Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula
Tour Dates May 15-21 June 12-18 September 11-17 October 9-15
Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights
Price: From $3895 (includes all breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners)
Single Supplement: $695 Begins: Venice, Italy Ends: Venice, Italy
Other Tours Along the Adriatic: Dalmatian Coast Cultural Walking pg 26. Dalmatian Coast Family Journey pg 42. Montenegro Cultural Walking pg 25.
A CULTURAL WALKING ADVENTURE Istria gives us goosebumps. It’s that giddy kind of rush you get when you find someplace so authentic that you can’t believe it’s you standing there.On this triangle of paradise that dips into the Adriatic just east of Venice, the scenery is so insanely perfect that you don’t want the walks to end.Think vineyards rolling into olive groves sweeping to the Adriatic. Can’t you see yourself, eating an apricot plucked from the orchard of a limestone farmhouse…chatting with a goat herder…sipping the Malvasia before another forkful of truffled gnocchi? Istria is every- thing we love: unspoiled countryside, seaside towns of near-Venetian beauty, a delightful mix of Croatian and Italian cultures.The Romans called it Terra Magica.Travel experts say it’s “like Tuscany 30 years ago.”We think Istria is just perfect…the rare kind of destination just about guaranteed to give you the unforgettable thrill of discovery.
ITINERARY
We meet in Venice (1 night). On foot and by water taxi, we’ll explore its treasures before dinner at our guide’s favorite restaurant.
A brief drive takes us through Slovenia to Croatia. After a coastal walk, friends treat us to an olive oil tasting at their mill. Rovinj (3 nights) is a gorgeous town on a teardrop of land. We approach it the best way—via footpath—before checking into our hotel overlooking the sea. Our friend Simona fortifies us with a cappuccino for a glorious stroll from Montizel (Monticello in Italian) past fig orchards, vineyards, and walled towns. We’ve also negotiated a visit to the Brijuni Islands, formerly the private retreat of Yugoslavia’s president. We’ll explore the Roman amphitheater at Pula and enjoy a tasting at a winery overlooking the Adriatic.
Zagreb A Venice Opatija Rovinj Pula Cres On our final day, we break bread at an Italian agriturismo before parting company in Venice. ADRIATIC SEA Split Dubrovnik I
En route to our seaside villa in Opatija (2 nights), we’ll have lunch in a charming village and take a dip in waters clear to depths of 40 feet. After a ferry ride to Cres Island, we’ll follow Roman footpaths to visit a friend’s sanctuary for endangered griffin vultures.
“Lost” in the Istrian Triangle
Istria is a perfect little 3-sided peninsula.
Vineyards, walled vil- lages, seaside resorts and rural footpaths fit together perfectly in this concise, simple-to- navigate province. It’s the ideal setting for immersion travel—a thoroughly authentic
region where it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world exists.
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For a detailed itinerary, go to
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ClassicJourneys.com/itineraries 27
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