Istria: The Heart of Croatia
Towns and places of interest on the Istrian
Peninsula
Istria can be defined as heart shaped peninsula, situated in
the north-west part of Croatia, bordering with Italy near Trieste. One of the best developed regions for tourism in
Croatia, it's popular with Italian and Slovenian visitors in particular, being its closest neighbours. Istrian
peninsula is lapped by
the Adriatic
Sea coastline on the east and south.
Heading to the interior reveals the ancient villages,
farmhouses, green valleys, ancient ruins, all lapped by the sea! After leaving the beautiful Istria coastline, you
are welcomed by pine trees into the virgin countryside. The vine yards, amazing valleys, pine forests and grapes
farms make Istria a tourist hub! Once in the farmhouses, you can either go to hunt for Truffles or picking wild
asparagus.
 |
Istrian peninsula is abundant with beautiful towns, hidden bays
and pristine countryside, making it a popular destination for
yacht charter. |
Getting around the area
Hiring a car is the best options since getting a bus or a
train in the area is very sporadic! Nevertheless, the sea lies only a short distance from the area; you can take a
cruise around the great Istria coastline, enjoy a cool breeze or dive into the blue waters!
Take the rare chance to visit Pazin - it is a 100m abyss in
which river Pazinčica sinks to form three underground lakes! The lakes have been known to inspire Croatian writers
not forgetting Jules Verne imaginations!
Places you must visit while you are
in Istria:
Gracisce
Many define Gračišće as a medieval town while others refers
to it as the highlight of Istria. The fascinating thing is the surrounding rolling hills and its ancient buildings.
Skimming the Guinness book of record reveals a Truffle weighing 1.31 kg - the biggest truffle in the world. It was
found in Istria by Gianario and Diana, his dog. Truffles are locally known as 'tartufi'.
 |
Istrian peninsula is well known for its truffles, which are usually found by
locals
with their dogs, to be served in restaurants as a local
delicacy. |
Motovun
Another alluring site is Motovun; it is a fortified town
built by the Venetians in the 14th century. It comprises of Gothic buildings, thick walls and a Romanesque. The
ancient houses are now used as art studios and exhibition halls. Well, if you want to feel the true spirit of this
town, attend the summer film
festivals!
Vodnjan
The medieval town of Vodnjan lies some ten kilometres north
of Pula, popular with the lovers of macabre. In amongst its attractions are remains of centuries old saints, whose
bodies unexplainably failed to decompose. They're believed to possess magical powers!
It's also home to many old churches, including an early Roman
church, one of the largest parish churches in Istria. You will find many sporting activities in Vodnjan as well as
a number of summer festivals.
Butterfly house
The Butterfly house lies in Majkusi, a small rural village
overlooking the sea. You can enjoy a refreshing local drink as you also enjoy the sun rays over Mount Učka, Italian
coastlines and the Adriatic Sea. It is interesting to note that the two century house comes with a dance floor and
a pool too!
Other great sites include:
- St Blaise's
Church - in the town of Vodnjan
- Church of St
Euphemia - located in the town of
Rovinj
- Euphrasian
Basilica - a World Heritage site, in
Poreč
- Waterfalls, naturist and beautiful
beaches - found throughout Istrian region
- Dinosaur
footprints - can be found in Brijuni Cretaceous
Park
- Dvigrad ruins - an abandoned medieval town in central Istria
 |
Home to one of the most popular film festivals, Motovun town is set atop of
a
277 metres high hill, making it one of the most picturesque towns
in Croatia. |
Activities
Some of the must do activities include, overnight camping,
bird watching and water sports. On a sunny afternoon you can go for a dive or skiing at the Adriatic Sea. Istria offers an ancient and a
natural feeling taking you back to the venetians periods!
These are just some of the highlights of the Istrian
peninsula. Next time you visit this reagion, you will find plenty of things to do and places to explore on this
beautiful Croatian peninsula.
Author bio
Ruby Andrew lives in Bristol, UK and is an avid reader and
blogger. Since her early years she’s had a passion for writing. Her articles have been published in leading UK
newspapers. Her areas of interest are food, book and movie reviews, travel, fashion, lifestyle, fitness and health.
She works as a guest blogger on her chosen areas of interest.
|