Routes Through Small Towns
THE ISTRIAN ROUTE
Gastronomy
Istrian cuisine has become world-famous, which is evidenced by the numerous mentions in prestigious enogastronomic guides, including the Michelin guide, that have listed the many restaurants and taverns from the peninsula in their elite recommendations.
Apart from culinary delights, Istria also offers exceptional wines and magnificent olive oil. Flos Olei, the global "Bible" of extra virgin olive oils, Vinibuoni d'Italia and the Michelin guide Itinerari tra i vigneti have filled their pages with Istrian oil and wine.
The strict criteria that have been met in order to be included in this prestigious club show that Istria really has something to offer to curious foodies who come to visit this charming Adriatic peninsula.
Cycling and walking trails: Cycling and walking trails: Istria is becoming an increasingly favourite destination for lovers of outdoor activities, which they can enjoy in all seasons. From the east to the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, from its hilly north over its green interior, all the way to the south coast of breath-taking beauty, more than 160 designated bike trails, about 80 marked walking trails, and 20 climbing expeditions stretch over Istria, covering it like a spider's web. Here you can walk along the sea coast, run through vineyards and enjoy a bike ride down the attractive trails that wind through little medieval towns.
Istrian County Tourist Board Pionirska 1a, 52440 Poreč Tel: +385 (0)52 880 088 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.istra.com Facebook/Instagram: @VisitIstria
Proud Guardians of Green Istria
Standing proud on the peaks of hills at the foot of which stretches the fertile valley of the River Mirna, the small towns of Grožnjan1a, Oprtalj, Motovun1b and Buzet draw attention with their architecture and numerous events. South-east of Buzet lies the tiny medieval town of Hum, the center of the old Slavic Glagolitic script, and home to precious 12th century frescoes. This town was officially declared the smallest town in the world! The numerous bays and hills of central Istria are home to a plenitude of magical settlements, and at the heart of it all is the town of Pazin1c. Its castle, the biggest and best preserved medieval fort in Istria, rises above the magnificent chasm of the Pazinčica river. Above the Raša river valley lies Barban, famous for the traditional chivalrous competition Tilting at the Ring.
The Beauty of the East Coast
On the eastern shore of the Istrian peninsula, where tall cliffs stand high above the blue Adriatic, you will find Labin 2 and Kršan, Sveta Nedelja, the youngest Istrian town Raša and the tourist gem Rabac. Labin will enchant you with its historic old town that has a town loggia and numerous palaces, and a church tower from the 17th century that attracts visitors with its impressive view over Kvarner Bay and Rabac.
Not far from Labin, Kršan has a cultural and historical heritage which dates back to the 11th century in some places, while the history of Raša only began in the 1930s when a town developed out of the nearby mining activities, called after a river that was mentioned even in historical sources from Antiquity. Rabac was a small fishing village in the middle of the 19th century, but this beautiful sea bay could not stay hidden for long, and soon first visitors came, among them the English travel writer Richard Francis Burton who came to Rabac in 1876.
3. Ancient Istrian Towns
Pula3a, with its incredible history, is mentioned first in the myth about the Argonauts and their quest for the golden fleece. The town's thousand-year-old history, from the Histri to the Roman Empire, Venetian Republic and Austro-Hungarian Empire, offers packed itineraries. Arena, a Roman amphitheater, is Pula's largest monument from Antiquity dating back to the 1st century, which was originally used for gladiator fights. Today it acts as famous global stage for concerts and festivals. In the waters of southern Istria, full of coves and islets, lies the only Istrian national park - the Brijuni islands3b. Once it was the setting of the European and global jet set, and with its 14 islands it is famous for being one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the Mediterranean. Across from Brijuni lies the hidden and picturesque Fažana, a town which has carefully preserved and revived its centuries old fishing tradition. In its hinterland lies Vodnjan with the tallest bell tower in Istria, built on the traces of prehistoric hillforts shaped like concentric circles. The south-eastern part of the Istrian coast is full of hidden gems like the attractive coasts of Marčana and Ližnjan, while the southern tip of Istria offers one of the most touristy towns on the peninsula, Medulin, and the most southern cape Kamenjak, an exceptional protected environment surrounded by 11 uninhabited islands.
4. Rovinj
Rovinj, the most romantic place in the Mediterranean, will seduce you with its narrow alleys and warm atmosphere, traditional songs with a glass of wine in taverns and the fishermen's boat batana, whose Project was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Church of St Euphemia, ranked among the most beautiful achievements of the baroque period in Istria, dominates the small coastal town of Rovinj. St Euphemia is the patron saint of the town and her relics are housed in a marble sarcophagus in this church.
Bale, a typical Istrian town built on a hill with narrow streets and stone houses, will enchant you with its beauty and authenticity. If you continue to travel further along the roads of green Istria, you will find yourself in Svetvinčenat whose castle, churches and beautiful Renaissance square are the perfect background for fantastic artistic events. In Žminj old Istrian houses now offer agritourism, and apart from accommodation they offer home-made Istrian cooking. Near Kanfanar, the traffic hub of Istria, lies the most mysterious medieval town of Dvigrad.
Poreč and the West Coast Jewels
Poreč, once a Roman colony, is an exceptional example of a town built on Romanesque architecture with beautiful Venetian Gothic palaces. A walk in their surroundings will prove to be a unique experience. The Basilica of St Euphrasius is a unique example of Early Byzantine art in the Mediterranean, dating from the 6th century, commissioned by Bishop Euphrasius. The entire complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Tara and Vabrige area is famous for its superb extra virgin olive oil. The hinterland of the Istrian riviera is also quite unique: Kaštelir and Labinci, Višnjan and Vižinada are surrounded with fertile fields, olive groves and vineyards. Vrsar and Funtana, fishing villages between Poreč and Lim Bay, will enchant you with their unique archipelago, green environment, and crystal-clear seas.
6. Northwestern Istria
Umag6a is a town with a specific history: discovered by Roman aristocracy who decided to adopt it as their summer home. The glitter and glamour of these days can be seen even today in the old Venetian houses located in the town center. Novigrad6b, a typical fishing village, with its well-protected bay and picturesque coast, full of rich cultural heritage, abounds in historical monuments and excellent culinary delights.
In their hinterland lie wonderful hill spots - fortresses offering incredible views, with a fascinating history of their own. The towns of Buje and Brtonigla are the centers of this famous area known for wines and olive cultivation.
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