Lush mountains melt into golden sands and cobalt waters in this stunning EU island that could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean or Maldives . Despite being a mere stone's throw from the insatiably hyped city of Split , which garners more than 900,000 tourists every year, the island of Brač is one of Croatia's last hidden gems . Despite being only 91 square miles in size, this island packs a big punch and was originally known for its resource of white marble. Many famous buildings were