Istria - The land of truffles

Istria - Terra Magica

Searching for a restaurant serving a good truffle dish can be quite a challenge, but now when you're in Istria. Istria is a "V" shaped peninsula situated in most western part of Croatia,  stretching from Opatija (Kvarner region) on the east to Slovenia on the west and north. Istria has a mild Mediterranean climate, with warm and dry summers and mild and pleasant winters while sunshine amounts to 2.388 sunny hours on the average yearly. 

White truffle - pinnacle of gastronomic offering
Chefs around the globe agree with one statement - truffle is the pinnacle of gastronomic offering. It is a very mysterious tuber, hidden underneath the ground. I find it amazing how no human or technology can detect the truffle, but only a well trained dog. Truffles in Istria are located in the Motovun forest, in the central part of Istria where soil is well-hydrated by the nearby river Mirna. Scenery when driving through this valley is phenomenal. No wander why they call Istria - Croatian Tuscany!

Motovun forest and Mirna river

Motovun

Truffles are very affordable in Istria

Like every American town has a McDonalds, every Istrian town has a place that servers truffles. Althought price for a kilo (0.5 lb)  of white truffle can reach up to $10.000, truffle dish prices at local restaurants are very affordable prices. For example a plate of pasta with black or white truffles can cost anywhere from 50 to 200 kuna ($10 - 30$). Don't be fooled by the prices. From my own experience, truffle dish that costs more are not necessarily of better quality. 


Where to try truffles?
Giancarlo Zigante, who owns a restaurant Zigante in town of Livade in Motovun forest, and his dog Diana found one of the largest truffles in the world near Buje. The truffle weighed 1.31 kilograms (2 lb 14 oz) and has entered the Guinness Book of Records. Zigante is an upscale restaurant, but if you are looking for a more affordable place check out konoba Kazeta that offerent excellent white truffles and other traditional Istrian specialties. 


Where to sleep in Istria?
If you want to stay in the vicinity of Motovun forest check out small boutique hotel Kastel located on the hilltop town Motovun, from where view stretches across the Mirna river valley all the way to the Adriatic Sea - absolutelly stunning! Other option is staying at one of the Valamar hotels in Porec.

Porec - located on the coast

Motovun architecture

Motovun - entrance into the fortified town

Magnificent hilltop town of Motovun

Hotel Kastel 

(photos from www.istra.hr,  www.histrica.hr, www.elite.hr, www.hotel-kastel-motovun.hr)

Why visit Dubrovnik?

Stradun - main street in Old Town

Dubrovnik - Pearl of the Adriatic
One of the most famous tourist resorts on the Croatian Adriatic is the old city of Dubrovnik. It is located on the most southern part of Croatia and many renowned travel magazines like Conde Nast Traveler call it the"Pearl of the Adriatic." There are many people that have not heard of Croatia, but have heard about Dubrovnik - which says a lot about Dubrovnik's status on the world travel map. 

Famous Beach Banje overlooking the Old Town

Dubrovnik is a city that can pride itself by its beauty, typical Mediterranan lifestyle and rich cultural heritage, which is why many of its buildings are today protected by UNESCO. 2554 hours of sun hours per year makes it one of the sunniest places in Europe!

Ancient City Walls 

View from Minceta fortress

When you visit Dubrovnik you will first see monumental city walls that surround the old part of the city. They are almost 2 km long (1.2 miles), 25 meters high (82 feet) while it depth ranges anywhere from 2 to 6 meters (7 - 10 feet). Along the city walls there are number of fortresses that play an integral part in city life. Fortress Lovrijenac, with walls thick as much as 12 meters (40 feet) at certain parts boasts an amazing courtyard which is each year a home for performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Fortress Micenta has a crown-like shape and is often reffered to as "La bella femme" or "Beautiful women's crow" reffering to the 70 tons heavy cannon located within the structure.

Loverijenac fortress

Minceta fortress

Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Summer Festival opening ceremony

For over 50 years Dubrovnik is a host to Dubrovnik Summer Festival that starts with a grandiose  opening ceremony on July 10th and lasts until August 25th. Live plays, concerts and theatrical events take place in every corner of the city. For example you can look at theatrical plays in one of the ancient open-air squares and only few streets further you will stumble upon a serenade performers. Wherever you go you see people dressed traditional Dubrovnik medieval costumes. This is a festival for all senses. 

Dubrovnik Summer Festival fireworks

First European Pharmacy and First European Maritime Law

Europe's oldest pharmacy

Dubrovnik is a home to the European first pharmacy, which opened in 1317 and is still open today. If you visit Dubrovnik it is located on the left side when you enter the Old Town from the Pile "gate".

The earliest history of Dubrovnik goes back to Ancient times, at least to the 6th-5th centuries BC. 

Dubrovnik Republic was very famous for building galleons ships for Atlantic travels. For example galleon Dubrovnik's Argosy is mentioned in two Shakespeare's plays: "Merchant of Venice" and "Taming the Shrew."Dubrovnik's 1395 Insurance Law is the oldest in Europe and it had all aspects of contemporary maritime insurance. This law is three centuries older than Lloyd's insurance, London, which dates from the end of 17th century. 

Welcome to my blog!

Dear friends and those yet to become,

I'm a native Croat and after my extensive travels throughout the world I decided it's time to tell you more about Croatia, not in the traditional "travel guide" kind of way but rather with a personal twist to it. I hope this blog will become a reference point for all people planning to visit  Croatia. If you already visited please share your comments, questions, photos or just write something interesting and insightful (like an awesome restaurant you discovered on an island, or a town, village, bar, hidden bay...).

OK, this is more than enough for my first post.

Stay tuned!

p.s. Photo above features a heart-shaped, 0.132 square meter, island of Galešnjak situated in the Adriatic sea, between island of Pašman and Turanj. Polynesia might have Easter Island but Croatia has the Love Island. Now how cool is that?