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An historical monument becomes a sportive tourist attraction in Istria

This year a major new attraction was opened in Istria: ‘La Parenzana’,  a new biking and hiking trail starting in Savudria, passing Buje, Groznjan, Livade, Motovun and ending in Vizinada. The path is a great way to discover Istria, passes cozy towns, offers impressive panoramic views and is accesible to all, since it is nowhere steep. Indeed it follows an old railway track, nicknamed ‘La Parenzana’. The name comes from its final destination:  Porec or Parenzo in Italian.

The original railway was a project of the Austria-Hungary Empire, to which Istria belonged from 1815 to 1918. The steamlocomotives were operating on this track from 1902 to 1935. Then, during  the Great Depression, it was decided to abondon the railroad. This original railway was 123 kilometers long and was one of Europe’s longest narrow gauge railway’s. Leaving Trieste it first followed the coast and then turned eastwards towards the Istrian interior with its hilly landscape. The track reaches its highest point at an elevation of 293 meters above sealevel. Due to the many bends and ascents the average trains’ speed was only some 25km/h. There were all together 35 stops. The whole journey between Trieste and Porec took around 7 hours. At slower sections passengers could even jump off the train, pick some fruit from one of many orchards or releive themselves (there were no toilets in cars) and return back to the train. Many “blind passengers”, who could not afford to buy the expensive tickets, used the option to just jump on the train. At the steepest sections locomotives often could not handle the slope. So passengers had to disembark the train and hep pushing. Sometimes the train stopped because children greased rail tracks with figs. The journey could only be continue when the tracks were cleaned.

After World War II several ideas were formulated to reconstruct or reuse the railroad at least partially for the purpose of tourism. During the preparation of the railway’s centennial celebration in 2002, with the financial support of the European Union, the Italian and most of the Slovenian sections were used for the realisation of the ‘Trail of Health and Friendship,’suitable  for pedestrians an cyclists. Somewhat later similar works started at the Croatian side. In  2008 the trail from Trieste tot Vizinada was completed. Only the last section from Vizinada to Porec  (approximatly 10 km) still remains to be completed.

Today ‘La Parenzana’ is suitable for walking, jogging or bycicling. The trail runs through old towns and villages, along the sea, passes vineyards and fields with olive trees, through tunnels, over bridges, across valleys and over hills. There are several stops where visitors can take a break. On the farms along the way visitors can taste local wines and olive oil. The most beautifull part leads from Motovun, via Livade to Grosnjan. It offers spectacular views on the valley of the Mirna  down to the Adriatic Sea and on its way it also passes  Zaversje (Piemonte) and Opertalj (Portole), two remarkable small hilltop towns, embedded in the green landscape of the beautifull hinterland of Istria.

For people who want to avoid the crowd of tourists at the coast and enjoy the calm and beauty of nature in combination with a more sportive program, this Parenzana offers just the right thing. And why not staying in a villa or typical natural stone house along the way. You have houses that offer all the confort that you may wish, including a swimming pool and spa. For houses located in the neighbourhood of La parenzana we refer to Istra Panorama

A last information: on september 2008 the 26th, 27th and 28th the bicycle race Istra MTB Tartuffi Tour will follow the track of La Parenzana. With its specific formula (tourism and professional race) it attracts numerous home and foreign cyclists coming from all over Europe.

For most gourmands, not only in Croatia but also throughout the world, just the mention of mouth-watering truffles whets the appetites and brings a twinkle to the eye. Truffles are one of the world’s favourite delicacies, not only on account of their heavenly flavour, but also because of the mystery surrounding them – the “incontestable culinary kings” as the people of Istria refer to them.

There are numerous dilemmas related to the truffle. The first pertains to the method whereby they are gathered, as the truffle is hidden under the ground. Regardless of the fact that they are characterised by an exceptionally intensive scent it is impossible to locate them out of doors without the help of specially trained dogs.

Also, the truffle only grows in certain types of soil. In Croatia they can only be found on the Istrian peninsula where they flourish in the grey, clayish soil found in the Istrian interior, more precisely in the oak forest surrounding the town of Motovun and from Motovun northwards to Lanišce, along the Raša River heading southeast and in the environs of Pazin to the south of the peninsula. The people of Istria value in particular the white truffle, which is gathered in the autumn and is prepared as soon as possible upon its extraction from the soil. And that is why autumn in Istria and its small, specialised restaurants and rural farmsteads exude a special mood and atmosphere. This is true especially of the period from mid October to mid November when the Truffle days are held across all of Istria, a cornucopia of events that all have the same goal – to celebrate the unique Istrian truffle. During those thirty days the scent of truffles wafts from many plates, and visitors from all across Croatia and the world come to Istria to revel in the flavours of the world’s most famous aphrodisiac. The Truffle Days kicked off October 7th with a folk festivity in Sovinjak, a picturesque settlement in the Istrian interior from whose walls a striking view of the surrounding hills shoots out. The 14th incarnation of the popular “Tuberfest”, as the white truffle fair is known started that same day in the settlement of Livade, part of which is the selection of the largest and best looking truffle. The events in Livade continued over the coming days with agricultural products fairs, olive oil sampling and a truffle culinary festival. In November the Truffle Days move to the town of Buzet where on the 3rd and 4th the Flavours of the Buzet Region truffle weekend / gastro gathering is staged – an exhibition of truffles and other local products, an ethno and gastro offer, a course in preparing truffle-based dishes and a truffle “hunt” with accompanying cultural program. The Days will close in Livade where November 12th will see a festivity at the Zigante Restaurant to mark the 8th anniversary of the uncovering of the largest ever white truffle, which made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. For those who, in spite of it all, do not manage to come to the Truffle Days, here are a few restaurants whose quality the Istria County Tourist Board recommends: Zigante in Livade, San Rocco and Morgan in Brtonigla, Marino in Momjan, Igor and Malo selo in Buje, Pod voltom in Motovun and the Stara Oštarija, Toklarija and Vrh in Buzet.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

A new tourism project was recently launched in Istra called Parenzana – Route of Health and Friendship in the frame of which is the Parenzana Code Kit guidebook, which offers an intriguing game for all tourists with wanderlust, a desire to explore and for adventure.

For a start a quick reminder of what the Parenzana is – an old railway track from the early 20th century that linked Trieste, Kopar and Porec, passing through much of the Istrian interior. The railway has now been completely overgrown, but the route passing through luxuriant wilderness, right next to many Istrian towns and old fortifications will take tourists on an adventurous trip to unusual places that offer a primeval experience of places and people, incomparable to the traditional form of tourist sightseeing of the usual destinations.

The Parenzana Code Kit is an exploratory and enigmatic guide book through which, step by step, parts of the fascinating mosaic of the past and present of Istra and the highlights of the Parenzana are revealed. Concretely, it is a volume of maps with directions on how to orient oneself along the Parenzana and information necessary to break the code. The maps are numbered and the basic assignment is to discover the proper order they are to be read in order to solve the Parenzana Code.

The code covers the area from Buje to Vižinada, and tourists can head out on foot, by bicycle or car to solve the enigmatic code, all with the help of the maps, and depending on the mode of transport one can solve the riddle in a day or more.

Adventure tourists will certainly find this very interesting, and along the 123 kilometre route they can get to know some of the most attractive places in Istra: Buje, Motovun, Grožnjan, Oprtalj, Završje and Kostanjice. The project will be further developed and the opening of a small Parenzana Museum in Livade is in the works, as are ethnological workshops and cycling races. A DVD is being produced with 3D effects of the train passing, cycling maps as is other promotional material and the installation of information and road signs.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

By the end of the year four new low cost air carriers will open flights to Pula Airport. These are the German companies Germanwings and TUIfly, the Hungarian air carrier Wizzair and the Danish Sterling. Direct connections to Pula are currently maintained by three low cost air carriers that operate during the peak tourist season – the Irish company Ryanair which links Pula to London and Dublin, Norwegian Air Shuttle and the Scottish Fly Globespan. These three companies will run their last flights to Pula in this season at the end of October.

The airport – at which tourists whose destinations are located across all of Istra – is only a few kilometres from the town of Pula, into whose historical edifices and cultural monuments three thousand years of history have been built.

With its recognisable antiquity period amphitheatre, the sixth largest in the world, which plays host to numerous cultural events and performances by artists from around the world, Pula has found its place among interesting cultural destinations. In the direct vicinity of the town are the Brijuni islands with their national park, only three kilometres from the mainland coast. Distinct by its specific types of flora and fauna, and archaeological excavations that bear witness to the settlement of ancient civilisations, Brijuni National Park is also the site of top class cultural and sports events, congresses and meetings. Near Pula, that has fast road connections to all the towns of the Istrian peninsula, there are also other attractive tourist destinations interesting at any time of the year.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

Along with numerous tourist attractions, natural phenomenon, cultural, historical and other attractive points of interest, Istra in its tourism offer also has at first glance simple, but very attractive excursion tours. One of these is certainly the tour of the macadam roads, popularly known as „white“ roads, which crisscross its interior, and lead for the most part to sparsely populated areas where the natural surroundings have remained perfectly preserved.

The tours of the interior are interesting because they offer the possibility of relaxed walks through an attractive landscape. One such tour passes through the settlements of Zudigi and Fineli, situated on the way from Pazin to Karojba. Just a few kilometres off the paved road the view shoots out across an attractive hill country, just made for romantic strolls and a worry-free vacation.

Especially interesting in the area is an excursion grounds with a fireplace that is situated in the direct vicinity of a small lake and the Cize creek. Only a few families live in this wide expanse and they are true examples of what are known as mini villages where an exceptional natural harmony, silence and serenity surrounded by greenery rule.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

Recently the Umag company Istraturist completed construction of new attractive Istrian villas which have now become an integral part of the tourist settlement Stella Maris in the immediate vicinity of the town of Umag.

With an investment worth about 17 million Euros, the settlement Stella Maris has been transformed into an exceptionally comfortable holiday region – it is an area of about 80 thousand square metres which is dominated by a hundred year old pine forest surrounded by an attractive lagoon. There used to be accommodation facilities in this area earlier, however, now the settlement has been modernised – supplemented with the new luxury resort Istrian villas.

In the entire resort tourists have at their disposal a total of 180 accommodation units of four star category. Every villa has its own private garden which blends perfectly into the picture of an otherwise picturesque peninsula isolated from traffic, noise and activities of the rest of the settlement.

Aside from their own luxury villa, guests can also relax in the new Aqua Chill Out zone with a pool, sun tanning area and relaxation area.

The whole renovation of the entire area was approached with great care which also included the restaurant where primarily sea specialties and the flavours of Istrian traditional cuisine are offered.

Along with the newly restored beach, a beautiful walking path leads all the way to the historical centre of Umag.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

In September, on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, streets and squares of the old town of Buzet turn into a historic stage. All participants of this event wear original folk costumes, resembling townspeople from XIX/XX century. The sound of traditional Istrian music is accompanied by the irresistible sweet smell of delicacies that surely satisfy the palate of even the most demanding visitor.

Source: Croatian Natural Tourist Board

The City of Porec and the Tourist Association of the City of Porec invite all swimming and sea sports enthusiasts to a recreational swimming marathon, the central event of the „Porecki delfin“ Sea Swimming Festival.
The Sea Swimming Festival is being held 8th year in a row, and is the product of cooperation with Somogy County and the City of Siofok on the Balaton lake in Hungary. The City of Porec, as a tourist metropolis and a renowned recreational and sports centre of the Mediterranean, through this swimming festival reveals the city’s very nature as a town by the sea, where the sea is the source of life.

Source: poreckidelfin.com