive opening drew a large crowd, filling every corner of the historic villa.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Guests were welcomed with a lively 1920s-inspired dance performance by Rijeka’s Flame dance studio, setting the tone for an evening of elegance.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Official speeches were delivered by Ivica Max Krizmanić, General Manager of Hotel Esplanade, museum director Nataša Ivančević, and Opatija city representative Tamara Sergo. Esplanade’s signature štrukli, fine desserts, and cocktails added to the celebratory atmosphere.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Running until 31 October, the exhibition highlights two legendary symbols of European luxury – the Esplanade Hotel, opened in 1925 to accommodate travellers of the famed Orient Express, and the train itself, later known as the Simplon-Orient-Express.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Visitors can explore rare photographs, architectural plans, fashion creations designed for grand hotel balls, vintage menus, original hotel china, and stories of famous guests who stayed at the Esplanade.
The Orient Express section retraces the train’s journey from its Belgian founder Georges Nagelmackers to its links with Opatija, where the South Railways Company and the International Sleeping Car Company brought visitors from Trieste and Venice to Croatia’s Adriatic jewel.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Highlights include model trains, posters, brochures, and reconstructed train interiors, offering both railway enthusiasts and history lovers a taste of travel’s golden era.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Music from DJ Vedran kept spirits high throughout the evening, while Esplanade’s culinary team, led by chef Ana Grgić Tomić, treated guests to pastries and fine wines.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
The stylish celebration reflected the exhibition’s spirit – a fusion of elegance, history, and cultural heritage.
The exhibition is organised by the Croatian Museum of Tourism and Hotel Esplanade Zagreb, with support from HŽ Infrastruktura and the Croatian Railway Museum.
(Photo by Bruno Fantulin)
Open daily except Mondays and public holidays from 10 am to 6 pm, it invites visitors to step into a world where luxury travel once defined Europe.
