Croatia - Roving, Pula & Poreč - Travel Story

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Rovinj, Pula and Poreč, Croatia

Visiting the Gorgeous Istrian Peninsula

Croatia is a land of great beauty. The places I visited are the major cities of the Istrian Peninsula. It is basically the northern coast of the Adriatic. The area seems to have quite a large Italian influence. The further South, or away from Italy, the less this influence appears. I based myself in Rovinj, which is the center of Istria, and did day trips to Pula and Poreč. Rovinj is a great base, for it is a relaxing, peaceful and offers plenty to do. It is now known for being a popular tourist destination, but also as a hot spot for all types of artists. In that sense, the old town reminds me slightly of Montmartre.

 

The majority of tourists in this region are German or German speaking and the rest are Italian so unless you know a bit of either of these languages you will have a difficult time communicating. I rarely heard English spoken so I attempted to use my flawed German and small understanding of Italian to get by and succeeded! I’m sure my German professor would be proud.

Istria, in my opinion, is not the place to visit if you are looking to taste some local cuisine. I looked everywhere, but the only things available were steak, pizza and schnitzel. This area seemed geared for the banal or highly efficient tourist. I must say though, things were quite cheap and a meal in a fancy restaurant was affordable even for the tight budgeted traveler.

I met some interesting people along the way, the funniest being the old lady who lived in the house where I stayed. She spoke nothing but Croatian and knew a few German and Italian words which she threw in at random. I was able to catch some words that I understood every other sentence which was good enough. We used hand gestures for the most part to communicate and that seemed to work just fine. If nothing else it gave us a good laugh. Private accommodation is about the only affordable option for budget travelers in this area. All of the prices are set by the official tourist agency so you can’t get ripped off. This, however, only applies if you stay for more than 2 nights. If not, add 100% for just 1 night and 50% for 2 nights.

Sitting high above Rovinj overlooking the town's colourful buildings is St. Euphemia’s Church. The church houses a 6th century sarcophagus containing the remains of St. Euphemia, the 3rd century patron of Rovinj. For 10 kn, the thrill seeking traveler can climb the old wooden stairs of the tower, which are so unevenly spaced that one false step sends your foot flying through the cracks. To add to the adrenaline rush, the steps are only about 5 to 6 inches thick which makes every movement a tricky and intense one. When you finally reach the top and your heart has stopped pounding you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the area. It is so beautiful, in fact, that it makes you forget about your climb down!

Pula

An equally amazing sight can be found in Pula. Approximately 2000 years ago, Pula was an exciting place to be with its main attraction being the Roman forum. It is very similar to the coliseum in Rome, but not quite as big. It's still in amazing condition and is often used for concerts. In two weeks time Alanis Morisette, Joe Cocker and the Bloodhound Gang will be playing there.

There are many other Roman ruins to see, including the 29 BC Arch of the Sergians, which leads to the old town, and the columned Temple of Augustus, built somewhere between 2 BC and 14 AD. The Italian influence is less apparent in Pula, but the difference is made up by the recent addition of a McDonalds. There is also a very cool marine museum located in an old fort at the peak of town. It is worth the 10 kn entrance just for the view. The exhibits are interesting but they are only in Croatian with the occasional German and Italian document.

Poreč

Like Rovinj and Pula, Poreč is a lovely seaside town. With its slippery marble-blocked streets and gorgeous old town, Poreč is nice for a relaxing stroll. It is mainly known for St. Euphrasius’ basilica, which was built on a 6th century foundation and contains some of the most gorgeous Byzantine mosaics inside.

Rovinj Photo Gallery

Pula Photo Gallery

Poreč Photo Gallery