Istria travel

Istria

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Overview

Continental Croatia meets the Adriatic in Istria (Istra to Croats), the heart-shaped, 3600-sq-km peninsula in the country's northwest. The bucolic interior of rolling hills and fertile plains attracts food- and culture-focused visitors to Istria鈥檚 hilltop villages, rural hotels and farmhouse restaurants, while the indented coastline is enormously popular with the sun-and-sea set. Though vast hotel complexes line much of the coast and the rocky beaches are not Croatia鈥檚 best, facilities are wide-ranging, the sea is clean and secluded spots are still plentiful.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Euphrasian Basilica

笔辞谤别膷

Top billing in 笔辞谤别膷 goes to the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, a World Heritage Site and one of Europe鈥檚 finest intact examples of Byzantine art. Built鈥�

Roman Amphitheatre

Pula

Pula鈥檚 most famous and imposing sight is this 1st-century oval amphitheatre, overlooking the harbour northeast of the old town. It's a huge and truly鈥�

St Euphemia's Church

Rovinj

Built from 1725 to 1736, this imposing structure 鈥� the largest baroque church in Istria 鈥� dominates Rovinj from its hilltop location in the middle of the鈥�

Temple of Augustus

Pula

Fronted by a high porch supported by six Corinthian columns, this small but perfectly proportioned temple was built sometime between 2 BC and AD 14. It鈥�

Pula Aquarium

Pula

Not just any fish tank, this extraordinary aquarium occupies an entire 19th-century military fort 鈥� one of 55 built to defend the Austro-Hungarian Empire鈥�

Partisan Memorial

Pula

Officially known as the 'National Liberation Resistance Fighters & Fascist Terror Victims in Istria Memorial', this monument honours the many thousands of鈥�

Istria Historical & Maritime Museum

Pula

Since ancient times the 34m hill at the centre of Pula's old town has been fortified. The current star-shaped fortress was built by the Venetians in the鈥�

Golden Cape Forest Park

Rovinj

Covered in oak and pine groves and boasting 10 species of cypress, this verdant expanse was established in 1890 by Baron H眉tterott, an Austrian admiral鈥�

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