Kanfanar/Dvigrad/Limski kanal

Nearby Barat there are Kanfanar, Limski kanal and Dvigrad, a place where, a long time ago, stood an abandoned medieval city. The link between Kanfanar and Dvigrad is unbreakable and exists since the Middle Ages. According to old people, former inhabitants of ancient Dvigrad, fleeing attackers and illnesses, founded the town of Kanfanar. They took with them everything that was considered sacred and precious, such as the flag mast from the 15th century, which now adorns the square, or a beautiful pulpit on six pillars, which now adorns the church Sv.Silvestro. Today's residents of Kanfanar still celebrate the Jakovlja - today a folk festival, once a feast, which was preserved from the time of Dvigrad.

The presence of man on the Kanfanar territory dates back 12,000 years ago, shown by the remains of the Paleolithicman in the cave of St. Romuald above the Lim Fjord. In the surrounding area, the culture from the Neolithic period was found, while on the hills Žamnjak and Maklavun human burial ground from the Bronze Age was found. From Iron Age, there are remains of forts, the settlements of old Histrians on seven locations where there are traces of Roman culture. The oldest known mentioning of Kanfanar dates back to 08.05.1096. Kanfanar began to develop when people from Dvigrad ran away from war and malaria in 1630 and began to migrate to Kanfanar. Kanfanar had a further development when the Austrian government built a railroad to Pula.

Dvigrad is the largest cultural monument in this part of Istria, built on the site of old ruins represents one of the largest and best-preserved abandoned cities in Europe. It originates from a castle, which was located in the immediate vicinity thousands of years ago. Moncastello became a village and took a common name of Duecastelli (Dvigrad). The number of its population exceeded a thousand, and his territory included the entire municipality of Kanfanar. Today the walls, towers, city gates and walls of houses are visible. At the top, the solid rock once contained an early Christian church of St.Sofia. In XIV century, a pulpit with a relief of St.Sofia was built holding in each hand one city. It is also the symbol of Dvigrad. Nearby, there are also remains of the Monastery of St. Petronil.

Lim channel - beautiful 11 km long bay, formed in the Jurassic limestone, is one of the most beautiful Istrian countryside, with an average width of 600 meters with cliffs rising to 150 meters above sea level. Apart from its exceptional beauty, Lim is known for the Romualdo’s cave, where many bones of more than 40 animal species were found, such as the cave bear, cave lion, leopard, cave hyena, wild horse etc. In the cave, tools from the period of the early Stone Age were found while the cave is an interesting speleological object with cave decorations.

Sveti Lovreč

Its name goes back to the 6th century and stems from the Church of Sv. Lovro (Saint Lawrence). Just 8 km from Barat, surrounded by gentle and idyllic views and tended by a mild climate, this town, founded back in prehistoric times, is truly a place worth visiting. Known as the city of 9 towers, surrounded by town walls and the ancient pillar of shame at its square, Sv.Lovreč was once the center of military administration, while today it is developing as an attractive tourist destination. According to sources in this area there were once more than 35 churches, of which only a few survived, while in many fields forgotten ruins of the churches can be found as a memory of times gone by.

Like many other Istrian towns, Sv.Lovreč also has its long history. Numerous archaeological sites, ruins and place names suggest that man was present here as early as the Bronze and Iron Ages. During ancient Rome, the famous Via Flavia, which allowed its residents further development, passed near by. According to some sources, at the time in Sv.Lovreč there were over a thousand people living. It is a period of the growth of its defensive significance. The famous church of Saint Lawrence was built in the 6th century. The name of the town was first mentioned in 1030 on a map as 'castrum sancti Laurentia'. In 1186, Sv. Lovreč was organized as a municipality (commune) becoming the fourth Istrian municipality in general. Its defensive walls were constructed in 3 phases: in 10th, 12th and 15th century. In 1271, Sv.Lovreč voluntarily surrendered to Venice and remained under its government until 1797. There are a lot of buildings from that time due to which Lovreč is known as a museum city, while on many of those buildings the symbol of Venice - Saint Mark's lion is carved. During Venetian rule, Sv.Lovreč became the seat of military administration for the whole Venetian part of Istria.

Rovinj

There is a tale about the ancient Castrum Rubini, now Rovinj, connected with the Istrian Atlantis – a peninsula called Cissa. The legend says that on St.Euphemia`s day, September 16th 304, the peninsula was struck by a terrible underwater earthquake and the sea covered its streets, squares, houses and palaces. The peninsula was divided into new islands which lie in front of today`s town and its inhabitants (famous for producing colors) founded the picturesque Rovinj.

Owing the legacy of the rich history and particular location ,Rovinj is one of the most attractive and most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean. The city radiates with a unique beauty which attracts visitors from all over the world. Rovinj has charming stone paved streets, overshadowed by old, closely built, houses with particular architectonic touches and roof terraces, renaissance town walls, beautiful churches, galleries under the clear sky, many restaurants offering seafood whose fresh scent pervades every corner of the town, a view on endless blue embellished with 22 islands, each with its particular attraction. All of this represents Rovinj as an inevitable pearl to meet, feel and always return to it.

The first mention of Rovinj as Castrum Rubini was found in the „Cosmographia“ written by an anonymous inhabitant of Ravenna. From the 9th to the 2nd century, the area was full of disturbances. In that period ,Venice became stronger and, after a long time of resistance, in 1283 Rovinj fell under its authority. In the Venetian period, Rovinj evolved into a strong fishing, shipbuilding and maritime centre, especially in the 17th and 18th century when it became the primary naval city in the whole of Istria. In that period, the city walls were firmed, the city started to expand on the mainland causing the backfilling of the channel between island and the land, creating the Rovinj peninsula.

After the fall of Venetia, citizens of Rovinj took the city government and managed to keep it during the Austrian and French administrations when the progress of industry and the urban development began. Until second half of 19th century, Rovinj was the largest port on the Western coast of Istria.

Pula

Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola, name given to Pula by the old Romans, has been writing its history for 3000 years. The city built at the end of a beautiful bay and on seven hills reveals many lovely and interesting stories. Today the city lives in many colours and sounds, perfectly interlacing the variegated exciting past with modern times of its inhabitants and visitors. It boasts perfectly preserved amphitheatre, the largest amphora site in the world, Temple of Augustus, many churches, monasteries, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian architecture, excellent various food specialities and wine in its many restaurants, rich museums, galleries, concert events, great nightlife and many other beauties located in this famous city.

Pula became known as one of the earliest sites of human presence. In its vicinity, in the cave called Šandalja, human remains (which date back from one million years B.C.) were found. Until the arrival of Roman legions, Pula was just the surrounding of Nesactium, inhabited in the 15th century B.C., which became the centre of Histrians. They were responsible also for the first hill-fort settlement in the area of Pula, on the location of today’s Kaštel, built 3000 years ago, from where the history of the city is reckoned. During the Roman Empire, Pula experienced true prosperity. In that period, the water supply system, sewage system, city walls with ten gates, the arch, temples, theatres and the famous amphitheatre were constructed. The time of Franks and their empire introduced Pula to feudalism when the city-states were established and many conflicts took place until the year 1150 when Pula finally sworn loyalty to Venice. In this period of conflict and disease, the total population was reduced to just 300 people. Pula was under the Venetian government until 1797 when it became a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. Briefly after that, in 1805, the French entered the city and took control. Finally, in 1813, Pula returned under the administration of the Austrian Empire, returning peace and prosperity to the city. In 1859, the impressive port of Pula became the main Austrian harbour and the main shipbuilding centre while the population of Pula consisted of 60 000 people.

Brijuni islands

The Brijuni island group that lies off the southwest coast of Istria in the vicinity of Pula, was once the meeting place of the European and world jet set. As the only national park in Istria, Brijuni with its 14 islands covering an area of 736 square hectares presents a unique play of nature that brings together remarkable animal species and rare and rich flora all at one place. It ranks as one of the loveliest archipelagos in the Mediterranean.

The archipelago of Brijuni is an extraordinary blend of natural, historical and cultural heritage. The mild climate and the favourable geographical conditions, deep retracted bays and easily defendable elevated fortifications, have secured a continuum in the human activity on the island from a pre-historic age until the present day. On a relatively small archipelago have been registered some hundred sites and buildings of archaeological and cultural-historical value and which comprise the period from the first Neolithic settlements, the dugouts in the bay of Soline, until the creation of an elite summer and health resort at the beginning of the last century and the presidential residency visited by statesmen from one third of the world’s countries in its 25 years of existence (1954-1979).

Poreč

Once known as Colonia Iulia Parentium with its 2000 years of vivid past, today Poreč is a favourite destination, which is inevitably visited by those eager to have a good time and appreciating the variety of offer.

Nowadays Poreč is rich in colours, sounds and flavours sharing them unselfishly with each visitor. On nearly 37 km of Poreč Riviera, almost every wish will be fulfilled: a beautiful coastline bathed by the warm sea conceals secluded beaches for those seeking the peace of the Mediterranean, the almost immeasurable number of restaurants and taverns will delight everyone’s palate, fruitful vineyards that are widely known for their excellent wines, numerous night clubs, bars and concerts under the clear sky offer great time and fun until dawn, old, well preserved, historical monuments unreservedly offer their wisdom, many particular galleries are proud of their remarkable works of art.

Poreč is 2000 years old. Before Poreč, on this site there was an earlier settlement but the development of the city began with the arrival of the Roman army when the village became a castrum. In the 1st century Poreč became a Roman colony, got the status of the city and the name of Colonia Iulia Parentium. The city walls were built in the 4th century, while in the 5th century the famous Euphrasius Basilica was built. After the fall of the old Rome, the Ostrogoths arrived into the town, which was soon overtaken by the Byzantines.The Croatians arrived here at the end of the 6th century, building a permanent settlement. At the end of the 7th century, the city fell under Frankish authority, passing through a shorter period of independence in the 12th century and then fell under the authority of the Patriarch of Aquileia. In 1267, Poreč became the first town in Istria to recognize the rule of the Venetian Republic. Poreč was under the authority of the Venetians for more than five centuries. During this period, among other things, they built a lighthouse on the island of St.Nicholas in front of the city. In that time, being 15 meters high, this was the highest lighthouse on the whole Adriatic. In the late 18th century, the city was first taken by Napoleon and in 1797 it passed into the hands of the Habsburg Monarchy. In 1845, the city’s first tourist guide with pictures and the descriptions of the place was printed. In 1861, Poreč became the capital city of Istria and the seat of all institutions of the time. In 1902, the railroad Parenzana was built, connecting Poreč with Trieste. In 1910, the first hotel in Poreč was built.