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Lighthouse in Savudrija
The oldest lighthouse on the Adriatic Coast built in 1818, 36 m high with the light visible from the distance of 32 kilometres. The construction of the lighthouse is connected with a love story of Count Metternich, who although married, fell in love with a local girl and had the lighthouse built to her honour. The girl unfortunately died of pneumonia just a few days before the construction of the lighthouse was completed.
Sipar Promontory
Between Savudrija and Umag (more precisely between the settlement of Zambratija and the Katoro promontory) during low tides a small 200 m long and 50 m wide promontory and a pile of stones rise from the sea: These are the only remains of the ancient Castle of Sipar from the 5th century. The town of Siparis existed here during the Roman era, a proof of this being the foundations of villas and houses, mosaics, marble, ceramic, urns and coins found in this location, all dating from the era of Constantine and Valerius. Sipar was totally plundered and destroyed in 876 by the Neretvian pirates led by the Ban Domagoj and never regained its previous significance.
Villa Tiola
The Katoro promontory is the site of a large Roman villa, discovered in 1875. This luxury villa had its own Roman spa, water cistern, huge dwelling quarters lavishly decorated with mosaics on the floor and frescos on the walls. The remains of a pier measuring 30 metres in length and 6 metres wide are located in the sea near the villa, while the remains of an enormous construction can also be recognized, most likely a pool of another Roman villa. A real paradise for divers!
Old town of Umag
Due to Umag’s stormy history the buildings from the Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages were completely destroyed. The present historical core has inherited the urban structure of the Middle Ages. There are numerous reminders of that era: wall remains, Venetian villas and above all, picturesque narrow streets. The one that is best preserved is also the oldest one – the west tower now housing the Museum of Umag, keeper of a valuable collection of archaeological artefacts found on the site of the town of Umag.
Church of St. Peregrine
Not far from Umag, on the Rosazzo promontory there is a small, very old Church of St. Peregrine. It was built by the inhabitants of Umag to mark the spot where, during the Diocletian era, this saint endured and suffered his martyrdom, and was killed on 23rd May 303. The existence of this small church was first mentioned in 1106.
Motovun walls
The walls surrounding the small medieval hilltop town of Motovun present an invaluable cultural and historical heritage of Istria. The very well preserved old town core is surrounded by impressive defence walls. The main square, with three side streets meeting there, is dominated by the Parish Church of St. Stephen with valuable church inventory. Below the main square there is a town water cistern.
Cave of Pazin
In the very heart of Istria there is a Karst phenomenon the cave of Pazin, where the stream of Pazinčica ends its flow above the ground, continuing underground southwards. World known for centuries, it even inspired Jules Verne to write some of his famous novels.
Hum – the smallest town in the world
According to the Guinness Book of Records, with its 23 inhabitants, Hum is the smallest town in the world. It is situated in the central part of Istria and famous for the Alley of the Glagolitic priests – a unique memorial to the old Croatian Glagolitic script stretching between the settlements of Roč and Hum.
Baredine Cave
The Baredine Cave is presently the only geo-morphological monument of nature in Istria that can be visited by tourists. This 132 m deep cave with 5 chambers and siphon lake is rich in stalactites and stalagmites of unusual forms. The underground animal world with the proteus anguinus or “human fish” and miniature transparent crayfish and insects is just as interesting.
Lim Channel
The protected landscape and a special maritime reserve made as a result of flooding of limestone Karst of the canyon-valley. It is a geo-morphological phenomenon with overgrown canyon cliffs rising up to 150 m above sea level. With its narrow, 11 km long inlet it represents one of the most beautiful landscapes in Istria. In the area of the Lim Channel there is an interesting Palaeolithic site and speleological object - Romualdo's Cave, with cave decorations.
Dvigrad
The remains of the medieval Dvigrad are situated on the hill in the immediate vicinity of the Lim Channel. The town is rather preserved because it was not destroyed during the wars that devastated Istria but simply abandoned by its inhabitants. The town gates still exist as well as two circles of town walls, some of the defence towers and the most part of the 200 houses.
Bale - site of dinosaur remains
In 1992 dinosaur bones were found off the coast of Bale, the first and only discovery of dinosaur remains in the entire Mediterranean region. The discovered bones speak of the existence of at least ten types of dinosaurs. Some of the findings are exhibited in the town hall of Bale.
Arena in Pula
The Arena in Pula, the Roman amphitheatre is located in the centre of Pula. It was built in 1st century BC and took its present form in 1st century when it could seat about 20,000 spectators. It served for gladiator fights that took place in it until 5th century.
Euphrasian Basilica – part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
In the town of Poreč, near Umag, there is one of the most beautiful early Byzantine churches in Europe called Euphrasian Basilica after the bishop of Poreč who had this marvellous three-nave church built over the site of an older church. Of special interest are the impressive mosaics over the apse of precious stones and mother-of-pearl.
Brijuni Islands - national park
The Brijuni National Park attracts visitors with its natural beauties, well indented coast, rich flora and fauna, significant geological-paleontological and archaeological sites and interesting exhibitions. The Cretaceous Park with fossilized dinosaur footprints, Byzantine castrum and the remains of Roman villas, archaeological and natural-science collection, the exhibition “Josip Broz Tito on Brijuni”, the Mausoleum of Kupelwieser family are only some of the sights you should not miss. And while walking along the islands you will be accompanied by numerous tame bird species, deer, mouflons and other big game. The island can be reached by boat, sailing daily from the nearby fishermen village of Fažana.
Nature Park Učka
In only a few hours numerous mountain paths will take you from the picturesque architecture of Mediterranean coastal towns through wooded slopes of Učka mountain to its highest peak Vojak at 1401 m offering breathtaking 360° panoramic view over the Istrian peninsula, north Adriatic islands, Gorski Kotar mountains, Venice, Italian Alps...
Parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Peregrine
Along with the main altar with a portrait of the assumption of the Virgin Mary with marble statues of the patron saints St. Peregrine and St. Nicefor, there are six minor baroque altars on the side walls of the church. Especially interesting is the wooden Venetian triptych dating from the 15th century, which stood above the altar of the old church. The 40 m high bell-tower from the 15th century built in the Venetian style was restored in 1691.
