| Istria |
Istria is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner.
The region lies mostly in Istria county of western Croatia. Important towns in Croatian Istria include Pula (Pola), Poreč (Parenzo), Rovinj (Rovigno), Pazin (Pisino), Labin (Albona), Umag (Umago), Motovun (Montona), Buzet (Pinguente) and Buje (Buie), as well as smaller towns of Višnjan (Visignano), Roč (Rozzo), and Hum (Colmo). A small slice in the north, including the coastal towns of Izola (Isola), Piran (Pirano), Portorož (Portorose) and Koper (Capodistria) lies in Slovenia, and is commonly known as Slovenian Istria (Slovenska Istra), while a tiny region encompassing the town of Muggia (Slovenian Milje) belongs to Italy.
The larger geographical features of Istria include the Učka mountain range (Monte Maggiore) in the east, the rivers Dragonja, Mirna, Pazinčica and Raša, and the Lim bay.
Istria is indeed a feast for the eyes. Its streams flow to the sea through deep valleys and gullies which bring to mind the ancient local myths about giants. Rolling hills overlook the fields and valleys with little towns perched on the peaks, recalling some old paintings. The view is splendid: white-topped mountains, lush wheat fields, plateaux, valleys, vineyards and olive groves on hillsides, and, finally the sea.
As you get to know Istria you will notice more and more enchanting details: church facades and portals, tiny village alleyways with their specific architectural touches, the babble of a stream, the blossoming cherries. Everything is warm–hearted and friendly here: nature, towns and people.Istria is the largest green oasis of the North Adriatic coast and the islands are covered with pine woods and easily recognizable green macchia. The main specimens of macchia are holm oak and strawberry trees - 35% of Istria is covered with forests.
Blue Istria
Life along the coasts of Istria has always been closely linked to the sea. Seafarers found shelter in the coves' embrace, fishermen respected such mysterious wide open spaces throughout their entire life, travellers discovered new loves in its harbours. And they will all agree on one thing - the beauty of the Istrian landscape has enchanted many a traveller convincing him to stay and have a new start…
Sail with us along Istria's azure coast, set out with the rays of sunlight from the east slowly towards the west, plunging into picturesque Mediterranean motifs - coves and beaches, small boats floating peacefully, awaiting in the beauty of solitude.
On the hilltop in the distance you can see Labin, town that has proudly protected its citizens inside its walls for centuries, and below it lies glittering Rabac spreading along one of the loveliest beaches in Istria. And then further on, until the southernmost tip, Cape Kamenjak, protecting the western coast where you are first greeted by millennia-old Pula. Look around and cherish the view of the city and its magnificent Arena before you are seduced by the Brijuni archipelago. When you set off once again after this breathtaking sight, the beauty of Rovinj calls out from the vast blue horizon, spinning you through its narrow winding streets and twirling you into the warm embrace of Lim Bay. There, you will be invited aboard the boat which, accompanied by melodies and flavours of the Mediterranean, takes you to Vrsar's Sestrice and then on to the beaches of Poreč. Along the way be sure to greet the bathers and surfers, and if you happen to see a buoy, it means that somewhere around, in the silence of the azure, divers are exploring some other worlds.
If you continue north, all the way to Savudrija, you will be guided safely into port by the oldest lighthouse standing by ancient Neapolis, one-time seat of the diocese, and present-day Novigrad. And at the close of the day, in Umag you will hear the enchanting Venetian sounds of its queen of instruments. Take a break in the mandrač, characteristic small Istrian boat harbour. There, along the coast, fishermen are repairing their nets, each of them absorbed in thought about past times. The deep lines on their faces reveal memories of wind and sea, salt and storms. They will be glad to tell you tales of the sea, accompanied by tasty pilchard and a glass of homemade Malvasia.
Green Istria
Istria has laid out its wonders in the garden of the Mediterranean, at the foot of the Alps. The blue Adriatic Sea washes its shores, and the towns strung like pearls along the coast: Umag, Novigrad, Poreč, Vrsar, Rovinj, Pula, Rabac - the towns that have made Istria a famous destination.
But there is also another Istria, a hidden Istria, whose treasures are also worth exploring - the inland heart of Istria, green Istria, a land between dreams and reality, a land of beauty and peace of history and clean, unspoiled nature. Its towns and its people will bid you welcome and let you share in their spirit and the times long gone.
Welcome to the land of history, beauty and vitality!
Sport
The mild Istrian climate, fresh air and non-polluted sea enable athletes to practice nearly all events throughout the year, both indoors and outdoors. Many world famous athletes have recognized this advantage and have been coming to the Istrian coast to improve their sports technique when not competing. In the vicinity of hotels there are equipped sports grounds - for tennis, football, mini golf and athletics as well as for other team sports enabling top quality training of the best sportsmen.
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Wellness
Although most Istrian hotels extend their offer with diverse range of facilities including indoor pools and fitness and massages centres for resting your body as well as your soul, when it comes to wellness itself, Istria has only recently started an accelerating development of this category.
New centres are opening following the world trends. They are inviting you for a visit – to come and make your own potpourri of aromatic or chromo therapies, baths and saunas, whirlpools, ice baths and other beauty and healthcare programs.
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Natural Attractions
The Istrian Peninsula has managed to preserve true and original natural values. The protection of such natural treasures, passed on from generation to generation, has also become an unwritten rule for today’s new generations - to preserve the unspoilt, sun soaked hills, highlighted with flourishing Mediterranean greenery, forests shading the Adriatic sea…
From the distant past Istrian people have benefited from and preserved the great natural wealth of Istria. Hard work and efforts have yielded the recognizable quality of olive oil, grapes from which top quality wine is produced, health food sprouting from the natural and unpolluted soil.
Mild Mediterranean climate with 2,387 hours of sunshine a year, sea temperature reaching 25°C and average air temperature of 25°C in summer, are all reasons why Istria justly claims the title of an ecological and healthy tourist destination.
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| Kvarner |
Kvarner is an area that, due to its heterogeneity of climate and vegetation; its combination of shores, islands and highlands, architecture and culture; and its proximity to several European tourist-generating regions, has been developing tourism for aruond 160 years.
The longest tourist tradition in Croatia, the year-round range of varied programmmes and the development of unique forms of tourism, constitute a variety of tourist attractions which meet the needs of present day tourists, with all their different requirements, throughout the four seasons.
Along with quality accommodation, a rich gastronomic range and many sports programmes, numerous events enriching the tourists' sojourn are also held in the Kvarner region.
The Kvarner is also one of the leading conference destinations in Croatia, with excellent conditions for the organization of congresses, meetings and conferences.
To sojourn in the Kvarner region means to enjoy nature on the coast, the islands and in the mountains.
Nature
There are indented coasts with numerous and attractive islands. There are mountains, high in altitude and in reputation, with dense woods, with lakes and rivers. There is pleasant and mild climate, that enables the subtropic vegetation to flourish and the people to sunbathe and to bathe.
There are old settlements and those with rich tradition. Yet it is difficult to think of any "nook" on Earth offering all this at the same time-the natural attractiveness and gentleness of the climate and of the people, the multicentennial Slav, Roman and German cultural heritage, the opportunity to grasp in one single look and to feel in a single trip the experiences offered by sea, shores, woods and mountain streams.
Difficult to think of any nook, but Kvarner!
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Cultural Heritage
Croats made their home in the Kvarner region as far back as the 7th century, and it is precisely due to its geographical position that this area has been an important meeting point of various peoples and cultures since ancient times, from the Liburnians and Greek seafarers to Romans, Venetians, and the Austro-Hungarian nobility, who all left indelible imprints of their civilisations here.
A special atmosphere has thus been created in which history can be read from the open pages displayed by monuments and works of art.
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