Croatia; The luxury villa destination?

Croatia is a beautiful mediterranean jewel that remains largely undiscovered. Why not discover and uncover the secrets?



With Ryanair and Easyjet flying in to the country, flights to your holiday home in the sun are cheaper than ever. This makes Croatia an excellent investment prospect with homes still reasonably priced despite recent increases in values. The main tourist area in the country is the northern district of Istria. Here you will find a multitude of destinations providing a range of holidays experiences.


Umag
The coastal town of Umag and its riviera (which is about 20km long) is very popular. The old town in Umag has attractive and narrow, cobbled streets. The coast is full of pretty little bays. Umag is also well known for its marina and the international tennis centre which hosts the Croatian Open every July.


Pula
Close by you will find the area capital Pula. The most famous landmark here is the amphitheatre. Built during the 1st century AD, the three-story amphitheatre is the sixth largest in the world. It hosts the Pula Opera Festival in the summer and is also used for other events during the year. Other sights include the Triumphal arch of the Sergii, the Temple of Augustus, the Cathedral and the Franciscan Church and Monastery. Amongest the Most notable performers here are Pavarotti and Sting. The amphitheatre stills holds 25,000 for events and is truely a fantastic venue to attend.



Just outside the centre of Pula is the Verundella area - it has a beautiful marina, lots of yachts, pine forests and an aquarium. The aquarium is at the bottom of a 120 year old Austrian Hungarian fortress and takes up five large rooms. There are big seawater tanks with Adriatic flora and fauna and some big open tanks with dogfish, sea urchins, crabs and starfish. It costs the equivalent of £2.50 to get in. The aquarium is OK, but being inside the old fortress is great - dark, gloomy, cold with really thick impenetrable walls. Go down the long tunnel which seems like you are going underground but it leads to a charming cafe and outdoor seating area where we had some delicious ice cream. The aquarium opens daily 9:00 - 10:00 and the website is http://www.aquariumpula.istra.hr./


Porec
This is the most popular holiday resort in Istria and has frequently been proclaimed the top resort in Croatia by the Croatian National Tourist Office. A visit to the old town (Porec is 2,000 years old) is a must, due to its numerous historical sites, particularly the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica which is wonderfully preserved and is well known for its beautiful gold mosaics. The entry to the church is free, although a small donation is much appreciated.
The main tourist areas are two bays south of the town, called Zelena (Green) and Plava (Blue) Laguna (lagoon). They are almost like small towns, with several hotels in each, as well as camping, marina, shopping and entertainment areas. Most visitors stay in one of the two.


Rovinj
This is a charmingly picturesque town with yet more narrow, cobbled streets. It is famous for its St. Euphemia Cathedral with the highest church tower in Istria, at 60 metres high. Rovinj was originally an island, but 250 years ago the narrow channel, which separated it from the mainland, was filled in. It is one of our favourite destinations on the Croatian Adriatic, particularly as it is very lively with numerous cafes and restaurants, galleries and an active fishing port, so in the morning you can watch the fishermen come in as you have your breakfast.

For places to see, definitely go to the cathedral of St. Euphemia (built in 1736) which is the largest Baroque building in Istria, the town's museum and Rovinj Aquarium.


With just this short guide to the Istrian region of Croatia it can be seen the different areas provide a range of differnet experiences to be had. The Country has had a difficult past and many 'saesoned' travellers know this. This can cause an unfair appraisal for what is a beautiful and very cultured destination. Here you can have the delights of Italy with the value of much cheaper destinations. From watching magnificent operas in the Amphitheatre, soaking up rural retreats, enjoying exploring the many islands and bays to enjoying the atmosphere in the more tourist areas Croatia really can fill your holiday time with many varied activites. Accommodation in this part of the world leaves nothing to be desired. From camp sites for those on a budget to luxury private villas the standard rivals any Mediterranean country. Many private properties come with the availability of exclusive and unique trips and added extras. From private chefs to guides to spa treatments these little touches provide that difference to satisfy the most discerning traveller. Croatia is back on the map of destinations. Why not take a look? You can only experience it's beauty.