The hilltop town of Završje, Istria.

©Daniel Alford/Lonely Planet

Central & Eastern Istria

Head inland from the Istrian coast and you’ll notice that crowds dissipate, hotel complexes disappear and what emerges is an unspoilt countryside of medieval hilltop towns, pine forests, fertile valleys and vineyard-dotted hills. The pace slows down considerably, defined less by the needs of tourists and more by the demands of harvesting grapes, hunting for truffles, picking wild asparagus and cultivating olive groves. Farmhouses open their doors to visitors looking for authentic holiday experiences, remote rustic taverns serve up slow-food delights and Croatia’s top winemakers provide tastings in their cellars. Hilltop villages that once seemed doomed to ruin are attracting colonies of artists and artisans as well as well-heeled foreigners. While many compare the region to Tuscany (and the Italian influence can’t be denied), it’s a world all of its own.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Medieval Castle Pazin in Istria, Croatia; Shutterstock ID 1026890800; Your name (First / Last): Anna Tyler; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: destination-image-southern-europe

    Castle

    Central & Eastern Istria

    Looming over the chasm, Pazin’s castle is the largest and best-preserved medieval structure in all of Istria. First mentioned in AD 983, the castle has…

  • Pazin Chasm

    Pazin Chasm

    Central & Eastern Istria

    Pazin’s most renowned site is undoubtedly this 100m-deep abyss, through which the Pazinčica River sinks into subterranean passages forming three…

  • Geržinić

    Geržinić

    Central & Eastern Istria

    This award-winning winery in the hamlet of Ohnići, 14km northeast of Poreč, has been in the same family for a century. It cultivates 10 hectares of…

  • Morosini-Grimani Castle

    Morosini-Grimani Castle

    Central & Eastern Istria

    The northern part of the main square is occupied by this beautiful 13th-century fortified palace. Its present appearance, including its towers, are a…

  • Labin Public Museum

    Labin Public Museum

    Central & Eastern Istria

    The ground floor of this museum, housed in the baroque 18th-century Battiala-Lazzarini Palace, is devoted to archaeological finds. Upstairs is a…

  • Town Walls

    Town Walls

    Motovun

    It only takes about 10 minutes to circle Motovun's ramparts and you can get similar views of the surrounding countryside for free, just by walking around…

  • Kozlović

    Kozlović

    Central & Eastern Istria

    The setting, down in a verdant valley by a bubbling river, and the striking architecture of its tasting room make this Istria's most impressive winery to…

  • Kotli

    Kotli

    Central & Eastern Istria

    Don't miss this almost-abandoned village, 2.5km off the road to Roč. It's set on a stream which all but dries up in summer, but at other times bubbles…

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Articles

Latest stories from Central & Eastern Istria

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An aerial view of Pula's remarkably intact Roman Amphitheatre, beside the sea.

Beaches

Five reasons to love Istria, Croatia’s heart-shaped peninsula

Apr 25, 2019 • 6 min read

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Go Beyond

Central & Eastern Istria and beyond

Beyond Central & Eastern Istria
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