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WHERE TO GO
 Nowhere
in Istria, which is a self-contained part of Croatia, is
much more than an hour’s drive from Rabac and the roads
are generally
a pleasure to drive
on.
Croatia has only been independent since 1995 and there is
a great sense of patriotism and pride. And rightly so,
as it seems to be getting so many things right – such as
a ban on developments near beaches and prohibiting
building above three storeys.
The
people are genuinely kind, friendly and easy-going and
English is widely spoken in shops, bars, restaurants and
even by helpful car parking attendants!
There are many places to visit and it’s worth checking
for special events
such as open-air concerts at Pula, an international film
festival at Motovun, jousting at Barban, and the
preparation of a 2,000-egg truffle
 omelette at Buzet.
Pula
is the best known town in Istria. It has a Roman
amphitheatre (the sixth biggest in the world), and lots
of other Roman remains including a Forum, and a big
port. There’s also a daily open air market selling fresh
local produce and an adjacent
covered market for meat and fish.
On the west
coast, there are boat trips out to to Brijuni National Park and the
fascinating towns of Porec and Rovinj. Porec has one of
Istria’s biggest tourist attractions, the Basilica of
Euphrasius, with its
extraordinary and ancient mosaics, while
picturesque Rovinj has a magnificent 18th century church
with a stunning
view. Istrian towns, though, are not just about relics
and history but have interesting shops, a wide choice of
places to eat and drink, and are worth a visit just to
stroll around and take in the atmosphere.
Driving
up the east coast of Istria, the Austrian-influenced
Opatija is elegant and glamorous with a rich history. On
the way there, it’s worth stopping off at the almost
deserted village of Plomin, as the contrast between the
two couldn’t be more marked. Great contrasts are
typically Croatian. Beyond Opatija is the large town of
Rijeka, but here we’re venturing out of Istria and into
a whole new part of the country. |
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