The sun is beating down. To at least one side is the Adriatic, blue and inviting, on the other, is the old capital of scotland - Dubrovnik, white stone and orange tiles, with components of history embedded in its facade. I choose to lose myself in the latter - inside the small stone-cut alleys full of colour, characters and stories. Croatia can be a relatively new 'It' destination on the European tourist trail, but Dubrovnik, around the southern Croatia coast, hasn't ever been short of admirers. Playwright George Bernard Shaw once declared "those who seek paradise on Earth should arrive at Dubrovnik and find it," and they have, making Dubrovnik certainly one of Croatia's busiest tourist hubs. Dubrovnik began as being a wealthy and independent city state famous for its intellectuals and artists. Within the 15th and 16th century, it absolutely was the only city-state, east of the Adriatic, to rival the power and influence of the Venetian Empire. Many of the old town's grandeur originates from this era - towering landmarks stand shoulder to shoulder across the gleaming stone streets from the old town. It's impossible to overlook the artistry of the many intricate carvings embellishing them. But the most impressive feature of this already stunning city is its fortified wall system. British poet Lord Byron once famously labelled Dubrovnik as "the pearl from the Adriatic" and standing on the walls, on the city, it's easy to see why. The walls encircle the town and are approximately 1,940 m high. The system includes bastions, watch towers, forts, as well as an army of cannons, and has been an element of the local landscape since Dubrovnik's inception somewhere close to the seventh century (the walls because they stand today, are said to become from the 12th-17th century), and offer a bird's eye view of both land and sea. Dubrovnik, specially the historic old town, suffered major damage in the Croatian War of Independence noisy . '90s. The scars from shelling are visible currently. It took years of careful rebuilding to restore this Unesco World Heritage site to the former glory, but it's been absolutely definitely worth the effort. Mljet:A history lesson later, it is time for Mljet, one of the most popular Croatian islands. Even when you've never heard of Mljet, chances are that you understand of it. They say Ulysses was shipwrecked here, over these waters, against these rocks, by the cave near the village of Babino Polje. It turned out here that he fell fond of the beautiful nymph Calypso. They say he spent seven years for the island entranced by the beauty - from the nymph or the island, I'm not sure. Mljet is green and unspoilt. Most of the island is a protected national park. When the idea of the bright sun, open sea, clear lakes, and cascades to swim and dive under, lush greenery, rich forests, and multiple trails that encourage hikes and treks, appeal to you, Mljet is perfect. Korcula:Island hopping in Croatia throws up surprises everywhere. My next stop is Korcula town, called little Dubrovnik. It mimics the Dubrovnik fortification, but with a much smaller scale, giving it a cosier, toy-town vibe. That's not to say it isn't spectacular. The men of Korcula maintained for their masonry using the local white stone. Their efforts can be viewed during a walk along the island: smooth white stone has been perfected to form walls, towers, columns, churches, homes, bridges, archways, as well as the cobbled streets. Legend has it that Marco Polo was given birth to here. Locals insist on it. There's a museum, shops, restaurants, cafes, boats, all named after him. Along these tiny streets, it's common to find big boards that scream: Marco Polo. Maybe it's how big is the town, but there's a touch of magic and mysticism for the place. As a strain of traditional Klapa music floats out of an open window, it's easy to forget time, and when it wasn't for the occasional mobile phone ringtone, this could very well be a time long gone. Mali Ston:About 59 km from Dubrovnik will be the island of Mali Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula. I trace the stone wall that runs from Mali Ston towards Ston with my finger. This had been an important post of the old Dubrovnik defensive system. Today it has a quiet escape from the tourist routes of southern Dalmatia. The Stons are sleepy villages - stone houses with satellite dishes poking out of your tiled roof and well-tended vegetable patches sprouting in the ground - surrounded by mountain and sea. The few odd tourists around are arranging by the two big restaurants for the waterfront after their tour in the walls. They say the Ston shells are some of the best in the world. And after devouring two platefuls (they were actually trays) of fresh oysters, I will vouch for that claim. Peljesac:What's a trip to these parts without a glass of vino? The Peljesac peninsula, running from Ston and Orebic, is renowned for wine producing traditions that date back to the arrival of the Greeks within the third century. The whole region is a huge sprawling vineyard, with a dash of olive groves in between. While there are big (local) producers about the island, the charm of wine tasting here is based on visiting the many family-run wineries. Follow among the signboards along the road to small, independent cellars and taste their wines along with their food - all sourced locally, probably through the surrounding family farm. Here you'll discover the histories - of the family and also the wine, the method of production, and the good years. You'll also get the opportunity to buy any of the wines you've enjoyed. Although you're at it, indulge in the pride with the peninsula, a glassful of the Plavac Mali or the Dingac; every sip comes complete with the flavours of Croatia.