Terra Istriana

6 days

Rovinj, Poreč, Pula and Brijuni, Motovun and Grožnjan, with the Lipizzaner stud farm and Postojna Cave.

Six days in Istria: Rovinj and Poreč, Pula and the Brijuni islands, Opatija, the hill towns of Motovun and Grožnjan, and on the way home the Lipizzaner stud farm and Postojna Cave.

Day by day

01
Arrival day
Travel to Istria, to Rovinj. Welcome drink, check in at the hotel and buffet dinner.
02
Rovinj- Porec
Today we begin with a walk and a guided tour of Rovinj, romantically set on a peninsula not far from the hotel and inviting us in with its galleries and cafés.
After some free time we take a boat to the nearby Lim fjord (about 1.5 hrs), where we board the coach that drives us to the winemaker Matosevic to taste the wines of this region. In the afternoon we drive to Porec for a guided tour, with admission to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Basilica of St Euphrasius, and after some free time to explore on our own we return to our hotel.
03
Pula- NP Brijuni
After breakfast we drive to Pula, the former trading and naval port of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. On the city tour we admire the Arena and the Temple of Augustus and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we visit NP Brijuni, better known as Tito’s island, where he hosted most of the politicians and celebrities of his day (Indira Ghandi, Richard Burton, Elisabeth Taylor, Nikita Hruscov, Queen Elisabeth II, Che Gevuar... to name just a few). Return to the hotel and dinner.
04
Opatija
After breakfast we drive to Opatija, which was already a sought after holiday resort of the nobility in the days of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, as countless villas and hotels still testify today. Not without reason is Opatija also called the San Remo of Croatia. A stroll through Park Angelina, along the promenade and a coffee afterwards in one of the innumerable cafés round off the day. Return to the hotel and dinner.
05
Motovun & Groznjan
Enchanting Istria, with its artists’ towns on the hills of the hinterland, known for truffles and wholesome wine, spoils us today. We visit the picturesque little town of Motovun and then the artists’ village of Groznjan, after which we call on the well known Istrian winemaker Kozlovic and hear the story of his vineyards. Return to the hotel and dinner.
06
Lipizzaner stud farm and Postojna Cave
Today invites us to visit the Lipizzaner stud farm in Lipice in Slovenia, home of the white Lipizzaners of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. In the afternoon we visit Postojna Cave (UNESCO World heritage) and marvel at the underground world of the karst on a train ride and a walk through this imposing cave. Return to the hotel and dinner.
Day 7.
Homeward journey
After breakfast, departure towards home.