Cities

Motovun

In the northern part of Istria, overlooking the Mirna River valley, lies surely the most famous and attractive Istrian medieval town of Motovun. This captivating hilltop town is one of the characteristic symbols of the Istrian interior.


The Romanesque-Gothic bell tower with a crenulated crown from the 13th century, standing next to the Parish Church of St. Stephen from the 17th century, dominates the town's historic core. In the central square is the Romanesque Municipal Palace, the largest secular building in Istria of that period surrounded by many other historic buildings. As Motovun has long since been an attractive and popular tourist destination accommodation is offered in the town centre, in hotel Kaštel situated in the restored palace of the Polesini family.

Motovun is the perfect venue for a large number of events, the most significant among them being the International Motovun Film Festival that takes place at the end of July where world-known film artists may be seen. Motovun is also interesting for ballooning lovers, its favourable microclimate enables flying in balloons all year round, so that Motovun hosts several ballooning events.

Motovun Forest which stretches along the Mirna River valley is especially rich in truffles, the underground malodorous fungus believed to be an aphrodisiac. Istrian white truffles, whose season lasts from September to December are said to be as good as the finest Italian and French truffles.

Opposite Motovun stands the charming picturesque town of Oprtalj, as well as Livade, famous for the Days of Truffles held every year from September to November. Every year in Livade, also known as the World's truffle centre, a special festival is organized with a contest of choosing the largest truffle.

Motovun is surrounded by vineyards from which the finest Istrian wines, white wine Malvasia and red wine Teran, are produced. The entire area is dotted with excellent local ‘konobe’ and restaurants.

In close vicinity is also Istarske toplice, thermal spa with curative water.


Pula

  

The largest town on the Istrian peninsula offers a diversity of attractions to lovers of culture. The rich itinerary of its three thousand year old history, where every step you take through the old town is a landmark, begins and ends with the Roman amphitheatre.

A great tourist asset is surely 190 kilometres of indented coastline, crystal-clear sea and beaches to suit everyone’s needs: smooth and even stone surfaces or pebbles for all generations, especially families with children or “secluded” beaches hidden by untouched greenery for those who want a bit of privacy.

While strolling through Pula you will come across numerous monuments of Roman architecture: the Triumphal Arch of the Sergi from the 1st century B.C., Hercules’ Gate and Twin Gates, the Temple of Augustus, Arena and Small Roman Theatre in the town centre. 

A unique experience will be moments of relaxation in the main town square, which has managed to retain its role as the meeting place since the Augustan Age.


Rovinj

  

 
One of the most 'photogenic' towns in the Mediterranean, once a fishing town, today is a tourist resort. At a distance of some 40 kilometres from Pula, Rovinj has long been known as the town with favourable and beneficial climatic features. So, today its people are still proud of this long tradition and 'fight' for the title of 'healthy town'... The rest is nature’s work. The entire coastline, with its twenty-two islands is an area of protected natural heritage.

Feel the enchantment of the town in its narrow medieval streets and warm Mediterranean setting. The main Church of St. Euphemia keeps relics of the saint and presents one of the most beautiful Baroque achievements in Istria. From the church plateau there is a wonderful view of the open sea and numerous islets in the distance. A visit to the Rovinj Town Museum and the town’s many galleries will complete your cultural experience.

Its surroundings offer immense possibilities for recreation: biking, horseback riding, jogging. But, owing to the sea and what it has to offer, ranging from sailing to discovering the underwater world, its therapeutic properties, today Rovinj is the destination for tourists from all over the world.



Porec

  


Porec is a town located in the heart of the western coast of Istria. A town of culture, tourism, sport and entertainment, it has been recognised and awarded for the beauty of its public spaces and its cleanliness many times over.

Porec grew from a small coastal settlement into an attractive tourist destination distinct for the great care put into the beauty of its public spaces, a wide variety of accommodation possibilities, a diverse offering of events and activities as well as facilities tailored to each individual guest.

Porec is a town with a long and turbulent history which nurtures remnants of its past in the heart of its old town. From Ancient Roman times to the present day more than two thousand years have passed, and the streets of Pore? continue to preserve their original architecture and numerous cultural and historical monuments. Of these we can especially note the Euphrasian Basilica with its distinctive mosaics dating from the 6th century which UNESCO recognised and protected as a world heritage site in 1997. 

Its attractive location allows guests of Pore? the possibility of visiting other important localities within its vicinity: one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice, the Brijuni National Park, the Baredine Caves, the Roman Arena in Pula, the Pazin Chasm and the Lim Fjord. 

Aside from its culture and tourism, Pore? also has a sports and entertainment side. Almost every hotel has a summer terrace, and hot summer nights in Pore? are enriched by numerous restaurants, discotheques, night clubs, bars and casinos.

Porec also offers its guests diverse possibilities in the realm of sports, from tennis, beach volleyball, football, horseback riding, cycling, walking and other water sports which enhance the holidays of every one of its guests. Pore? is also preferred by world-class athletes and recreational athletes as a location for preparation and training. 

For those who crave adrenaline, Pore? offers carting, paintball, waterskiing on the only ski-lift on the Adriatic coast, jet-ski riding, mountain biking and other sports for all those who love active holidays. Pore? offers the possibility of not only discovering its jewels, but also of exploring its surrounding area and discovering for yourselves why Istria is called ‘Terra Magica’ (magic land).

Porec is surely the pearl of Croatian tourism which offers its visitors a different kind of holiday full of entertainment and events…. In short, a mosaic of experiences.


Umag

  


Umag, small town and port on the north-western coast of Istria, presents 'Croatia’s gateway to Europe'. It also has the reputation of the Istrian sports centre, since as the host of the ATP tournament for many years now, it attracts numerous top world tennis players.

Its beneficial features were already recognized by the Romans who turned it into their summer residence. The magnificence and splendour of those times today is reflected in the many Venetian houses in the old part of Umag. 

At a distance of only 40 kilometres from Trieste, 150 from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and 50 NM from Venice, Umag is a favourite holiday destination with extraordinary excursion possibilities. Umag’s hinterland offers newly discovered tourist attractions like mountaineering, caving and other chances for adventure enthusiasts.


Pazin

  


Pazin is the administrative center of Istria County and already in the 19th century, mostly because of its central position on the Peninsula, but importance as well, came to be called the “heart of Istria”. The fascinating picture of the medieval Castle of Pazin (Kaštel), situated above the 130 m cliff where the Pazin?ica River flows into the Pazin Pit, inspired the renowned French writer Jules Verne as the setting for part of his novel “Mathias Sandorf”, published in 1885. Today there is a Jules Verne club in Pazin and every year at the end of June the Days of Jules Verne are organized.

As a special morphological and hydrological phenomenon, the Pazin Pit was proclaimed a protected landscape in 1964. In the vicinity of the town there are several very interesting medieval towns, whereas devotees of active vacation can enjoy the attractive 10-kilometer-long hiking trail of St. Simon.

Groznjan

 

Grožnjan, a small Istrian town of great cultural significance not only in Croatia but also internationally, lives its summer months very intensely. Every year at the beginning of May, the little streets and squares of Grožnjan metamorphose and turn into a truly artistic beehive: it opens its summer music academies for young people, its artistic, dance and drama workshops and its peace activism workshops under the leadership of well-known experts and teachers and famous names from music, art and drama. 

During those few summer months Grožnjan lives and breathes art and the labyrinth of its little streets become one great stage on which are constantly interchanging the sounds of jazz and classical music, guitar and piano, violin and cello, drum and vibraphone...


Buzet

  


Buzet is situated in the very north of Istria near the border with Slovenia. Its historic core, dating from the Middle Ages lies on a hilltop above a fertile valley of the longest Istrian river – the Mirna.

Today, Buzet is widely known as the 'City of Truffles' since the forests along the Mirna River are especially rich in this divine tuber. According to some views, the white truffle of Istria is as good as the most famous white truffle from the Italian region of Alba. In honour of this truffle, each year Truffle Days are organized in September and October.

On the second weekend in September a large folk festivity also take place in Buzet with a special attraction – a giant omelette (commonly known as 'fritada' or 'fritaja') with over 2 000 eggs and 10 kilograms off truffles is prepared in a huge pan. This event officially marks the beginning of Truffle Days in Istria.

In the surroundings of Buzet there are some very well preserved medieval towns.