This villa is located in Vabriga, close to Poreč. Poreč tourism is more than sea, sun and tourist image. The tourists can easily recognise the city that is keeping its historical values. You can find museums, galleries and many valuable city palaces. The whole old city centre is a living cultural monument. Poreč’s streets are home to numerous atelier galleries. A good way to get to know Istria is through its exceptional gastronomy. The first restaurant is 400m from the villa. The first beach is in walking distance, at 1.8 km from the villa. While staying in this villa, don't miss to visit the Euphrasian Basilica. It's was built in the middle of the 6th century in the Byzantine style and it's considered to be one of most beautiful works of art in the world. Since in Poreč you have at your disposal different kinds of sports (tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, horse riding, biking, hiking, water sports) it is an attractive tourist destination.
Marvel at Byzantine architecture
No other man-made sight in Croatia is as stunning as theEuphrasian Basilicaby the northern shore of the Poreč peninsula. It was here that the first Christians in the area worshipped – several places of worship, and a Roman villa, were built here before Bishop Euphrasius himself got to work in the mid 500s AD. The complex is quite extensive and you’ll need at least a couple of hours to explore it, taking in the baptistry, the bell tower and what’s left of the Bishop’s Palace from where Euphrasius directed operations. And there’s little doubt this is his work, the bishop having left his likenesses and inscriptions all over the strikingly bright mosaics around the Basilica. Glittering gold colouring and sparkling semi-precious gems all feature amid the sumptuous mosaics, a pristine example of Early Byzantine architecture. Construction is said to have taken ten years, though various elements, such as the 13th-century cimborium based on St Mark’s in Venice, were added much later.
Try then buy Istrian wines
Close to the Euphrasian Basilica on Eufrazijeva ulica,Bacchusis wine bar, eaterie and delicatessen all in one, all purveying authentic but affordable Istrian products. Malvazija, Muškat and red Refošk are sold by the glass, allowing you sit outside on the rustic terrace on a pretty open courtyard. Family-maderakijagrappas –honey-flavouredmedica,biškafrom mistletoe and fig-basedsmokva– may also be sampled. Istrian platters of smoked hams, cheeses and olives can be shared among two or four people, and there are sardine, seafood and truffle versions too.
Go waterskiing
Opened with a live show by Elvis Jackson in 2010, theSki Lift Porečnear the Zelena Laguna holiday camp and Byblos nightspot is a station that provides access to a cable 650 metres in length. Several kinds of waterborne activities can be tried here, including wakeboarding and mono-ski slaloming. Beginners can pay by the hour for instruction and practice, with helmet and equipment thrown in for a few extra kunas. The Ski Lift station doubles up as a summer attraction even for those not taking part, as its bar and restaurant are popular hangouts. There’s also beach volleyball, sand football and various other land-based games alongside. Ski Lift Poreč stays open from Easter to the middle of November.
Dive from Brulo to Žontulo
In operation since the early 2000s, theDiving Centre Porečoffers both instruction and guided dives to sites around the area, as far as the Limski kanal and Rovinj. Beginners can start with a basic two-hour scuba session, culminating in a first sea dive, while those with slightly more experience can search for starfish and seafish in the shallow waters of Uvala Brulo on the doorstep. More seasoned divers then exploreŽontulo, Frižital reef and around Sveti Nikola island. Diving Centre Poreč holds a special permit from the Croatian Ministry of Culture, meaning that it can take the most experienced divers to the wreck of the Coriolanus, a Royal Navy trawler that sank with 40 men on 5th May 1945, two days before the German surrender was signed.
Cycle the Parenzana
Built in 1902, left to rust after 1935, the Parenzana was a narrow-gauge rail that ran from Trieste, winding through the bucolic Istrian interior before terminating at Poreč. In those days, this was all Italy andPoreč was Parenzo, hence the name. Running for over 60 kilometres, it has gradually been revived, section by section, by local outdoor enthusiasts. There’s even a short stretch of rail, between Motovun andVižinada,plied by a tourist train. Mostly, though, theParenzanais patronised by cyclists and hikers, and regularly facilitated with improvements such as maps, benches, bike racks and service stations equipped with air pumps and repair kits. In September, it stages the three-dayMTB Parenzana race, one of many events in a busy cycling calendar.
Explore underground lakes
Halfway from Poreč to Višnjan, theBaredine Cavehas been a major tourist attraction since opening to the public in 1995. Tours are advertised all over Poreč. You can travel here independently –there’s a car park right outside –but all visits are guided ones, and take place every 30 minutes, in English among other languages. You’re first led along a pathway 300 metres long before reaching 60 metres deep, where you find underground lakes and five otherworldly chambers filled with ancient stalactites and stalagmites. In the waters you should see the strange-looking olm, or European cave salamander, blind and pink, hence its alternative name of the human fish in Croatian. Given its appearance and habitat – it does everything underwater –the olm has been the subject of many a local legend. Tours last 40 minutes. Wear decent shoes, hold on to the railings when negotiating slippery stairs and be prepared for a fair climb back up.
Aqua park Istralandia
Aquapark „Istralandia“ This amazing waterworld spread on over 81 000 m2 is located only 5 km from the seashore, on direct Novigrad-Nova Vas highway exit and the main road between the highway and town of Novigrad. „Istralandia“ offers abundance of relaxation and excitement with guaranted adrenaling dosage on 20 different slides with over 1,6 km of tubes; high and aslope for the brave ones, slides with rubber boats and the latest technolgy tube-slides. „Istralandia“ has the largest wave pool in this part of Europe. Aquaprk „Istralandia“ is also intended for families with children of all ages for whom adrenaline dosage and fun can be found on children's tower. In October 2014 Aquapark „Istralandia“ has won in Rome, Italy a special award for the eneterprener project of the year in the category of new water parks, known as the „Oscar of the entertainment parks“. On the most prestigeous european fair of attractions (EAS 2015 and EAS 2016) in category of the best aquaparks in Europe among the 300 aquaparks, „Aquapark Istralandia“ was two yers in a row rewarded by Kirmes&Park Revue, Germany another prestige award: „Europe's Best Water Parks“ -5th place.