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Istria The Istria region is renowned for its succulent green and white adobe beauty. While it spans parts of both Slovenia and Croatia, it’s the Croatian side that claims a particular splendor as it juts like an arrowhead into the aquamarine coolness of the Adriatic Sea. Overlooking Italy to the West and the crumbling archipelagos and rising mountains of the Balkans to the East and the South, Istria is a haven for both old world charm of port cities and quaint villages as well as the inland jewels of verdant growth providing relief from the dry-hot coastal Mediterranean climate.
The small, yet bustling port city of Rovinj offers the typical visual splendor of the region. Cobblestone streets of Europe combined with the flare of local street fares selling fine cheeses, olives, local honeys and wines which you are advised to stock up on, for an afternoon repast, wherever the afternoon might find you. Indeed, exploring the intricate city streets of Rovinj is one option, as is cycling out into the Istrian countryside – a huge sport popular among locals and tourists alike. These same roads tread by the Romans are yours to glaze through; curves that wend along the coastline intermittently revealing wide expanses of transparent turquoise water lapping up against the blinding white adobe of villages clinging to the cliff sides.
If you’ve forgone the picnic idea, don’t worry: there are plenty of exquisite waterfront cafés serving fresh seafood and local specialties washed down with local wine or an international brew. Continuing the search for a more panoramic view will bring you through picturesque orchards to higher elevations upon the Istrian peninsula where a handful of countries can be seen from a single vantage point. Your gaze, however, may be directly mainly toward the sea, where sailing from Porec, for instance, you could tuck a sizable portion of the Istrian coast under your belt in a single trip.
There are numerous hotels, rental apartments and other lodging options. Istria is perfect for day trips, and those who have extra time in their itinerary are recommended to rent an apartment and travel around the peninsula extensively. Start searching now for that beautiful waterfront lodging this summer, before it all gets booked! |
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