Explore this stunning area…
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Explore Istria
Istria is truly a visual delight. Its streams meander toward the sea through deep valleys and gorges, evoking ancient local myths of giants. Rolling hills stand sentinel over the fields and valleys, adorned with quaint towns nestled atop peaks, reminiscent of scenes from old paintings. The vista is breath-taking: mountains, verdant wheat fields, plateaus, valleys, vineyards, and olive groves dotting the hillsides, all leading to the azure expanse of the sea.
Below are some suggested destinations for outings in the splendid region of Istria
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Once Tito’s holiday home and the meeting place for the international jet set it is now the only national park in Istria. Principal of the 14 islands, Veliki Brijuni, is the one to visit because of the diversity of its interests: see wildlife including deer and peacocks roam wild in beautiful natural parkland; Roman ruins; a safari park; beaches and traces of dinosaur footprints! You need to allow at least half a day for this excursion which involves taking a ferry from Fažana. Take a picnic with you or enjoy a meal in one of the island’s cafes.
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Crystal clear waters, underwater plant life, rock formations and sea life are all irresistible reasons to explore the ocean. Wreck divers will rejoice in the surplus of vessels that are available for exploration. Several ships date back to the early 1900’s, like the Baron Gautsch and the Flamingo. The Coriolanus sank in 1945, and was believed to be a British spy ship.
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One of the most popular sites in Pula for visitors is the amphitheatre, once the location for great gladiator fights. It was built in the first century AD, during the same period as the colosseum in Rome, and under the reign of Emperor Vespasian. The battles between the brave gladiators took place in the flat arena in the centre of the arena, whilst onlookers watched excitedly from the tiered seating overlooking the once sandy pit. It is thought that the amphitheatre could at one time hold around 20,000 spectators. Nowadays, there are many concerts held at the arena by big names artists. Check out the Pula Tourist Board website for an up-to-date schedule.
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Cross the border into Slovenia
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Istria’s northern border is with Slovenia. From Buje in northern Istria, either take the road into Slovenia via the border point at Kastell or cross the border at Plovanija-Secovlje. From here you might like to explore some of Slovenia’s pretty coastal towns such as Koper, Izola, Piran or Portoroz, all within 30 minutes of the border. You’ll need your passports and if you picked your hire car up in Croatia, you’ll need to check with your supplier that you can cross the border with it.
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Asparagus: Istrian Wild Treasure
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Wild Asparagus (sparuge) grows wild throughout Istria and is ready for picking in the spring. You will see stalls at the roadside offering bundles of freshly collected examples, selling for just a few euros. The locals braise the tops in olive oil until tender and then add eggs, salt and pepper. The result? Delicious scrambled eggs (fritaja).
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Indulge yourself in Rovinj
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The spacious quaysides in Rovinj are the perfect venue to sit and unwind at one of the many terraced ice cream parlours or cafeterias. Sip a cappuccino and do some people-watching! Often street artists such as choirs, bands, jugglers etc can be seen here, usually performing close to the fountain. Whilst in Rovinj, look for the batanas, traditional flat-bottomed, square-sterned, brightly painted wooden boats which have been used for centuries by the local fishermen.
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Zlatni Rat Beach on Brac Island, also known as Golden Horn, is one of the most famous beaches in Croatia. Like a golden crescent or golden horn, this fantastically beautiful pebble beach stretches far into the turquoise sea with a length of about 500 meters.
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Vintage Travel | Milkmaid House | Rampton End | Willingham | Cambridge | England | CB24 5JB |
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