Pula Off The Beaten Path

Porta Sanfior - main town doors of St. Flor dating from 1589 with Labin coat of arms and the Serenissima lion above. Canon dating from Austrian times was put up for the second time on the bastion (torjon) in 1995.

BRIJUNI, a group of islands and a national park (since 1983) in front of the western coast of Istria; separated from the mainland by the Fazana Strait; located 6 km from Pula; area 36 sq km. Brijuni Islands comprise the following islands: Veli Brijun (Big Brijun, 5.6 sq km), Mali Brijun (Small Brijun, 1.1 sq km) and Vanga (0.18 sq km), as well as several islets (Sveti Marko, Gaz, Obiljak, Supin, Galija, Gruni, Pusti, Vrsar, Jerolim, Kotez) and reefs Kabula, Crnika and Stine. The coasts of the islands are well indented; the total length of the indented coast is 37.8 km. The surface of the islands is fairly levelled (an extension of the South Istrian plateau), covered with a thick layer of red soil which holds water. Due to its favourable geographical location and low terrain, Brijuni Islands are known for their mild climate; winters are mild with an average temperature of 5.8 °C, summers being relatively warm with an average temperature of 22.8 °C. The average temperature in spring is - 12.5 °C, in autumn 14.8 °C. Relative humidity is fairly high. The vegetation of the islands is extremely rich - Mediterranean: holm oak, laurel, pine, olive, rosemary and underbrush. Brijuni Islands are of great maritime importance.

I escape the beauty and the heat by boarding a bus up the coast to Porec, another fine Adriatic outpost.
Porec is a Venetian-style village on the coast, stuffed with cafes, mixed fish grills, desperate for cash and custom. In contrast to Rovinj's Venetian style church, Porec sports a Byzantine basilica, now a Roman Catholic Church.

This is view of Roman amphitheatre from the top of the Kaštel hill. Only from here you can see how imposing the stucture of Arena is, dominating whole center of the town.