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Destinations

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Croatia, Istria & Pula

Before your arrival, you can check the key information about our destinations. Welcome!  

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Croatia

Situated in Southern Central Europe, a roughly horseshoe shaped country with a coastline 5.835 km of which 4.058 km is a coastline of islands, solitary rocks and reefs.

No less than 1.185 islands lie offshore, but only 50 of them are inhabited. Croatia’s stunning coastline is on the Adriatic Sea, arguably one of the cleanest seas in the Mediterranean and wonderfully warm.

Croatia is indeed unique with a thousand years of different cultures that have replaced each other and sometimes assimilated in these areas.

The east coast of the Adriatic Sea was inhabited as early as the beginning of the early Stone Age, and there is proof that most of the accessible islands were also inhabited (archaeological findings in caves near the islands of Hvar and Palagruza, etc.)

Archaeological discoveries prove that in the 6th century BC the ancient Greeks had commerce with the Illyrians by means of the sea, and that they founded their colonies there (for example Pharos, today's Starigrad, on the islands of Hvar and Issa - or Vis).

Later on, the Romans arrived, and they not only built palaces and summer residences but they also spent a considerable amount of time on the sea, and there are many underwater discoveries, mainly amphorae, located between Pula and Cavtat which show this to be true.

A new era dawned with the arrival of the Slavs in the fifth century, a period characterized by constant struggle for supremacy and by defence against diverse enemies. Dubrovnik, eminent in its position as a republic, played a leading role in culture and trade especially with Venice.

In the 18th century, Napoleon ruled for a short period of time, after which he was replaced by the Austrian monarchy. During the next hundred years, Italy and Austria fought each other for supremacy of the east coast, culminating in the battle of Vis in 1866.

Testimony to those glorious times can be found not only on the mainland, but also under the sea in the shape of shipwrecks and remains of the detritus of great ships. The period of Austro - Hungarian rule commenced thereafter. Ports were built and fortified, trade and shipbuilding flourished.

During the two World Wars, the Adriatic was one of the more important areas of battle, and there are many shipwrecks dating from those periods. Near Pula, for example, which at the time was a strategically vital naval harbour, twenty shipwrecks have been located, including a number of submarines, destroyers, and torpedo-boats.

The Adriatic Sea has always been an important maritime route between East and West, which can still be seen today because of the numerous relics, which remind us that the past should never be forgotten, but rather used as a lesson for the future.

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Istria

Istria is the biggest Croatian peninsula situated on the north-west part of the country. The territory is spread over 3000 km2 and with almost 2000 km of roads.

Coming on one of south-European peninsulas named Istria your conception and understanding of ancient populations and cultures will change: all European civilisations left their trace, knowledge and legacies.

It is a place where the royalty enjoyed, dispensing hospitality, where the emperors relaxed, where artists created, where pirates were hidden and where people worked and share. Green rolling hills separated by river valleys shrouded in densely wooded glades of oak, fertile plains of rich russet red earth supporting vines and olive groves, fortified Venetian towns, impregnable medieval hilltop towns largely undiscovered by the tourist hordes - it is difficult to encapsulate Istria in just one sentence.

Comparisons are inevitably drawn with Tuscany and, as recently as 1945, Istria was ruled by Italian masters; as a result many Istrians speak the language fluently. The names of towns and streets are often in two languages; Rovinj becomes Rovigno in Italian and Poreč is Parenzo. Yet Italy is just one part of the historical fabric here. Traces of Roman architecture rub shoulders with the Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque. Slavs, Venetians, ancient Greeks and the dual monarchy of Austro-Hungary have all left their imprint in the fertile soil. Few places in Europe can boast such a wide range of influences within such a small region.

Notwithstanding its almost unbroken border of water and stone, however, historically Istria has never been an isolated territory. In Istria borders were always considered something to overcome or to cross, not something that definitively separated: worlds on both sides of the border should integrate, thereby enriching each other.

Identity card of Istria:

Location
The westernmost County of the Republic of Croatia, the largest peninsula of the Adriatic

Area: 2.820 km2 

Population: 200.000, predominantly catholics

Costal lenght
445,1 km (well-indented coast is twice as long as the road one) The western coast of Istria is 242,5 km long, with islands 327,5 km (178,1 M). The eastern coast of Istria is 202,6 km long, with the pertaining islets 212,4 km (114,5 M)

Clima: 
Mild, Mediterranean climate (warm and dry summers, mild and pleasant winters) Average amount of sunshine: 2.388 hours. Owing to the day's length and plenty of clear days throughout the summer it has the longest isolation with a daily average of 10 hours in Istrian seaside resorts. Characteristic winds are "bura" (wind blowing from the north to the south, bringing clear weather), "jugo" (south, warm wind bringing rain) and "maestral" (summer breeze blowing from the land to the sea)

Vegetation: Istria is the largest green oasis of the North Adriatic. The coast and the islands are covered with pine woods and easily recognizable green macchia. The main specimens of macchia are Holm oak and strawberry trees. 35% Istria is covered with forests

Rivers: Mirna, Dragonja and Rasa

Sea: the lowest sea temperature is in March ranging from 9.3 C up to 11.1 C and being the highest in August when it reaches 23.3 C and 24.1 C; salinity amounts approximately to 36 - 38 pro mille

Administrative centre: Pazin, 9 000 inhabitants

Economic centre: Pula, 72 000 inhabitants

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Pula

Pula, the biggest town, is situated on the south-western part of the Istrian peninsula. The Romans built the city as a copy of Rome

History of Pula began approximately 3000 years ago when on a hill where it is today Castle created the first settlement, Fort Histrians. From then until now Pula, to be exchanged by many rulers. Through most of its history, Pula is experiencing a number of peaks and lows, which lasted until the mid 20th century when it began an uninterrupted continuous development. 

On seven hills, with the amphitheatre Arena which hosted gladiatorial contests in front of an audience of 20.000 spectators.

  • The little Roman Theatre

  • The Forum with the temple of August erected in 2BC.

  • The remaining of the temple of Diane nowadays incorporated into the city hall -the Triumphant Arch of the Sergi erected in 2 BC.

  • The Twin gates The Gate of Hercules with the city walls.

There are many other cultural monuments preserved:

  • The church of St. Marie Formosa

  • The Mausoleum

  • The Cathedral

  • Venetian palaces

  • a French fortification in the centre and many Austro-Hungarian near the coast

The Archaeological Museum exhibits history to the middle ages.

Natural beauties:

National park Brijuni islands – an archipelago comprising 14 islands and islets along the south-west coast of Istria, also known as Tito’s islands. Natural park Rt Kamenjak - the southernmost peninsula of Istria wild and unattached, long "finger" jutting into the Adriatic and surrounded by a number of islets.

Explore beautiful Istria

Explore our region, the old history of the town Pula and sorroundings. Welcome to the beauties of the adriatic sea, the mediterranean hawaii !

Villa Pula bay is located in Pula, at 2 km from the centre.

The sea is 150m away and the nearest beaches, Valbandon and Puntižela are 3 km away.

 

The beaches are mostly rocky and pebble but there is also a small sandy beach and beautiful numerous bays.

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Samagher 17, 52100 Pula, Croatia / ivaivaslivarATgmail.com

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0038598690927

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