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5 things I love about Istria

Istria is a small magnificent world for itself. Although the list of reasons to love Istria is endless, this time we show only some of them. Let’s start.

#1 Lots of tiny hilltop villages

Inland Istria is peppered with fairytale-esque tiny villages perched on hilltops guarded by thick stone walls. To get to them, you have to drive at a near-vertical angle to reach the summit but in the end, the view of rolling hills and valleys, sprawling vineyards, and patches of the forest below is always worth it.

Motovun, Croatia

#2 Istrians put truffles in EVERYTHING

Pasta. Cheese. Bread. Risotto. Eggs. Steak. Rakija. It’s on everything in very generous amounts. Not only will they cook a dish with truffles, but they’ll also shave more on top before it’s delivered to the table. If you don’t like truffles, Istria ain’t for you.

[Read: Rakija, Croatia’s legendary liqueur]

Istrian Truffle Omelette

#3 The colors

Many of the towns in Istria, especially the ones that line the coast like Pula, Rovinj, Novigrad, and Opatija, are candy-colored. Their unique architecture is painted in bright yellows, rich blues, warm reds, and every other color in the easter egg spectrum.

Pula, Croatia

#4 Wine, ahem

Istria is full of vineyards. Its primary varietals are malvazija, a crisp white wine, and teran, an acidic red, both of which easily balance out the rich pastas and risottos found in Istria.

[Read: Croatian wine cheat sheet]

Istria Tomaz Winery

#5 It’s 20 minutes from Italy

Once you leave the Croatian border, it only takes 20 minutes to cross Slovenia’s meager sliver of coastline and reach Italy. Trieste, to be exact, which is a bustling seaside city of 500,000. During all my trips to Istria, I can’t resist a day trip to Trieste for lunch.

Trieste, Italy

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Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

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