Istria - Why would you want to come here?
Istria is the westernmost county of the republic of Croatia and the largest Croatian peninsula, well renowned for its beautiful seaside and equally colorful green hills, and the one which has always managed to captivate the human imagination.
The cultures that have succeeded one another have left traces of past times, from which the curious traveller of today can perceive only the outlines and ancient Greeks were so struck by its sheer magic that they proclaimed Istria as a special, mythical country before Roman finally conquered it.This legacy of an exceptionally rich cultural and artistic spirit of past times is found in nearly every artifact and architectural work. In Istria, the past is celebrated.
Wherever you go in Istria, there will be a little picturesque place to stay in, even for the shortest of times, and you will be taken aback by its charm and sheer beauty; and you will wonder how rustically everything appear to be yet, so delicate and translucent at the same time.
Istrian Cuisine
The richness of the Istrian cuisine is considerably vast. The turbulent Istrian history has not left its traces only in Istrian culture and ethnology but also in the Istrian culinary art.The influence of the past (Roman, Venetian, Austro-Hungarian and Slav-Croat) has been reflected today in many authentic Istrian dishes.
Istrian cuisine does not bother with pompous names, demanding preparations and a variety of spices. Its richness is reflected in the simplicity, different gastro influences and high quality, organic ingredients from local farmers and fishermen.
From the excellent quality red and white wines (Malvazija, Terrano), grappa (biska) olive oil, bread, goat and sheep cheese to the authentic Istrian air cured ham (prsut) and naturally, his Royal Highness - the Truffle from the Mirna river valley, one of the most highly prized in the world today.
Istrian cuisine varies almost from village to village from Labin doughnuts, cod Pula style, turkey Motovun style and almost endless number of other local specialities.
What to do in Istria
From towns Pula and Rovinj in the south and Porec and Umag in the north west coast (Blue Istria), to Buzet and Pazin in the inland (Green Istria), this whole region is one big, open space museum, with countless interesting sites and natural beauty spots to visit, just to mention a few:
Amphitheater or Arena, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blesses Virgin Mary and the Temple of Augustus in Pula; The Church of St Peregrine in Umag, Temple of Mars and Neptune's Temple in Porec, The Castle in Vrsar, The Parish Church of St Euphemia in Rovinj... mountains Ucka and Cicarija, Limski Fjord; the listings goes on and on...
Sports
There are endless possibilities for sport activities and recreation holidays in Istrian resorts and towns; within the tourist complexes there are well equipped sports facilities and grounds for tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, mini golf and athletics.
You can chose from setting off on hiking trails in the South, along the Istrian coast or try mountainous Northern walks which tend to be more demanding, even for more accomplished hikers.
Did you know that Croatia [along with neighboring Slovenia] offers some of the best fly-fishing spots on the continent? Only a couple of hours drive by car, from any given point in Istria, you can find yourself in a real fly-fishing paradise - Gorski Kotar. It is a region abundant in sources of clean and crystal-clear water with one of the largest supplies of drinking water in Europe. There, high up in the mountains, are secretly kept some of the Europe's best preserved and natural salmonidae waters, with Brownies, Rainbows, Grayling and Huchen very keen to take on any fly-fishing enthusiast. From lakes Lokve, Bajer and Lepenice to rivers Kupa, Kupica, Dobra, Mreznica, Korana, Slunjcica, Cabranka, Gacka.... and so on. There are countless other small streams and rivers left to be explored by keen fly-fishermen.
croatia-apart can help in accommodating fly-fishermen and organizing fly-fishing trips to this most beautiful mountainous region in Croatia.
For more info (see Photo Gallery) please contact flyfishing@croatia-apart.com.
An adrenaline junkie? Istrian canyons, steep slopes, mountain trails and sheer rocks are ideal for extreme sports like para-gliding, free climbing, mountain biking, caving, hang gliding and whatever gets you heart rate through the roof.
In addition Istrian Peninsula present a unique heaven for water sports, diving especially. Pula aquatorium is widely known for its many attractive diving spots largely due to its unparalleled wealth of boat wrecks (Pula has long been established as the major naval base in this part of the world since the Austro-Hungarian Empire throughout the Second World War up until recently), numerous underwater tunnels and caves, unspoiled crystal clear relatively shallow waters, etc... Not to mention the abundance of the natural marine life!
croatia-apart can help in accommodating individuals as well as small-large groups of diving enthusiasts, beginners and experts alike and we can help organizing diving trips to some of the most beautiful underwater must-see spots in whole of Croatia. All diving trips are supervised and led by fully qualified C.M.A.S. Diving Instructors. In addition, a full range of comprehensive Diving Courses are available for Beginners and Progressive to Master divers alike.
For more info (see Photo Gallery), availability, transfers, accommodation, terms and conditions and price list please contact diving@croatia-apart.com.
Come winter time the Istrian mild climate and lovely scenery are ideal for pleasant walks by our senior citizens.
Inner Istria
The green fields, olive groves and vineyards, little villages on top of the hills dominating every brook and river in the valley down bellow or canyons, rigid mountain tops, scattered heritage monuments and church spires. And the overwhelming smell of the hidden wild country. Thyme. The colour.
There are countless little villages and towns throughout the Green Istria, from Pazin which is administrative center of Istria, to Buzet - city renowned for its truffles delicacies. Yet, venture a bit further north and there it is: the smallest town in the world - Hum.According to tradition, during the times when the giants were building towns in the valley of the Mirna river, the small quantity of stones left over were just sufficient enough to build such a small town. Today, Hum boasts about twenty inhabitants.
Many different events are staged in the inner Istria during summer and throughout the year such as the International Film Festival in Motovun, dedicated to films of small cinematographers and independent film productions; Festival of dance and non-verbal open theater in Svetvincenat, including contemporary performances; The Race of the Ring in Barban, established in 1696 and displays fine skill of riders hitting the ring with the lance; to name a few...
Towns along the coast
Pula
Situated at the south-western part of the Istrian peninsula, the population of Pula is just about 80,000, making it the largest city in Istria. It is home to one of the most famous sights in whole Croatia: well preserved Roman amphitheater. Built during the 1st century AD, the three-story amphitheater is the sixth largest in the world. In the summer it stages the Pula Opera Festival and Pula International Film Festival and it also hosts other events throughout the year.
Other sights include the Triumphal arch of the Sergi, the Temple of Augustus, the Cathedral and the Franciscan Church and Monastery among a considerable number of others.It is widely believed that Pula originated even before the Roman era, with local findings showing the history of Pula going back more than 3,000 years.
Medulin
The area of Medulin was already settled in prehistoric times and was used by the Romans for building summer residences here. The most luxurious among them, situated on Vizula Peninsula, was built in the 4th century during the period of the exiled son of Emperor Constantine Crisp.
While touring Medulin's historical and architectural heritage one must not miss the church of Our Lady of Health, which keeps valuable frescoes and Glagolitic graffiti from the 15th century. The parish church of St. Agnes [Janja], built in 1894, is characterized by twin 33-meter-high bell towers, which are a common motif on postcards from Medulin.
In addition, Medulin enjoys an exceptional climate with an average of 2,480 hours of sunshine a year and is blessed with lovely scenery. There are also numerous top-quality sports and recreational facilities around Medulin which are regularly used by many European top sporting names.
Umag
Built on the foundations of Roman ruins, from that period it has preserved the narrow, cobbled streets that create an exceptionally charming atmosphere. Umag's medieval urban structure blends perfectly with the lively and warm Mediterranean setting. The coast is full of pretty little bays and there is more than 20 km of riviera to be enjoyed.
Umag is also well known for its marina and the international tennis center which hosts the Croatian Open every July.
Porec
This is the town of magnificent cultural-historic monuments and clean and beautifully landscaped parks and gardens. A visit to the old town (Porec is 2,000 years old) is a must, due to numerous historical sites, particularly the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica [inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List] which is wonderfully preserved and is well known for its beautiful gold mosaics. The entry to the church is free, although a small donation is much appreciated.
Rovinj
This is a charmingly picturesque town with yet more narrow, cobbled streets! It is famous for its St. Euphemia Cathedral (built in 1736) which is the largest Baroque building in Istria and with the highest church tower in Istria, at 60 meters high. Rovinj was originally an island, but 250 years ago the narrow channel, which separated it from the mainland, was filled in. It is one of our favorite destinations on the Croatian Adriatic, particularly as it is very lively with numerous cafes and restaurants, galleries and an active fishing port, so in the morning you can watch the fishermen sail in as you enjoy your breakfast.