| WHY GO |
| The coastal resorts of the Istrian Peninsula are among Croatia's biggest tourist draws, but those in the know make time to head inland, too. Away from the seaside and hotel complexes, Istria is an unknown quantity. The peninsula was handed from Romans to Byzantines to Germans, and although Italian is today a language of the minority, it still has a certain autonomy, with its own schools, cultural centres and museums.The nudist camper-van settlements and the ugly 1960s hotels of the west coast resorts are easy enough to avoid; stay in the charming town of Rovinj, and make sure you dedicate at least a couple of days to the interior. Be sure to visit Porec, which has one of the most important Western Byzantine churches outside Italy, and Pula, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Nowadays, Venetians, Viennese, Genevans and Londoners are visiting, many keen to buy into Istria before Croatia joins the EU. Go now before the gentrification sets in. |
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