Istria is a heart-shaped peninsula on the north-west of Croatia, perfect for your summer vacations as it has a vast range of natural, architectural and modern facilities. Istria unites the green hills with the medieval towns and infinite vineyards from the central parts, and the amazingly clear waters and natural beaches of the coastal towns. Being a small area, you can move from town to town in just a short car ride and enjoy in the green scenery surrounding you during your trips.
First of all, Rovinj will win you over with its dreamy landscape which actually looks like it was taken from a postcard. The old town situated on top of the hill, the cobble streets, colourful houses and amazing beaches are perfect to stroll through and relax.
Just a bit further south, the impressive port city of Pula awaits you! Pula is home to many important historical monuments, the most important one of which is the Roman Amphitheatre, also known as the Arena of Pula, but on every corner of this city you can find architectural rests. The Forum Square, the Temple of Augustus, the Triumphal Arch of Sergius (Golden Gate), the Fortress Kaštel, the Franciscan Monastery, the Market Hall, the Church of the Assumption and many more offer you a day full of sightseeing. On the other hand, Pula also has to offer the amazing beaches on the Peninsula of Verudela and the untouched natural jewel of Cape Kamenjak with its imposing cliffs and beautiful natural bays.
Next on the list of places you should visit stands Poreč, another costal town with plenty of beaches and a rich history told by the town itself. Take a walk along the Lungomare which encircles the whole old town alongside the historic walls and gives you a chance to enjoy in the fantastic harbour scenery. Poreč is also the proud home of the Basilica of Euphrasius, one of the most important sacred sites in Croatia. If you are visiting, you really shouldn’t miss the visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site! Of course the town has a lot more to offer and strolling through it you will discover many things on the way: towers from the old fortifications, squares, many bars and restaurant and finally the Decumanus street dating back from the Roman times but today’s “shopper’s paradise”!
If you are travelling with children a fun adventure in the area might be the visit to the Dinopark in Funtana or the Aquacolors water amusement park!
In the northern area of Istria on the lovely hills full of vineyards with an idyllic scenery is situated Motovun, a medieval village that overlooks the picturesque Istrian hill country and the valley of the Mirna River. This magnificent colourful town is also famous for truffles (collected from the oak woods below) and excellent Istrian wine so the many restaurants along the way surely offer them.
Make sure to make a stop at the smallest town in the world Hum, an indeed very small medieval village which surprisingly takes you back in time and offers quite a lot to see. You can also find traditional konobas and small breweries and taste local delicacies such as olive oil, truffle products, honey and schnapps.
While in the area make sure to make a stop at Grožnjan, the “town of the artists”, filled with colourful galleries and ateliers. It is best if you visit in the summer months as that is when most music academies take place and you get to experience the real artistic soul that this uphill town has to offer in its cobble streets and tiny squares. You should also make a stop at Momjan with its picturesque castle and same of the best wineries in Istria are to be found in this area.
Next on the list are two coastal towns: Novigrad, with its attractive colourful umbrella streets and the romantic promenade harbour, and Umag with its clear blue sea water on the far north of Istria. Umag is also the host to the ATP tournament. If you have the time, you should also make a stop to visit the cute old town of Buje. For those travelling with family a fun adventure in this area is Istralandia, a world of pools, slides and other fun attractions!
Getting away from the coast, in the central part of Istria you should visit Pazin and maybe plunge into some outdoor activities, visit the Pazin Cave and the Pazinski krov and Zarečki krov, wonderful natural waterfalls beautiful to enjoy in the spring days. If you are feeling in the mood for an adrenaline adventure, you should try out the Pazin zip line that leads across the steep canyon.
Next, take a walk in the colourful alleys of Labin’s old town and visit the City Museum, which retells the story of the former mining for coal in this area with gallery replicas.
Finally, you should visit the medieval town of Svetvičenat adorned with the renaissance square Placa and the castle Morosini-Grimani, one of the best-preserved examples of Venetian architecture in Istria and host to medieval nights filled with various interesting events.
Istria has so much to offer from sightseeing to relaxing, from water sports to hiking and the best advantage is that it is all cramped in a pretty small area. This makes it easy for you to move around the region by car and not lose much time on the road. Istria is perfect for daily road trips and if you have the time, make sure to discover even the most remote sights, relax and enjoy!
