Welcome to Istria, central Europe’s closest Mediterranean. This miniature heart-shaped world and the largest peninsula of the Adriatic Sea lies on the 45th parallel emphasizing its idyllic geographical position with perfectly arranged seasons - lush greenery springs, colorful autumns, pleasant summers and mild winters ...

  Istria, with a mix of dreamy destinations it is impossible to describe Istria in just one sentence. Comparisons are inevitably drawn between Istria and Tuscany and, as recently as 1945, Istria was ruled by Italian masters - as a result, many Istrians speak the language fluently.

  Yet Italy is just one part of the historical fabric here, and few places in Europe can boast such a wide range of influences within such a small region.Traces of Roman architecture rub shoulders with the Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque.

  Slavs,Venetians, ancient Greeks and the Austro-Hungarians have all left their imprint in the fertile soil. The Venetians maintained a presence on the coast for the best part of 500 years and homes here are painted in elegant time-worn shades of ochre, umber and terracotta.

   Rovinj is an immensely picturesque and atmospheric scramble of Venetian stone houses, narrow stone-flagged alleyways and hidden courtyards, all perched on an egg-shaped peninsula.

  Myth maintains that the Argonauts founded Pula on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula at the end of their voyage, but the Roman influence is certain with the town boasting well-preserved walls, arches, mosaics and an almost intact amphitheatre. The green interior boasts a handful of delightful, medieval hilltop towns.