Porec is a little town in the northern Adriatic region of Istria. It is located on the western coast of Istria and is the most famous tourist destination in Croatia.
No matter what you are interested in when on holiday, Porec has it all: sun, sea and well-maintained beaches, natural beauty, cultural and historical monuments, great gastronomic offers, lots of sporting facilities, night entertainment and fun.
Poreč old town is located on a narrow peninsula. It dates back to Roman times, but even today, Porec preserves parts of its original architecture, street layouts, and names. The old town of Porec is an attraction for itself with its narrow, cobbled streets and Venetian-style houses. Porec is well known for its attractions:
Basilica of Euphasius – a church, bell tower and complex of courtyards dating back to a Byzantine time. Basilica is especially known for its mosaics, and it is the reason why Porec is also known as “The Town of Mosaics”. You can climb the bell tower and have a great look over the town. Inside the church, there are carved stone arches, which are also very interesting to see. During the summer, many classical concerts are held in the basilica.
Porec’s Towers – although, according to some sources, Porec once had 11 towers as protection against invaders, today, three of them are preserved: Pentagonal Tower, Round Tower and Northern Tower. They all date from the 15th century.
Marafor Square – located at the tip of the peninsula, it dates back to the 1st century. Once, it consisted of two temples: Mars and Neptune temples. Mars Temple was, at the time, the biggest Roman sanctuary in Istria.
Mars’ Temple (The Great Temple) and Neptune’s Temple – northwest of Marafor Square, you can see the remains of the Great Temple dating back from the 1st century (foundations and a part of the wall). The remains of Neptune’s Temple are located in a park west of Marafor Square. The Neptune Temple was devoted to the God of the Sea. Today, only small fragments of the ancient temple remain.
Porec’s Houses – there are many lovely old houses in the old town of Porec. Gothic houses on the main Decumanus Maximus street were built in 1473 in a Gothic Venetian style. Romanesque House was built in the 13th century, and it is the only house remaining from that time. It has outside staircases and a wooden balcony.
Explore Istria
Istria is a northern Adriatic region of Croatia, and it is the biggest Croatian peninsula. The whole Istria is actually reachable by a short car drive, and the choices it offers to its visitors are just amazing: whether you are in search of an excellent gastronomic experience, historical sights or natural beauty, the choices are outstanding.
Istria is an interesting region where green and blue meet to form a lovely harmony. The sea is at its shores, and beautiful green hills, castles, and vineyards are in its interior.
Places to visit on the Istrian coast
Rovinj is a beautiful coastal town 30 km south of Porec. Stroll through the narrow, cobbled streets of Rovinj and wander through many lovely galleries. Climb to the hilltop, enjoy a beautiful panorama and visit the Church of St. Euphemia. Relax on one of the bar terraces at the seafront. Enjoy beautiful views over the sea and little islands.
Pula – while on holiday in Porec, don’t miss visiting Pula, Istria’s largest city, located on the southwest of the Istrian peninsula. Pula has many interesting historical sights worth visiting. The most famous one is the Pula Amphitheatre, known as the Arena. It was built in the 1st century. Today, the amphitheatre is used as an open-air stage for numerous concerts during the Pula Summer Festival. Other historical sights in Pula are The Golden Gate, Temple of Augustus, Twin Gates and City Walls, Forum, Small Roman Theater, etc.…
Vrsar is a small town 10 km south of Porec with a nice marina. Don’t miss the beautiful views over the archipelagos with 18 islets from the top of the hill.
Lim Bay – is situated south of Porec, on the road to Rovinj, a nearby town of Vrsar. Lim Fjord or Lim Bay is a 10 km long estuary. It looks like a canyon, with its sides rising up to 150 m and then sinking down to 20 m where they reach the sea. Lim Bay is also famous for oyster and fish farming, and you can taste these specialities in two restaurants.
Places to visit in inland Istria
Groznjan – the town of music perched on a hill with far-stretching views over the sea and Istrian countryside. Groznjan is a lovely village with nicely restored old stone houses and cobbled streets. Groznjan holds the seat of the International Cultural Centre of Young Musicians, and during summer, many concerts and music events are held in the town almost every year. The village is also famous for its art galleries. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this lovely Istrian village.
Motovun – On the top of the hill, overlooking Mirna Valley, you will find Motovun, a beautiful Istrian medieval town. Besides its historical sights, Motovun is famous for the International Motovun Film Festival, which has taken place every summer in July for 24 years. Motovun forests are rich in truffles, and many local restaurants offer these rare mushrooms.
Villa Cadum Porec 