The silvery Adriatic Sea is like a mirror that reflects the history of the inhabitants of the east coast: Illyrians, Romans, Slavs … On the shores of these amazing waters lies the largest peninsula of the Adriatic - Istria (its map will be given below). On its territory there are small villages adjacent to the slopes of the mountains; amazing medieval cities; beautiful hills covered with vineyards, olive groves, orchards and pastures. As well as fabulous beaches that annually attract tourists from all over the world. If you want to spend your holidays in a country like Croatia, Istria is an excellent place to stay. Next, we will tell you about the most famous places in Istria.
Rovinj
Once it was a small fishing village where, in addition to fishermen, famous seafarers and even pirates lived. Up and down tangled narrowlanes make up the Old Town, where you will see old streets and houses stretching along the hill of Monte Rossa. Above them, as if on a throne, rises one of the largest churches in Istria - the Monastery of St. Euphemia. Its 60-meter bell tower is crowned with a statue of a saint, after whom the monastery is named. On the central square of the city, you can also admire the Town Hall, and then visit the city museum, located in the Kaliffi Palace. You can walk along the cobbled streets of the old town to the pier, where you will see a noisy and colorful spectacle of fishing boats, sailing boats, yachts and motor boats, which you can watch until the evening. There you will also get the opportunity to purchase many different souvenirs, leaving yourself the memory of this amazing corner, which Croatia is so proud of. Istria also has other attractions, which we will talk about later.
Lim Fjord
Many cruise boats depart from Rovinj, on one of which you can go to the Lim Fjord - one of the most picturesque places in Istria. Be sure to visit the pirate caves, where sea robbers once hid. Today, travelers come here for excursions. Adventure films are also filmed here. The fjord is located between Rovinj and Vrsar, representing a beautiful bay with an excellent greenish tint to the waters.
Vrsar
Today Vrsar is a romantic sunny town on the Adriatic coast. From the pier, steep medieval streets lead up to the old part of the city. From here you have a beautiful view ofendless islands of various sizes, among which there are both bare rocky and completely covered with greenery, but for vacationers they are equally magnificent. The "crown" of the Old Town can be called the Venetian-style church - the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, behind which is the rest house of the Bishops of Poreč dating back to the 12th-13th centuries.
Porec
Porec is a soulful town with many monuments, architectural monuments, interesting history and endless streams of tourists. In the evenings, vacationers are entertained by street musicians and puppeteers, and at other times everyone tends to visit the sights of the city: the magistrate's building, which has been preserved since Venetian times, the ancient Marafor Square, the Euphrasian Basilica, listed in the UNESCO world heritage, City fortifications and other interesting places. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the restaurants and cafes of the city, where seafood is especially popular. The heart of the town is Decumanus Street, which wakes up only in the evening, when local cafes, shops and discos are filled with crowds of tourists. During the year, about 1 million tourists pass along the street, which is as much as 100 times more than the population of the town itself. All in all, Poreč should be on your must-visit list if you decide to spend your holidays in Croatia. Istria, as you can see, is full of fascinating places. But let's not stop, let's move on.
Pula
The city of Pula stands on the edge of the Istrian peninsula. It is considered economicindustrial and commercial center of the region. On 8 hills, the Romans founded a city called Pola. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, a remarkable amphitheater was built in Pula, the dimensions of which are simply amazing. To see it with your own eyes, Pula is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year. On the hill, above the amphitheater, rises the Franciscan church, and on the site of the old forum stands the temple of Augustus with a Corinthian colonnade, where you can see an exhibition of ancient statues. The road to the archaeological museum and the theater, which still gives performances, leads through the triumphal arch of Sergius, which is also called the Golden Gate. With over 2,000 years of history, this museum city is a must-see if you're in Croatia.
Rabac
Rabac is a bustling tourist area that can be reached through the town of Labin, built on a mountain. New hotels and villas are being built here at a terrifying rate, and sailors, surfers, lovers of active sea hobbies and ordinary tourists who come to relax from the gray everyday life stop in the bay. From walking paths or terraces of restaurants, you can enjoy watching white ships gliding along the emerald water. It is here that thousands of tourists enjoy the warmth of the sun and the caressing waves of the Adriatic, because in Rabac there are the best beaches of Istria. Croatia is not rich in golden sandy beaches, and therefore Rabac can only boast of large-pebble coasts. In clear water you can see hundreds of marine animals, so take it with you (or buy it in the nearest shop)diving mask. Those wishing to dive to great depths can participate in diving trainings. There are also nudist beaches in Rabac.
Pazin
Pazin today is the most important economic center of Istria. The hallmark of the city is a magnificent medieval castle built on a high rock. The gate in the courtyard leads to the ethnographic museum, which has collected many exhibits that tell about the daily life of the inhabitants of the region over the centuries. Among other things, the collection of Istrian bells surprises. The castle stands over a 120-meter abyss, in which the Pazinchica river disappears (further it flows underground). In addition to the castle, in Pazin you should visit the church of St. Nicholas, built in the Gothic style.
Umag
One of the most picturesque cities in Croatia, located in the north-west of Istria, attracts more than a million tourists every year. Of course, the Old Town deserves special mention, where the buildings of the Middle Ages and even Antiquity are perfectly preserved. The main attraction of this settlement is rightfully considered the Church of St. Roque, built in the 16th century. Other architectural monuments also include the church of St. Peregrine, the historical museum, the lighthouse in Savudrija and other equally interesting places. However, what really attracts Umag is the colorful beaches off the coast of the Adriatic, where travelers from all over Europe and the world relax with great pleasure. Umag can offer vacationers many comfortable hotels, cafes, nightclubs andrestaurants, which makes it a first-class resort that Croatia can boast of. Istria is rich in such towns, but it will take a long time to list them all, because this region has a very long and rich history, and its geographical position makes the peninsula a tasty morsel for any traveler.
Interesting facts
- The peninsula of Istria (Croatia) is the largest peninsula of the Adriatic, with an area of 18,000 km2.
- The annual number of tourists is about 5 million, increasing with each season.
- On the territory of Istria is the smallest town in the world - Hum, with only 17 inhabitants.
- Like the rest of Croatia, Istria is heavily forested. Oak, elm and pine are the basis of these massifs. This combination of deciduous and coniferous trees will have a beneficial effect on the he alth of people with respiratory problems.
- The population of Istria is about 600 thousand people (together with the Slovenian part of the peninsula).
In closing
Everything that an average tourist needs can be offered by Istrian resorts. Croatia has long been an attractive tourist destination in Europe, where Istria is the most popular region. A pleasant fact should be noted: the cost of a good rest in the resorts of the peninsula will cost you many times cheaper than in Italy or, for example, France. As a rule, the cost of tours ranges from 800 to 1200 dollars per person. As we wrote earlier, Istria is the mosta popular tourist region of the country, because here, as if nature itself has created all the conditions for a great holiday, and the history of cities soaked for centuries only complements the overall picture. Believe me, Istria, the reviews of tourists about which are more eloquent than the most flattering praises, will not leave you indifferent and will definitely attract more than once.
