The Towns of Croatia’s Istrian Interior

The hilltop town of Motovun.

Croatia’s Istrian peninsula has a number of small towns with unique sightseeing opportunities.  Traveling through Istria by car is easy and the towns are within short driving distance of each other, meaning a number of Istria’s towns can be visited in a single day.  Here are some highlights from our road trip through Croatia’s Istrian interior. 

Rovinj, Istria’s Tasty Jewel of the Adriatic Sea

Rovinj

Istria is Croatia’s northwestern peninsula, and the coastal region and cities of Istria were once part of the Venetian Republic.  The Venetian influence in Istria is very apparent, especially in colorful coastal towns like Rovinj.  Istria is also the foodie and wine capital of Croatia.  Properly exploring Istria takes a few days, and Rovinj, one of the most beautiful coastal towns I have seen outside of Italy, is the perfect base for exploring the Istrian peninsula.

The Other Colosseum – Croatia’s Pula Arena, Roman Ruins and the Saints of Vodnjan

Pula's Roman ruins include the magnificent Pula arena.

Did you know the Colosseum in Rome is not the only colosseum?  There are actually dozens of Roman amphitheaters in the world, one of which is the Pula arena in Croatia. Pula is situated on the southern tip of Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, only a 45-minute drive from Rovinj.  If spending any time in Istria, I recommend including a day trip to Pula’s Roman ruins in your Croatia travel plans with a side trip to nearby Vodnjan where a number of famous saints are interred.

Pula is Istria’s largest city and a working port.  But Pula is also home to a number of Roman ruins, some of the best in Europe, including the Pula arena, the Temple of Augustus in the Forum, the Arch of Sergius, and a preserved Roman floor mosaic.  While Pula is large, its old town and tourist sites are easy to navigate on foot, with all being located along a loop that starts and ends at the Pula arena.