Great Things to Do Near Villa Olea
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. Their wine tasting tours include a tour of the winery. Maybe buy a bottle to enjoy back at the villa.
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, namely the Viking which offers dishes such as oysters on crushed ice or noodles with scampi and mushrooms and the Lim Fjord.
Look for 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. Its roof is constructed by placing thin stone ‘plates’ in increasingly concentric circles, thereby creating a shallow dome. 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.
Get Your Kicks... On Route 66
For a beautiful scenic drive, take the road no. 66 north east along the coastline of the Kvarner Riviera. Start from Barban, passing through Raša, Labin, Plomin, Mošcenicka Draga, Lovran, Opatija and round to Rijeka. Any of these places would make a good stop for a drink or a meal. Return to your house taking the inland route via the Ucka Tunnel (toll payable). You will need to allow at least half a day for this.
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!
Sveti Lovrec
This attractive, walled little town was the headquarters of Venice’s military command in Istria during the Middle Ages. See the 11th century church of Sv. Martin and view the museum in the 15th century loggia which displays sculptures from the monastery of Sv. Mihovil in the Limski Kanal. It is also home to a mini market, cafe, and pizzeria.
Visit Nearby Kringa
This intimate village is fringed with hackberry trees and has a well with two wells within it, one for the locals and one for the teacher! Go there on August 15th, the day of the church of the Assumption of the Virgin, and you will see local men with a blot of red wine on their white shirts, a signal that their wine barrels are full. Hearsay talks of one inhabitant, a vampire called Jure Grande, who molested his relatives and local people for a 16 year period, behaviour which only ceased when they opened his grave and cut his head! Stop for a coffee at the appropriately named Vampire Café!
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.
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.
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?
Go to Hell!
More accurately, visit Pazin Castle, a 16th century structure standing on the remains of its 10th century predecessor. It overhangs a gorge into which the river Pazincica disappears, supposedly the inspiration for Dante's description of the Gateway to Hell in his Inferno as well as a major scene from Jules Verne's 1885 novel Mathias Sandorf.
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 deer 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 Fazana.
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.
Funtana on the coast
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. Stop for lunch at one of the pizzerias or restaurants, or compose a picnic from the pastry shops and supermarkets.
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.
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!
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 – head for Zlatni Rat Beach, Lone Bay Beach, Materada Beach.
