Delve deep into the ancient traditions of the valley of Konavle, Croatia's southernmost region. At the gallery of a local artist, over a cup of tea and a piece of cake, explore the centuries-old skill of silk making from scratch. Passed down the female line, silk-making and silk embroidery were both an inception ritual for young girls and a chance for bonding between women of all ages. Nearby, stroll through a forest along the cool river Ljuta to visit several historic restored mills that were once the backbone of the economy and used to make flour and soften the cloth for villagers.