Rijeka, a city of innovations and dynamic university life, a city with the Mediterranean spirit, where influences of modern West and central Europe have always intertwined. No one is a foreigner here, since all who arrive in Rijeka are devoured by the rhythm of cosmopolitan mentality of Rijeka citizens. They are all welcome to the streets of Rijeka, to its beaches, cafe bars and small restaurants. Rijeka lives in an easygoing manner, and yet dynamic enough so that the business sector, small and medium–sized companies basing their activities on innovations, production and trade can adequately develop here. A lively cultural scene, led by a very active national theatre, where in addition to museum, art-cinema and other cultural institutions’ programmes, an independent cultural scene also enjoys a special status.
Its identity is a mosaic that gathers the once propulsive punk and rock scene, the International Carnival, as the most prominent city manifestation, a cosy life in a well organised and practical environment and pride in its leading position in promoting transparency in the operation of its public services. Rijeka (meaning river) has a lot to boast about, yet most often it flows calmly and sets the trends, that later on are followed by others, starting from the manner its university develops, through new technology and active communication between public services and citizens, up to new ideological themes and free spirit that often starts its expansion from here towards other Croatian regions. The first Word Camp Croatia could hardly have chosen a better place for its start, both symbolically and at the quite practical organisational level.
