Istria

Description and geographical position
Istria is the biggest green oasis of north Adriatic and the biggest Croatian peninsula surrounded by a crystal clear blue sea. On the coast, there are lovely Mediterranean towns, while the green interior is decorated with numerous cultural, historical and natural places and hilly settlements with a fascinating look of the peaceful surroundings.
Located in north Adriatic, the Istrian peninsula is the closest Mediterranean destination for central European countries.
Bigger cities and municipalities in Istria are: Pula, Pazin, Poreč, Rovinj, Opatija, Umag, Novigrad, Labin, Buzet, and Motovun.

Climate
Climate in Istria is mild, Mediterranean, where there are warm and dry summers and mild and pleasant winters. It has an average of 2,338 sunny hours per year, and during the summer, the insolation is 10 h, on average. Specific winds are gale, which blows from north to south, with a clear and colder weather, south wind, which brings warmer but humid weather and a mild landward breeze, which blows from the land and has a cooling effect during the summer. The average air temperature during the coldest part of the year is 6ºC, and during the warmest 30ºC. South of Rovinj, Istria is cut by the 45th parallel, which means that we are half way between the Equator and the North Pole – an ideal geographical and temperature place on the northern hemisphere. The location has an average yearly temperature of 14ºC, and 23ºC during the summer. Sea salinity is 37 pro mille. A large concentration of salt, sodium and chlorine, as well as sulphates and magnesium are a basis of a healthy bath which is necessary for a human body and skin, and where sea motion also has a therapeutic effect. The sea temperature is coldest during the year in March and on average it is at 9ºC, while it is warmest during August when it reaches up to 25ºC.

Rovinj
Based on the recent twelve-year tracking of meteorological data in Rovinj, the average yearly temperature is 13.5ºC, rainfall is 766.8 mm, while the relative air humidity is 75%. The climate is warm and semi-dry. During the year, more than a third of days are without wind, while the gale is blowing a lot less than in other towns by the west coast of the Istrian peninsula. Micro climate this mild is present only in Brijuni archipelago and Mali Lošinj. The number of sunny days during the year is 134, which is the most on the Adriatic after two places in south Dalmatia. At the same time, Rovinj is a place with the smallest number of cloudy days on the Adriatic.

Vrsar
Climate of Vrsar area has a Mediterranean character; winters are mild, summers are long and warm. During the winter, the temperature is only sometimes below zero and that is why snow and frost are rare in this area. From the coast towards the interior of the peninsula, the climate is a little harsher. The average air temperature during the spring is 12.5ºC, during the summer 23.4ºC, during autumn 15.6ºC and during winter 5.5ºC. The coast has an average of 2,000 hours of insolation; over west Istria, the summer blueness can sometimes last without interruption for several months (from April to October).

Average yearly maximal and minimal air temperatures (2000-2007)



Average number of sunny days by months (2000-2007)

Sea coast
Sea coast in Rovinj in Vrsar is very indented with many bays, islands and small islands. Beaches mostly have rocks, stones, gravel, and in places sand with lush Mediterranean vegetation which reaches the sea coast.
Blue flag symbolizes a preserved, secure and pleasant environment meant for entertainment, fun and recreation, and it is featured on beaches which have met the standards when it comes to ecology, sanitary services, security, informing and managing the environment respecting the sustainable development in tourism.
In Rovinj, the prestigious Blue flag is featured in: beaches St. Andrew on Crveni otok (the Red Island), beach TN Villas Rubin, beach AC Polari, beach AC Veštar and beach TN Amarin.
In Vrsar, the Blue flag is featured in: beach AC Valkanela, beach TN Belvedere, beach AC Porto Sole and beach NC Koversada.

Natural diversity
The Mediterranean climate advantages have made Istria an ecological and healthy tourist destination and gave it many protected natural localities.
The richness of the natural diversity of Istria stretches from the white snowy mountains, through green fields, plateaus and valleys, vineyards and olive groves to the blueness of the endless sea.
The most significant representatives of the natural beauty and diversity of Istria: mountain massif Učka, Motovun forest and Kontija forest, Lim channel, cape Kamenjak, ornithological reservation Palud, Romualdo’s cave, Baredine cave, Pazin cave, Feštinsko kraljevstvo cave, Mramornica cave and numerous other localities. The number of protected nature localities is the largest in the area of Rovinj and its immediate surrounding.

History and cultural richness
The Istrian peninsula was inhabited in the prehistoric era, which is witnessed by the remains of city settlements, and the remains of dinosaurs found around Bale are witness to a period which starts early in earth’s history. The first stamp of the development of the Istrian peninsula was given by the old Romans, which is witnessed by numerous monuments from the antique era: Arena amphitheatre from the era of Roman emperor Vespasian and August temple in Pula, as well as Neptune and Mars temples in Poreč and streets Cardo and Decumanus. The Byzantine era in Istria has left us the most significant monument in Istria – Euphrasian basilica complex in Poreč (5th century), which has been in the UNESCO list of world heritage since 1997.
Middle Age fortress towns in Istria such as Buzet, Motovun and Grožnjan used to, located in strategic places, rule and watch over neighboring estates. Today, they are developing as tourism and cultural centres. Buzet has the title of a truffle town, Grožnjan has become an international music youth centre, Motovun hosts an international film festival, and Hum, the smallest town in the world, still follows customs from feudal times (governor election, guarding of the traditional recipe of Hum brandy).
The Venetian rule period has left its traces in coastal cities: Pula, Rovinj, Poreč, which is witnessed by magnificent Venetian palaces, but also the tradition of maritime, fishing and fish processing. Austro-Hungarian Monarchy gives a strong push to the economic development of Istria when Pula becomes the main war-time port of the empire and Rovinj becomes an important industrial centre (tobacco production, distillery and fish processing), and the national park Brijuni becomes a summer vacation spot of the European elite.
The period after World War II is marked by a strong development of tourism and new tourism centres are created, especially on the west coast of Istria (Umag, Poreč, Rovinj, Vrsar, and Pula).
Today, Istria has accommodation capacities in hotels, apartments, camps and private accommodation for over 200,000 guests a day, and tourist destinations in Istria are specialised and diversify their offer where Rovinj and Vrsar have an advantage in the level of quality and richness of services they can offer to the demanding traveller and guest.

Istrian cuisine
Istrian cuisine hides the richness of the tradition of taste which is a reflection of historical, geographical and climate characteristics of the peninsula.
Green Istria meals, typical for the interior of the peninsula, are based on meat and pasta, and the meals of Blue Istria offer the freshness of sea through meals made of fish and seafood.
The interior of Istria hides many taverns and wine cellars in which one can experience a real authentic event while tasting traditional meals and a glass of high quality Istrian wine. Authentic Istrian wines are white wine – malvazija, and red wine teran and refošk, and the best known dessert wine is the Istrian muškat.
An important determinant of Istria since the era of Greeks and Romans is the olive. Istrian olive oils, according to world standards, are among the best in the world, and it is possible to taste them in oil mills and taverns of the best Istrian olive growers.

Interesting things
Kažun – It is a traditional stone field shed built using a drywall technique, which served agrarians for keeping tools and for shelter from heat and bad weather. A miniature today, it represents one of original Istrian souvenirs.
Goat – A golden goat with red horns and hoofs is shown on the Istrian emblem. With its quality milk, the goat has fed numerous generations, and so Istrians gave it an honorary place on the emblem.

Basic information
Number of inhabitants	206.400
Size	2.820 km2
Population density	73 ppl/km2
Administrative centre	Pazin
Economic centre and biggest city	Pula
Length of sea coast	445 km (indented coast is twice as long as the roads)
Sea temperature	Lowest in March (from 9.3°C to 11.1°C), highest in August (from 23.3°C to 24.1°C)
Sea salinity	On average, it is from 36 to 38 pro milles
Rivers	Mirna, Dragonja and Raša
Vegetation	Istria forests cover 35% of the surface (pine tree and macchia vegetation)
Climate	Mediterranean climate (January 5°C to 9°C, August 22°C to 25°C)

Istria Tourist Board