Great Things to Do Near Casa Dobrila
The Batanas of Rovinj
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.
Aquacolors - the largest waterpark in Croatia
Spend the day at a waterpark: Aquacolors is situated just south of Porec, on the road towards Funtana and Vrsar. Expect the usual selection of slides and pools as well as certain other sporting activities and fast(ish) food catering. A half day ticket is available for arrivals in the afternoon. The other waterpark, by the way, is Istralandia, just south of Novigrad.
Take a Trip to the Brijuni Islands
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.
Spend a day or two abroad
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.
Or spend the day in Venice - take the hydrofoil service from Rovinj, Porec or Pula to this unique city.
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 into Slovenia with it.
Vrsar and its Archipelago
Vrsar, at the northern mouth of the Limski Kanal is often overlooked because of the larger towns of Rovinj to the south and Porec to the north. The old town however, atop a hill, is a beautifully kept architectural gem with a number of brightly painted buildings chaperoning the citadel (kaštel), once the summer residence of Porec bishops. Look for the relief of a lion on the stone slab above the old town gate.
The coast around Vrsar is one of the most indented along the Istrian coastline. There are 18 tiny islands and islets to explore - there are a number of companies that offer boat tours including trips for dolphin watching.
Night Skies and Stargazing
Visit the Višnjan Observatory. The original observatory can be found in the town itself, whilst the new observatory is just three kilometers north of Višnjan, on Tičan hill. More than 100 minor planets, two comets and over 1700 asteroids have been discovered here. During the summer months (July, August, September) the public can take part in Astro Nights (English speaking), two hours of observations, children's workshops and a tour of the new observatory.
Music in Pula's Amphitheatre
Try and catch a performance at Pula's Amphitheatre known locally as the Arena. World famous performers have staged concerts here and it is the venue for the annual Pula Film Festival usually held in late July. What better setting?
Oysters and Mussels in the Limski Kanal
Pay a visit to nearby Lim Fjord, a spectacular protected landscape and special marine reserve situated between Rovinj and Vrsar. This long, narrow inlet is bordered by wooded, canyon-like cliffs rising up to 150m above sea level. It is said that one flank of this canal is populated by deciduous trees, the other by evergreens. A couple of restaurants are situated on the water front.
Platforms in the fjord betray the farming of oysters, mussels and fish such as bream and sea bass, encouraged by underwater freshwater springs which render the water partially brackish.
Spot the beehive-shaped Kažun
Driving around Istria, look for the kažun, a round beehive-shaped field hut built using the dry-stone technique, without any mortar or concrete. The material for this was usually collected by cleaning fields of excess pieces of stone. Farmers and peasants used them for shelter and for guarding vineyards or olive groves as well as for storage of agricultural implements. The kažun has become emblematic of traditional Istria and can be found all over the region these days, however they were traditionally prevalent in the south and west.
Hop-on-Hop-off
A great way to orientate yourself in Pula is to take the Hop-0n-Hop-Off Pula City Tour. The large open top double decker buses make up to 9 departures a day, starting from outside the Roman amphitheatre taking you along the waterfront, passing the Uljanik shipyard, around some of Pula’s coastal suburbs and back through the town.
Aquacolors, Porec
There are two waterparks in Istria. Aquacolors is situated just south of Porec, on the road towards Funtana and Vrsar. Expect the usual selection of slides and pools as well as certain other sporting activities and fast(ish) food catering. A half day ticket is available for arrivals in the afternoon. www.aquacolors.eu. The other waterpark, by the way, is Istralandia, just south of Novigrad.
Cape Kamenjak
Cape Kamenjak is a wonderful nature park located on the Premantura peninsula on the southern tip of Istria. With an unusual landscape, miles of rugged coastline and beaches to enjoy, coves and caves to explore, and a quirky ‘safari bar' it is a great day out for adults and children alike.
Scenic Drive
South east of Pazin, take a drive on road number 64, specifically the stretch between the villages of Gracišce and Pican. From these two vantage points, absorb the unique panorama of the valley from which Mount Ucka, the highest peak in Istria, rises (to 1,396 metres).
Visit the Matoševic winery
Just a couple of miles from Sveti Lovrec, the Matoševic winery is one of Croatia's leading winemakers and well worth a visit. Run by the charming Ivica, this winery produces wines that appear on the wine list at Heston Blumenthal's world famous Fat Duck restaurant.
Take a Coffee!
Café bars are everywhere in Croatia and without exception serve excellent coffee, always in the correct cup for the drink ordered. Taking a coffee is part of Istrian and Croatian identity, it marks the beginning of the day, nurtures friendship and business relationships and should you be invited for a coffee it may not necessarily mean actually drinking coffee, it’s more a euphemism for a chat over a drink of any kind!
Eufrazijana
Head west to the historic town of Porec and specifically to the Basilica. Here from the beginning of July to the end of August enjoy a classical concert in the serene surroundings of the beautiful basilica.
Fresh Asparagus
Asparagus (šparuge) 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 kuna. The locals braise the tops in olive oil until tender and then add eggs, salt and pepper. The result? Delicious scrambled eggs (fritaja).
Indulge Yourself in Rovinj
The spacious quaysides here are the perfect venue to sit and unwind at one of the many terraced ice cream parlours or café/bars. Sip a cappucino and do some people-watching!
Go diving!
Crystal clear waters, underwater plant life, rock formations and sea life are all irresistible reasons to discover the ocean. Off the coast of Rovinj, explore the sunken shipwreck Baron Gautsch, said to be one of the 50 most beautiful diving sites in the world!
Pula
The capital city, Pula is set in the valley of seven hills and offers fabulous Adriatic views. It is a delight to walk around with narrow cobbled streets, magnificent Roman buildings and the Pula Arena, an enormous, spectacular amphitheatre, built to host 20,000 spectators - it is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre in the world with a complete circle wall.
