Top Istria hotels
Due to Istria's position it is very easy to do a day trip to Italy. Either catch a ferry from Rovinj across to Venice or go in a more northerly direction to Trieste. Both very different cities and both worthy of a trip. If you have a car, Trieste is not so far (in fact, a lot of people use the airport in Trieste to visit Istria) and a cheaper option for a day trip.If you are in or around Rovinj the ferry to Venice is a viable option and a beautiful city to see.
This is such a pretty little place.Svetvincenat is based, archetecturally, on a quadrilateral Renaissance square in the centre of the town. The building that dominates the sqaure is the Morosini Grimani citadel.
Zminj was built on a height with fortified walls which are still preserved. During the Middle Ages Zminj was part of the Pazin dukedom.The houses and church are Baroque in style. Apparently the church has many frescos inside. We didnt get to see them - they are allegedly of high quality but damaged.On August 24th each year Zminj celebrates St Bartholomew's Day with massive festivities and people come here from all over Istria.
Throughout history Pazin has always played an important role and today it is the administrative centre of Istria. In 1374 Pazin became the possession of the Hapsburgs (Austrian-Germans). The founadtion of the feudal strongholds was the Citadel built on the steep sliff over the Fojba (abyss into which the Pazincica flows. The Pazincica being the only underground river in Istria).
Baredine Caves are in the Karsk region, as are the Postojnska & Skocjanske caves in Slovenia and out of the three they hold third place. However, if you haven't been to the other two then Baredine Caves are just fine.If you are lucky and keep your eyes peeled you'll spot cave toads. At the end of the cave tour you'll get to meet a proteus... a strange type of salamander that lives deep deep underground, can go years without eating and... well is a bit of a highlight
We found a bit more nightlife in Pula compared to other towns around. The centre of town had a number of bars which you could sit in or outside and enjoy an aparatif. With child in tow we found it a little more difficult to find somewhere to eat after 8pm but a little hunting ended up no problem. Recommend walking through the area and sampling the bars if you can, maybe next time for me. We also found restaurants a lot less expensive than other areas, can't explain why. One picture here shows a restaurant that we tried. Excuse the attempts at fancy photography sepia and stuff, it is a new camera.
The amphitheatre is teh most striking of monuments. It is an absolute must see in Pula. You have to go in and check out the place. On our visit they were getting ready for a concert which would have been great to see, check out local listings. There is an audio guide but to be honest I didn't enjoy this as much as taking in the sights. The museum below ground shows a few old pots and things.
You should go to Pula, as it has several ancient Roman ruins. The highlight of which is the Colleseum, which is largely intact and holds concerts even today. Parking is a bit of a problem depending on the season. A fee is charged to enter the ruins, but they are relatively free and open to roam around. There could be more information regarding the historical background of Pula and it's place in the Roman world. There is also a Roman temple and several other sites scattered around the port city.
Click here to visit my page on MotovunMotovun is in the north-west of Istria, 21 km south-east to Buje. It is built on a 277 meters high hill that dominates the plain with the Mirna river and the Motovun forest, famous for its white truffles. It is perhaps the most picturesque of the numerous Istrian inland jewels. In summer, it is always sunny. In October/November, the season for the white truffle, it can be misty. Motovun has a history stretching back over 2300 years : there had been on top the hill a prehistoric enclosure. In the 10th and 11th century, it was belonging to the bishop of Porec and the patriarch of Aquilea. Since 1278, it came under the Venetian rule. The oldest part of the city is inside the 13th-14th century city walls, on top of the hill, with a breathtaking sight on the valley.Motovun is now well known for its film festival, dedicated to independent film makers and...
Click here to visit my page on Livade, white truffle cityLivade is a very small city in the plain of the Mirna river valley. It is 1 km north from the main road from Buje to Buzet while Motovun is 2 km south. Since year 2000, the company "Livade tartufi d.o.o;" has organized truffle days every week-end of October. Livade is now well known for its truffle days that draw visitors from all over Europe. The best truffles on exhibition are valuated and rewarded by experts. There is also an exhibition of other agricultural products of Istria, including the famous Istrian ham, Istria produced wines and agricultural material.
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
1 Review and 203 Opinions This excellent hotel is situated on a separate island - Red Island or St. Andrew Island.... The...
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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