In this vlog we explore the Istria region in Croatia. We travel for 14 days through the beautiful green nature and explore cities such as the pearl of the Adriatic Sea, namely Rovinj, Porec, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Casanova in Vrsar near the Brioni or Briuni islands, the Dinopark in Funtana, the truffle from the forests of Motovun and its Mirna valley, the ancient village of Buje, the smallest town in the world Hum, Veli Losinj with its Venetian harbours and lookout tower, the harbour of Mali Losinj with the museum of Apoxyomenes, the Aromatic Garden, the wellness spa, the medieval town of Osor which forms a connection between the island of Cres and Losinj, Lubenice, Lake Vrana where the griffon vulture still lives in the wild, the island of Krk with a unique taste in wines, some preserved on the seabed, Baska and its Glagolitic script, the smallest street in the world in Vrbnik, and the fortresses around the town of Krk. This and much more will be discussed in this series of videos.
In previous videos we went to the islands of Cres and Losinj. Today the island of Krk is on the program. The old town of Krk is the first stop. You can get to the island of Krk via the mainland but also by ferry. What is immediately noticeable is that the island of Krk is busier than other surrounding islands. The old town has 5000 inhabitants. And is car-free. The city of Krk has written history. A basilica was built on foundations that date back to the 1st century when the Romans were in power. You have a beautiful view from the castle of the Frankopan family who also had the chapel built in the basilica. The noble Croatian family Frankopan was given sole rule over the city by the Venetians. There are also Roman walled fortresses.
A 16th century medieval tower on the square with a special 24 hour dial stands out.
From Krk city we drive on and arrive in Vrbnik. Vrbnik is idyllically situated on a hill but the town itself is a bit disappointing. We have seen more beautiful villages. Vrbnik used to be a walled city but now you can reach it via a bridge. Vrbnik is surrounded by vineyards because 2 particularly good wines are produced here from the Zhlatina grape that grows there. It is nice to know that the wine is stored on the bottom of the sea for 1 to 4 years. Most people come not only for the wine but also for the smallest street in the world. It is only 60 cm wide.
Finally we drive on to Baska, the furthest point on the island of Krk. Baska has a kilometre-long boulevard with cafes, hotels, restaurants all the way to the sea. The view of the limestone rocks is phenomenal. They are the only bare rocks we encountered during our journey. This is due to the fierce Bura wind that is sometimes strong there. Just a 20-minute walk from the Baska boulevard lies the old village of Jurandvor. In the church lies a replica of the oldest Croatian script engraved on a stone. The original is now in Zagreb.
There are also the beautiful places of Omisalj. Rijeka airport is also nearby and there are a number of campsites.
But above all, the landscapes of the island of Krk are breathtaking.
There is also Punat with its large harbour and the centre of olive cultivation.
If you leave the island via a bridge to the mainland, you will arrive in Crikvenica, a tourist town that still has traces of the Austro-Hungarian period. There are good hotels with wellness facilities.
From the Nehaj Fort that rises above the city, the Uskoks (Croatian guerrilla fighters) fought against the Turks who had the goal of conquering all of Europe. They successfully defended the city and the Uskoken and Nehaj Fort are still the pride of the city.
The city of Senj is over 3000 years old and one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic coast.
