Croatia: Istria Av Thammy Evans, Rudolf Abraham

Written by two Croatia experts, this new,thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's Croatia: Istria, with Rijeka andthe Slovenian Adriatic remains the only full-length guide to this well-heeled,varied part of former Yugoslavia to include detailed background and practicalinformation. Catering for all types of travellers (from outdoors enthusiasts toculture vultures, foodies to oenophiles) and budgets, the guide offers revisedlistings for accommodation, restaurants, and what to see and do. Istria crams remarkable diversity in aconveniently compact region: it takes under an hour to drive almost anywhere onthe peninsula.The region boasts some of Croatia's most famous sites, includingPula's spectacular Roman amphitheatre, Porec's UNESCO-listed Byzantine mosaics(every bit as good as Italy's Ravenna and Istanbul's Aya Sofya), picturesquemedieval hill towns (such as Motovun and Draguc) and frescoes, and the BrijuniIslands National Park. In 2020, the transport hub and carnival city of Rijeka inthe Kvarner region became Croatia's first ever European Capital of Culture. Istria is renowned for its cuisine, particularlypasta, game, seafood and truffles (until recently Istria held the world recordfor the world's largest truffle), and also produces fine wine and world-classolive oil.There is plenty of pampering on offer, too, with luxury and boutiquehotels, excellent restaurants and inexpensive spa treatments. Istria makes agreat base to explore nearby Capodistria on Slovenia's coast, and karstlimestone areas with beautiful and uncrowded coastal towns, castles, Lipizzanerhorses and the UNESCO-listed Skocjan cave. New or expanded coverage in this edition includeadvice and information on the Vivapa Valley, Slovenian wines, recently openedhotels, travelling to Istria by rail, and vegetarian or vegan restaurants.Withextensive sections on trekking, cycling (including the Parenzana long-distancecycling route) and diving, plus information on windsurfing, paragliding, wreckdiving (including sites such as the Coriolanus and the Baron Gautsch) andsailing, and detail on wildlife (30 species of orchid grow on Cape Kemenjakalone), numerous festivals (including celebrations of film, fish, truffles andprosciutto), music, travelling with children and ancient history, this Bradtguide provides everything you need to plan and enjoy a visit.