Deep red soil and a heart-shaped coast define Istria. This peninsula is famous for the **Istria hilltop village loop**. Stone towns like **Motovun and Grožnjan** sit on top of the hills like crowns. They look out over forests where people hunt for expensive truffles. You can join a local guide and a trained dog to look for these treats in the damp earth. The view from the town walls covers the whole valley and the olive groves. The streets are narrow and made of stone and the houses are painted in warm colors. It is a very romantic place to explore. The roads are narrow and lined with rows of olive trees and vineyards. Visit the **Arena in Pula** to see a giant Roman stadium that is still used for concerts today. Gladiators once fought there for their lives. The coastal towns like **Rovinj** have bright houses and narrow streets that lead to the sea. The mix of Italian style and local soul is seen in every balcony and window. You can find small ports where the water is clear and the boats are painted in bright reds and blues. The seafood here is fresh from the morning catch. Visit **Hum** which is officially the smallest town in the world and try the local "biska" mistletoe brandy. For a nature escape drive to the **Cape Kamenjak** nature reserve to jump from white cliffs into the sea and visit the "Safari Bar." Explore the **Baredine Cave** near Poreč to see the human fish (Proteus anguinus) in its underground lake. Eat at a stancija (rural farm) for handmade fuži pasta with truffles and a glass of Malvazija wine. If you follow the **Mirna river valley** you will find the best artisanal olive oil mills in the country.

Istria highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Istria

Istria is a **stone heart** that has been fought over by the Romans, Venetians, and Austrians. The **Pula Arena** is the most complete Roman stadium in existence, once home to gladiators and now home to movie stars. Its unique underground tunnels, once used to move lions and prisoners, now house exhibitions about the ancient production of olive oil and wine. The coast is a line of colorful Venetian towns that look like they belong on a postcard from Italy. The interior is a world of **truffles** and giant legends. Motovun sits on a hill overlooking a forest where dogs hunt for white gold—the world’s most expensive truffles. The truffle industry here is a multi-million dollar business, with a secretive network of hunters who only work under the cover of night. Local stories say the city was built by a giant named **Veli Jože**, who still protects the hill. The village of Hum is the Smallest Town in the World, holding only twenty people and a thousand years of history. Istria is also home to the **Glagolitic Alley**, a path of stone monuments dedicated to the oldest Slavic alphabet. This seven-kilometer trail connects the towns of Roč and Hum, telling the story of the medieval monks who preserved the Slavic language through calligraphy. The roads here wind through olive groves that produce the world’s best oil and vineyards that make the famous **Malvasia** wine. It is the most European feeling road trip in Croatia, blending mountain fog with sea sun.

Istria

Istria highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Istria

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