Poreč, Istria - Top sights and holiday destinations

At the same time, the small towns which surround Poreč, dotting the heavily indented coastline, are picture-perfect sites for a holiday spent in the peace and quiet of the quintessential Mediterranean. The town of Funtana was once called Fontane di Pace, or the Springs of Peace. Any visitor can bear witness to the name being well-deserved. Almost within walking distance, the hilltop settlement of Stari Červar offers spectacular views of blue sea framed by vineyards and groves of olive, oak and pine. In the nearby coastal town of Kukci, summer visitors learn all the secrets of sailing at the hands of an experienced sea-captain. The larger town of Vrsar, to the south of Poreč, is, aside from the conventional tourist attractions, home to the naturist camp Koversada, the largest such establishment in Europe, and reputed to be the oldest. The town was twice visited by the famed adventurer Casanova, and stages a “festival of love” named after him at the end of June.

But the hub and axis of the Poreč riviera is the eponymous town. Its population increases tenfold in the summer, when visitors flock to the Euphrasian Basilica (a UNESCO world heritage site), to admire its superb Byzantine mosaics and architecture. The ancient Roman Marafor square and the adjacent Temple of Neptune bring the past back to vivid life. Together with the Pentagonal and the Round tower, they are Poreč landmarks not to be missed. The numerous summer events, ranging from jazz festivals to auto racing, are sure to keep you brethless and entertained – when you can spare the time for them from the sun and the sea.

Away from the watery expanse, some of the most opulent sections of Green Istria (meaning its gorgeous hinterland) are waiting for you in the Poreč Riviera. Deep under the sky bluer than the sea, the subterranean cavernous magic of Baredine and Mark's Caves are only the most famous among them. No matter if you prefer guided tours or solitary strolls off the beaten path, the wonders of the Poreč Riviera cannot fail to touch your heart, as they have already done to so many.