Top Istria hotels
Besides its touristic resorts, terra Istria is best known for the truffles, which is again of a top world quality. Can you imagine that one kg. of this roots cost over three thousand euros! There are well trained and highly priced dogs for searching truffles. The best tracer, however, is a domestic pig but it couldn't be trained not to eat it after finding the truffles.
Fritaja is another traditional dish from Istria, it is a must during Truffles Festival at Livade, small village in the central part of the penninsula. Actually, fritaja is a very simple dish, fried eggs but if adding the truffles it has special flavour and very delicious taste. The bigger pot is the better fritaja comes out of it.
There are many sorts of chestnuts but among them maroon is undoubtelly the best in quality and taste. The best maroons coming from the area around town of Lovran, in eastern part of Istria. My Italian friends, who are very proud on their maroons told me, Lovran maroon is the best in the world.Roasted maroons are very popular in the late autumn and you can get them from the street wendors, fresh and hot. But maroons could be used for the cakes and French pastry too. If visiting Lovran in October, do not miss festival of maroons there called "Marunada".
Fuži is delicious pasta originated from the Istria region. It is hand-made and always fresh dish on a daily basis. The secret of fuži is if home made and produced right in front of your eyes. This fuzi on the picture are very fresh, made while I was in the restaurant "Pod Ladonjon".Fuži is a home made pasta mixed with vegetables and truffels in addition. It is served with boiled meat and sauce. The best is when served with boiled venison.
Ombolo is another jewel from the original Istrian cuisine. It is made of pork meat, using the best parts, which is pressed and smoked. The best is when grilled and served with boiled sauerkraut. However, ombolo could be delisious in many other ways too, especially with eggs. Fact is, ombolo is very tastefull even if served without any additions, just smoked and raw. This is again dish from the restaurant "Pod Ladonjon" in Žminj.Although mainly winter kind of dish, you can get it in Istria during whole year.
Fuži with venison is a dish you have to taste when visiting Istria. A dish contents of fuži, boiled venison in sauce with addition of truffels and minced chees. The dish looks jummy and belive me, it is jummy.You can get fuži all over Istria, but some are industrial made. Istria is small territory and people knows each other, aswell as the local restaurants. I recommend restaurant "Pod Ladonjon", in the small town of Žminj.
Kažun is a typical shelter in the fields made of stone only. There is not much of space inside the kažun, barely for two adult person. The local paesants use to keep water and food here while doing their work in the field. Unfortunately, not much of this constructions have left on Istria peninsula.
My wife and I enjoyed taking a few strolls down the country lanes and paths cutting across and between the farmer's fields. Whilst out on these walks we came across several shrines, mainly of the Madonna Mary and occasionally with a candle burning slowly or fresh flowers in a pot. They added interest to the walk and they made us wonder about the motivations for maintaining the shrines.
The region of Istria has two official languages, Croat and Italian. Many inhabitants are bilingual. Croat is the mother language to vast majority of the population. Italian (or/and Istriot) is the native language to a fair amount of the natives and the name of most cities appears as Rovinj/Rovigno, Pula/Pola, Vrsar/Orsera, etc?. Istriot (Istro-Romance), is a Romance language close to Venetian. Since the Venetian times, Istriot was widely spoken all over Istria but is now considered by the UNESCO as an endangered language, spoken by less than 1,000, mainly in Rovinj and Vodnjan. It seems that a good many of former Istriot speakers have now turned to Italian, the mother language of up to 50,000 in Istria, all speaking also Croat [the number of 50,000 must be taken with caution. Official sources give a lower number].
When strolling around Istria peninsula you may see a number of such an chapels. It is a very characteristic and autocthonous style in building the chapels that cannot be seen in other parts of Croatia. This kind of chapels are characteristic for the small villages. In front of the main entrance there is a loggia where locals use to gather before and after the service. It served also as an open court or place for meetings.
Hotel Histria Pula
4 Reviews and 103 Opinions 57-71 euros per person in a double room, half board -most expensive in Pula -very big (if you like...
Hotel Istra Rovinj
2 Reviews and 203 Opinions Facilities: Hotel Istra is made up of a hotel and the annex Park, and has 83 single, 121 double, 106...
Hotel Mediteran Porec
1 Review and 122 Opinions This is their CENTRAL BOOKING telephone number: PLAVA LAGUNA hr 52440 TEL. 410 101 All these hotels...
Reviews and photos of Istria attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Istria sightseeing.
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Q: Hi,i plan to visit venice in September 2012 from my base in porec and would like to know what is the best way to get there,by...
A: I have not made this journey but as there is a direct ferry from Porec to Venice it would seem sensible to take that. I am sure coach or train would take much longer than...
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