Introduction
From north to south, east to west, discover fascinating villages and towns, explore beautiful countryside and a coast of clear waters.
Perched atop a lush, green hill is the medieval town of Motovun, the heartland of 'truffle country', a forested area world famous for this rare delicacy. Oprtalj is equally impressive with the brightly painted façades of beautifully restored buildings standing as testament to a rich architectural heritage.
Sleepy Sovinjak offers one of the most dramatic views in the whole of Istria. South of here, hilltops punctuated with cypress trees give way to rolling fields and woodland dotted with stone-built villages, some bustling, some with just a handful of residents, all equally captivating.
Explore the west coast towns: enjoy the sunsets from waterside Umag; Poreč, overlooking the sea with its grandiose Byzantine basilica, a UNESCO world heritage site; Vrsar looking down onto a marina where fishing boats snuggle up to luxury yachts; and Rovinj, all pale, pastel painted waterfront façades whose old town is a clenched fist of cobbled alleyways and captivating Venetian architecture.
Take in the dramatic Limski Kanal, a fjord like rift which stretches inland and is rich in fish, oysters and mussels or visit the Brujini Islands, a small archipelago and a historic conservation area.
Historic Barban with its grand baroque gate (Vela Vrata) announces the rugged eastern coastline where Labin, with its wealth of soft ochre painted palaces, offers views over the Gulf of Kvarner to the island of Cres.
The towering campanile of St Blaise's church in Vodnjan, modelled on St Mark's in Venice, is the tallest in Istria and as the patron saint of singers it is not unusual for opera stars to visit the church prior to performing in Pula's amphitheatre.
The Romans established Pula; their rich legacy includes the Forum, the temple of Augustus and the amphitheatre, the fifth largest in the world, which today plays host to summer concerts and festivals. A lively market also takes place daily.
The Beaches
Croatia's coastline is indented by wide bays and sheltered coves lapped by warm Adriatic waters renowned for their clarity. Most Istrian beaches are of the shingle, pebble or weathered rock type with the sea temperatures usually reaching a peak of around 22-25°C in August and September.
Cuisine
Istrian cuisine is comparable to Italian and French gastronomy with a central European influence. Hearty Istrian soup, maneštra, is an equivalent of Italy's minestrone, rich in beans, vegetables and, sometimes, cuts of meat. Spicy sausages, game and various grilled meats are widely available as well as a lovely array of fresh seafood. Fuži is a homemade pasta often served with a helping of goulash, asparagus, mushrooms or wild boar. Istria offers an overwhelming choice of truffle based dishes including polenta topped with melted truffle cheese, veal in truffles or ombolo, a semi dried grilled meat, softened by a rich truffle sauce.
Seafood such as octopus, squid, mussels and scampi is ubiquitous; the scampi is served in its shell, the size of jumbo prawns, often on a bed of pasta in a sauce known as buzara, made from garlic and white wine. For dessert, try pancakes (palačinka) filled with chocolate, ice cream, walnuts or jam. Accompany your meal with a locally produced wine such as Degrassi, Koreniki, Arman or Matešović.
Climate
Istria enjoys a largely temperate Mediterranean climate. In the spring and late autumn, days will be comfortably warm with cooler nights. Summer months are hot, tempered by a cooling breeze in the evenings.