In the west of our beautiful country, in the largest green oasis of the northern Adriatic, a multitude of natural and cultural diversity is hidden. The clear sea and narrow streets smell of the Mediterranean, they are contrasted by medieval towns on green hills, and the white peaks of the nearby Alps watch them from the hinterland. Such a thing can only be found in Istria. And what exactly does our largest peninsula offer, find out below…
A peninsula of natural diversity
The Istrian peninsula is truly a picturesque landscape. Walking through the dense forests of Motovun, you will often find a truffle, while on Plominska gora you can meet a large number of rare plants and a slightly smaller number of rare birds. At the top of Učka, there is a tower that offers a wonderful panoramic view on clear days. On its western slopes lies the wonder of the Istrian karst – Vela Draga, a set of limestone towers that will take your breath away.
This magical green oasis is surrounded by a clear sea. Centuries of waves hitting the coast have borne fruit in the form of numerous bays and coves. Rabac and Prklog are certainly one of the most interesting among them. If you decide to take a slightly longer walk along the footpath from Labin to the bay of Rabac, you will enjoy interesting canyon shapes, various plant species, streams and waterfalls. On the other side of the peninsula, don’t ignore the Lim canal near Rovinj. This 12 km long canal reaches almost to Pazin in the center of Istria and hides many secret places. One such place is certainly Romuald’s cave, which is located 120 meters above sea level and hides several impressive halls containing remains from the Paleolithic era. According to tradition, it is believed that at the beginning of the 11th century, St. Romaud, prayed and meditated there. After him the cave was named.
Speaking of the beauties of Istria that are hidden under the surface, be sure to visit the Mramornica cave not far from Brtonigla or the beautiful Baredine cave. The first is one of the largest underground halls in Istria, rich in tall stalagmites, while the second, somewhat larger in size, hides five halls, an underground lake and 300 meters of landscaped paths within its walls. With a bit of luck, in the Baredine cave you can also come across a human fish, an unusual specimen of what is hidden underground. Of course, we must not forget the Pazin Cave – the most striking example of karst in Istria and the wider area, which was admired by greats like Dante and Jules Verne.
Rich history
Istria abounds not only in natural beauty, but also in rich cultural heritage and interesting history. Numerous forts, castles and castles, churches and monasteries make this area truly special.
On your trip around Istria, definitely include in your itinerary world-famous places such as Pula, Rovinj, Poreč, Motovun or Grožnjan, but don’t forget about the lesser-known but equally magnificent ones – Hum, Pazin, Buje, Oprtalj and Momjan.
The first association with Pula would certainly be its arena, which is simply impossible to leave out when visiting the largest city of the Istrian county.
Finally, we should mention a relatively undiscovered historical treasure for unusual adventurers in the form of the town of Dvigrad.
Top gastronomic offer
This region, rich in fertile land, can also boast of a phenomenal gastronomic offer. When visiting Istria, do not miss the opportunity to visit some of the famous Croatian wineries such as Kozlović, Matošević, Cattunar, Kabola or Fakin.