Poreč

Poreč is a town and a famous tourist resort at the western Istrian coast, with the population of 12,000. Located in a natural harbor and sheltered from the sea winds and currents by the small Sveti Nikola island, its climate is mild, but the sea is often warmer than in other Istrian coastal towns. The wider town area is stretched along 37 kilometres (23 miles) of coastline, consisting of many small, but developed tourist resorts, with the facilities such as beaches, hotels, camps (including nudist ones), marinas, shops, malls, sports infrastructure etc. The most famous sight is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prominent example of Byzantine architecture. The Roman town centre, various museums and galleries are also worth seeing. If you prefer natural sights, visit the nearby Baredine Cave and the Lim Valley. The wider Poreč area is known for its fertile soil, yielding the high-quality wine, olive oil, fruit and vegetables. The town is well-connected to other towns in Istria, as well as with larger cities outside it, such as Zagreb and Rijeka (Croatia), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Trieste (Italy). Tourism has a long tradition (since 1844) and is the main source of income. If you plan to visit Poreč in the summer, count on huge crowds – there can be up to 120,000 tourists, ten times the number of the local population. Fortunately, the town is also a popular weekend destination outside of the season, especially among Croatian, Slovenian, Italian and Austrian tourists.