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The Coast
ISTRIA REGION: Istria is the largest peninsula on the Croatian coast and, partly because of its easy transport links with nearby Italy and Austria, has also become one of the country's major tourist centres. The ancient city of Pula dates from the 5th century BC, and its Roman amphitheatre is still in use. Pula's coastline stretches for some 190km (119 miles) and has long been a popular destination for beach holidays. Pula is also a good starting point for excursions to the nearby Brijuni National Park (see also the National Parks section). On the cultural front, Pula has a number of interesting Roman buildings and the city also hosts Croatia's annual film festival.
More Roman traces can be seen on Porec, Istria's second major tourist resort, which is also home to a UNESCO-World-Heritage-listed complex of sacral buildings, with the Euphrasius Basilica as its centrepiece. The city centre of Rovinj, another major regional resort, is situated on a small island that was once connected to the mainland. Scattered along the Rovinj coast are 22 further small islands, forming a protected natural area. Other well known resorts in the Istria region include Umag and Vrsar, an old fishing town.
SPLIT REGION: The city of Split was founded in the 4th century AD by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The enormous palace he built and the walled town now form part of the old quarter. Concerts, opera and dance all take place there. Split and the surrounding area are known for their mild Mediterranean climate and pleasant subtropical vegetation. The Split Summer Festival is held annually from mid-July to mid-August, with a variety of concerts, ballet, traditional folk celebrations and other cultural events taking place. The nearby town of Trogir, which was founded by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC, has a UNESCO-listed medieval centre.
Other resorts in the surrounding area are the island of Brac, the largest of the Dalmatian islands and the third largest in Croatia, renowned for its magnificent beach at Bol; Makarska, which is a good starting point for excursions throughout the region; Korcula, a fairly large island renowned for its traces of ancient Roman, Greek and Illyrian architecture; Hvar, Croatia's longest island with excellent beaches and quiet bays; and Vis, a remote island with 13 inhabited settlements.
KVARNER REGION: The economic and administrative centre of this popular and busy island region is Rijeka, Croatia's largest port, which also hosts the Rijeka Summer Festival, when a range of cultural events take place in the city's museums, art galleries and theatres. Also of interest is Rijeka's Franciscan Trsat Monastery and the St Vitus Cathedral. The main touristic centres of the Kvarner region are Opatija, Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski (sometimes referred to as the 'three rivieras'), all of which have sandy beaches complemented by good accommodation and recreational facilities. Opatija, Croatia's oldest tourist resort, was popular with the Austro-Hungarian nobility and some of its former elegance remains.
Of the many islands scattered throughout Kvarner Bay, Krk is the most developed as well as the largest, with extensive tourist facilities, clean beaches and a number of museums. Many other islands lie within easy reach (with boat excursions provided by hotels and private companies). The best known are Rab, a popular tourist destination hailed for its sunny climate; Cres, which contains the Vransko Lake and is popular with nature lovers; and Lo?inj, which has pine woods and numerous bays with beaches.
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