DESTINATIONS — CROATIA & THE BALKANS
Medulin
farther up the western side to Novigrad, which resembles a smaller version of Rovinj, and Umag, which also has a Venetian-style bell tower soaring over its old town. Just before the peninsula reaches Italy, the small fishing village of Savudrija tempts guests with its simple waterside restaurants serving freshly caught fish. In contrast, Istria’s eastern coast is quieter, wilder and more rugged. One of its loveliest resorts, Rabac, clings to the forested hillside before tumbling towards the harbour and the clear Adriatic.
concrete platforms over rocks to make them easier and safer for swimming. Sandy beaches are rare, but there are some in Medulin on the southernmost tip of the peninsula as well as Valalta in Rovinj and Koversada in Vrsar just north of Rovinj. Holidaymakers in search of more intimate resorts can head
Head inland, and Istria reveals another side to its beauty. Take the twisting road up to Motovun, whose mix of Venetian and Gothic architecture makes it one of the most exquisite of the peninsula’s hilltop towns. A walk around the town’s
fortifications reveals sublime views of the Istrian countryside and the forests that hide the region’s highly prized truffles. Every summer, its streets and squares become outdoor cinemas during the Motovun Film Festival, one of the
highlights of Croatia’s calendar. Near Motovun are several other hill towns and villages that can easily be explored for visitors with their own transport. A stroll on the cobbled streets of Groznjan’s medieval centre reveals a vibrant artists’ colony, while a visit to Buje’s Venetian old town comes with some of the most breathtaking views in Istria. Sniff out the truffles in hilltop Buzet, nicknamed Truffle City for good reason, where the pungent tuber appears on many restaurant menus.
Rovinj
28 May 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 45
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