Great Things to Do Near Villa Franka
Head to nearby Svetvincenat
and take time to stroll around this delightful little town with its pretty main square, 15th century church of the Anunciation and 13th century castle with its magnificent lawned keep. There are a couple of bars with terraces here, so stop for a cool beer and watch the world go by.
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.
Visit Porec
This charming coastal town has plenty to offer for a morning stroll or even a whole day full of sightseeing and exploration. Have a coffee or lunch at one of the elegant cafes, bars or restaurants lining the seafront and drink in the glorious view of the blue Adriatic sea, and gazing out towards the island of Sveti Nikola. Whilst in Porec, visit the open air market on the edge of the town and pick up some local produce for your dinner back at the villa by the pool.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Have a beach day
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. The Istrian coastline boasts a huge range of beaches from the top, close to the Slovenia border to the bottom near Pula and then all round the coast from Pula to Rijeka. Many have Blue Flag status, most are rocky and pebbly, a few are sandy. There are a lot to choose from around Rovinj and Porec.
Go Diving!
Crystal clear waters, underwater plant life, rock formations and sea life are all irresistible reasons to explore 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!
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.
Funtana and Fažana
Visit Funtana, a coastal village between Vrsar and Porec. The Istrian coast is said to be the most indented here offering numerous coves, inlets, beaches and pine and oak groves. A number of fresh water springs or fountains, hence the derivation of the name Funtana, and this has secured the prosperity of the village over the centuries.
Fazana is a colourful town, its quayside backed with pastel-coloured Italianate buildings and many waterfront cafes, bars and restaurants. If you stop for a snack you must try pilchards, emblematic of the town. Try them cold in a marinade of oil, vinegar, water, parsley, rosemary and pepper – the Istrian way!
