TRAVEL
Introducing Istria
April 25, 2019
A picnic in one of Istria's many scenic vineyards
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
Beautiful Istria is the westernmost county of the Republic of Croatia and the largest peninsula of the Adriatic. It’s just 2,820 km2, yet it’s attractive, undulating coastline is 445km long—twice as long as the road that covers the same distance as the crow flies.
Istria is traditionally the most visited tourist region in Croatia with, welcoming nearly a quarter of Croatia's tourists, who are mainly from Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Italy. And who can blame them? Over a third of Istria is covered in forests, and visitors obviously love to get as close to this nature as possible; one third of the accommodation here is on a campsite, with 6 of the 60 campsites specifically for naturists. Not everyone brings their own caravan or tent—it’s increasingly popular to rent a mobile home or glamping tent, particularly as they tend to be nearer the beach.
Despite the fact that there’s only one international airport serving the area, just a few kilometres from the city of Pula, tourism is booming here. Last year, over 4.5 million tourist arrivals were recorded in Istria, up 6% from 2017, which was a record year. Not bad for a peninsula that only boasts a population of 208, 055.
Glamping at the Laterna Premium Camping Resort offers perfect access to the sandy beach
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
How Istria is protecting and preserving its natural resources and cultural heritage
In March 2019 the Administrative Department for Tourism of Istria County issued the brochure Istria ecoxperience, which can be downloaded here:
https://www.istra-istria.hr/fileadmin/urednici/Turizam/Eko_brosura_HR_EN_web.pdf
For anyone interested in green, sustainable tourism, this brochure is a useful guide to all the certified eco amenities Istria has to offer. Its covers eco-friendly accommodation, eco producers, green beaches. Istria’s beautiful, protected, natural areas, eco museums, eco-friendly activities and all the events that nurture a sustainable philosophy.
All facilities bearing the Eco Domus sign have met at least 50 basic criteria in 12 categories, such as: social and environmental responsibility, integrated environmental and health protection, use of eco certified washing and cleaning agents, use of eco certified toiletries, use of natural materials, water saving technology, energy saving technology, and waste sorting and recycling.
22 holiday homes in Istria were awarded the European Holiday Home Award 2018 in the Best Green Holiday Home category. Besides private accommodation, there are more than 20 Eco Hotels that hold the Travelife certification, located in the coastal towns of Umag, Novigrad, Poreč, Rovinj and Rabac.
Beach life in Istria isn't all fun and games, but mostly it is
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
No less than 50 of Istria’s beaches and 5 of its marinas have been awarded Blue Flag status, an international symbol for clean coasts and adequately equipped beaches. The marinas are situated in Umag, Poreč, Pula and Medulin. Five Istrian beaches have also been awarded the Green Beach Flag. The Green Beach model has been implemented in Istria and 3 other Mediterranean destinations: Cyprus, Tuscany and Catalonia. The first beaches in Istria to receive a Green Beach labelled flag were Poreč City Beach, Karpinjan Beach in Novigrad and Girandella Beach in Rabac.
Few locals own e-cars, but there are 15 charging stations spread out along the whole coast, from north to south and from the west to the east part of the peninsula, so visitors with electric cars are able to recharge their cars easily.
The Pula Arena amphitheatre is a focal point for world-class concerts
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
What to see and do in Istria
RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Roman Amphitheatre in Pula – also a venue for film and music festivals, gladiator fights and more!
- Euphrasius Basilica in Porec (Unesco World Heritage) - also a venue for classical music concerts
- Beautiful hill top medieval towns and castles
The inimitable Brijuni Islands
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
UNIQUE PLAY OF NATURE
- National Park BRIJUNI – a green archipelago of 14 islands and islets, home to interesting flora and fauna
- Lim Fjord - 9 km long - a special protected reserve where sea water and river water mix underwater, creating favourable conditions for oysters and clams. Two restaurants in the bay serve these specialties
- The Baredine Cave - a natural, geomorphologic monument 60m below the ground with 5 beautifully decorated chambers
The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sight to behold
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
ACTIVE VACATION
The mild Istrian climate, fresh air and clean sea enable athletes to practice nearly all events throughout the year, both indoors and outdoors, including tennis, football, golf, beach volleyball. Istria also has many cycling, trekking and horseback riding trails through untouched countryside.
If these pursuits sound too gentle, there is plenty to do for high-adrenaline sports fans: paragliding and hang-gliding, free climbing, mountain running and mountain biking along the hilly and demanding trails, exploring the caves, kayaking, parachuting, diving, surfing and stand up paddle-boarding. They are spoilt for choice!
WELLNESS
Most Istrian 4 and 5 star hotels extend their offer with a diverse range of wellbeing facilities, including indoor pools, fitness centres and massage rooms to relax your body and soul. New centres are opening up in response to world trends, so come and pick the treatments and activities that make you prefect wellbeing break, choosing from aromatherapy, chromotherapy, special baths and saunas, whirlpools, ice baths and many more beauty and healthcare treatments.
The beautiful fishing town of Novigrad
IMAGE: Istria Tourist Board
GOURMET
No matter what time of year you visit the peninsula, you will find regional flavours to be equally strong, passionate and intense. Experience the Mediterranean side of the Istrian cuisine as well its continental side. Taste dishes of Blue Istria: white fish, pilchards, clam buzara, oysters, spider crab salad and much more. When visiting Green Istria, for starters, begin with a delicious hearty vegetable soup known as manestra, followed by sheep-milk cheese and Istrian prosciutto (prsut) air-cured by the bura wind from the north. Fuzi, the homemade pasta with truffles, is a tasty main course and for dessert, try the traditional and delicious Istrian pastries fritule and krostule.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and truffles are famous and probably the best ambassadors of Istria, and thanks to the benefits of natural top quality products containing high antioxidant capacity, Istria is also promoted as a detox destination.
And oenophiles (that’s wine connoisseurs to you) will rejoice when discovering that another Istrian trademark specialty is their wine. With over 100 quality wine makers spread throughout this small peninsula, even the locals are spoilt for choice. Reflecting both the diverse climate and soil on which they are grown, these phenomenal wines are made from a range of native grape varieties, including the most famous: Istrian Malvasia. In addition to being award-winning, Istrian wine cellars are usually a family business, each with their own unique story rooted in tradition. You can discover their history while sampling their delicious wine, knowing that you’re helping to sustain a small family business.
BUSINESS
Hotels for meetings and conventions offer special packages for MICE and team building. For those who prefer less crowded tourist spots, Istria can offer its best in April-May and September-October.
Visit www.istra.hr to download mobile apps, brochures, videos and photos to help you plan or enhance your event and your time in this beautiful part of Croatia.
RECENT TOP AWARDS FOR ISTRIA
Flos Olei 2019: Istria triumphs for the fourth time
Extraordinary success of the Istrian extra virgin olive oils
Istria has been declared the best olive oil region in the world in 2019, for the fourth time in a row. It is a great success for this green Adriatic peninsula where olive oil has been produced for more than two thousand years.
The quality of Istrian oils is improving every year, and the number of Istrian olive oil producers in Flos Olei, the only published global guide to extra virgin olive oil world guide, is constantly increasing. Among the 500 best producers of extra virgin olive oil in the world listed in the 2019 edition, 79 were Istrian, meaning Istria is home to just over 15% of the best extra virgin olive oil producers in the word. Not bad for such a tiny area!
Forbes.com: The Next Great Destinations 2018
8 Places to Beat the Crowds this Summer
The highly influential American Forbes magazine has included the Istrian peninsula in its 2018 online edition of the most desirable world destinations to travel to—a recommendation that may well increase tourists numbers by itself.
ADAC: Istria is a favourite destination for Germans 2018
German drivers remain faithful to the Istrian destination
For the ninth consecutive year, Istria has been recognised as the most popular regional destination for German drivers. This is the result of a survey carried out by the famous German Automobile Club ADAC, which was published at the beginning of the year, and the Club says the popularity of Istria is increasing each year.
New York Times: 52 Places to Go
Istria on the list of the must see destinations
Peaceful green hills and the clear blue sea of the Istrian peninsula were included on the New York Time’s list of 52 Places to Go in 2017.
European Best Destinations: Istria - top 10 European wine destinations
The European Best Destinations organisation selected Istria amongst the top 10 wine destinations in Europe for 2016! It’s not all about olive oil here.
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