ISTRIA

Situated on the north Adriatic, the Istrian peninsula is the Mediterranean destination closest to Central European countries. Istria has a population of around 200,000, Pazin is the administrative center, and Pula is the economic center and the biggest city. The Istrian peninsula was inhabited as early as the ancient times, which is attested by the remains of settlements with castles, and one of them - Monkodonja - is near Rovinj. Many milions of years before that dinosaurs had lived here, and their traces were found in Bale area.

The first strong mark was left by the ancient Romans, and their era provided the most significant historical monuments: the Amphitheater of Vespasian and the Temple of Augustus in Pula, temples in Poreč. Numerous Roman country villas can be found throughout the peninsula, and the one on the island of Veli Brijun is the most interesting.

The Byzantine era left us the Euphrasius Basilica complex in Poreč, which has been included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage. Istria is situated at a point where Slavic, Roman and German ethnicities meet, which is visible in its towns and villages, and the local culture and customs.

Medieval towns throughout Istria used to rule and watch over the surrounding estates in strategic places, and now they are partly deserted or they have been revived. Namely, Grožnjan has become an international youth music center, while Hum, the smallest town in the world, still preserves the customs from the feudal times. The period of Ventian rule left marks in coastal towns: Pula, Rovinj and Poreč.

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy strongly incited economic development of Istria, when Pula became the main war harbor of the Empire, and Brijuni became the summer resort for the European elite.

The period after World War 2 was marked by strong development of tourism. Today, Istrian hotels, apartments, camps and private accommodation units have the capacity to accommodate 200,000 guests a day.

LOCATION

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