Palace Tours − Luxury Tours Collection Gourmet Taste of Istria Gourmet Taste of Istria Immerse yourself in the culture of Istria on this 8−day privately guided tour from Pula. Lush rolling hills overlook the fields and valleys with quaint towns perched on the hillsides, recalling landscapes of yore. Discover the enchanting details of the past as you travel through Rovinj, Zminj, Motovun, Umag and Groznjan, complete with visits to wine cellars and local households to experience Istrian delicacies, including wine, truffles, oysters, prosciutto and more! Nature lovers rejoice as this tour also takes you to the pristine Brijuni Islands and Limski Fjord. ITINERARY • Day 1 − Welcome to Croatia You are met by your tour guide upon arrival at Pula airport and transferred to your hotel in Rovinj. The rest of the day is yours at leisure to rest and relax at the hotel or explore Rovinj. • Day 2 − Excursion to Brijuni National Park After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Fazana and embark on a boat ride to the Brijuni National Park, an archiepelago of 14 islands and islets. Brijuni is a place of exquisite beauty with unspoiled nature, historical remains, and protected flora and fauna. In addition, Brijuni has entered the UNESCO Register of World National Heritage. A guided tour via electric train enables you to see the remains of ancient Bezant villas, a safari park with various exotic animals such as zebras, and lions, brought as gifts from statesmen who visited President Tito at his residence on Brijuni. Some tamed animals, like deer, roam around free. The Island’s attractions also include valuable archeological end ethnographic collections, and an exhibition of photographs of visitors to the island, including statesmen from all over the world, and celebrities like Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, and dine from the delectable president’s menu: risotto with scampi, peaches and champagne or fillet of sole in rue, lemon and anchovy sauce on bed of asparagus or scampi on a sweet bed of orange juice with spinach and pine nuts. Return to Pula later this afternoon and spend the remainder of your day at leisure, exploring the city. Stay overnight at the hotel in Rovinj. (B, L) • Day 3 − Tour of Svetvincenat and a wine cellar visit in Vodnjan Meet your local guide this morning after breakfast for a half−day sightseeing tour of Pula. Visit the famous Roman theatre, the third largest in the world, and the Roman Golden Gate. Depart on a 1−hour drive to Žminj, where you are treated to lunch in a local household, where the cheese, prosciutto, and wine are homemade. Menu suggestion: ManeÅ¡tra (Istrian vegetable soup) Fuzi (istrian handmade pasta) with wild game, or lamb, veal, homemade sausages under an iron bell, with fritule (pastry) for dessert. In the center of the southernmost part of Istria, halfway between Pazin and Pula, where the road connects inland Istria with the south of the peninsula, lies the old town of Svetvincenat, with its medieval castle, churches and bell tower. Svetvincenat, Sanvincenti, and Savicenta are three names for the same locality, which was named after the Hispanic martyr St. Vincent. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Svetvincenat, followed by a visit to the Giacometti & Monscarda wine cellar in Vodnjan, the winner of many gold and silver medals for white wine. Taste the famous varietals of Istrian wine − Mouscat and Cabernet Sauvignon, traditional brandy and olive oil. Return to Rovinj where you have free time until dinner. Suggestion: Restaurant Konoba Veli Joze. Menu suggestions: ManeÅ¡tra, fish specialties, homemade pasta with shrimp or mushrooms, or lamb specialties. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay. (B, L) 1 • Day 4 − Sightseeing of Rovinj and oyster tasting at Limski Fjord This morning after breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Rovinj, one of the most romantic Croatian tourist destinations. Rovinj was the recipient of the Blue Flower Award 2006 for being the best kept town on Adriatic Coast. Among its salient qualities is the beautiful architecturally intact old town center with a relaxed Mediterranean feel and the proximity of inland Istria. Transfer by boat or car to Limski Fjord (also known as Lim Bay), one of the most beautiful natural resources of the Istrian peninsula. Limski Fjord is part of the 35 km long Lim Valley (Draga) that stretches almost to the center of Istria, to the town of Pazin. The water in the bay is partly brackish, because of its underwater sources of sweet water and it is thus suitable for the growth of plant and animal life. Limski Fjord is a well−known fish and oyster farm (oysters, mussels, giltheads, sea bass), delicacies which you may sample at today’s lunch on the coast at Restaurant Fjord. Menu suggestions: Seafood risotto, mussel salad or oysters; grilled fish, grilled calamari, or homemade noodles with lobster; and pancakes, ice cream or fritters for dessert. You have some free time to enjoy the scenery before returning to Rovinj for dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D) • Day 5 − Explore the medieval town of Motovun and wine tasting in Narduci Continue your journey to the Istrian hinterlands this morning after breakfast. You are met by a local tour guide upon arrival in Motovun, the most beautiful medieval town in Istria with houses dotting the picturesque landscape. The city gate dates from the 15th century and the city walls date from the 12th century. Drive to a nearby restaurant in Livade and experience a unique truffle search demonstration, followed by tasting and lunch at Restaurant Zigante (guests' own account). Menu suggestion: Istrian pasta “Fuži†with truffles and Istrian traditional fritters. Later this afternoon, proceed to the small village of Narduci for a wine tasting at the wine cellar of the Arman family. They are famous wine producers of all sorts such as Pinot, Malvazija, Teran, and Chardonnay. Depart to the city of Umag and check in to your hotel upon arrival. (B) • Day 6 − Discover the wine roads of Istria Journey through the wine roads, starting in the ultimate north of Istria at BaÅ¡anija Savudrija and the wine cellars of the Moreno Degrassi. Enjoy a visit of the cellar and a wine tasting. Continue on to the Kremenje or Momjan to visit the wine cellar accompanied by a knowledgeable sommelier, and have a wine, prosciutto and cheese tasting. Lunch is served at the restaurant Marino, where you can experience traditional fare such as asparagus champignons flavored with the famous truffles. Depart for Grožnjan, a city whose written history dates back to 1102 when it was a property of the Aquilean patriarchs. Monuments recovered on the neighboring hills testify about vivid activity of this area in agriculture and trade in the port on the river Mirna. Return to Umag and spend some time at leisure before dinner at the household Casa Romantica in La Parenzana, just 2 kilometers from Buje. Stay overnight at your hotel in Umag. (B, L, D) • Day 7 − Delicious seafood and sightseeing in Opatija Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the rocky and picturesque resort town of Opatija. Lunch is served at the restaurant Evergreen. Menu suggestions: fish marinade, two grilled fish filets accompanied with potatoes and Swiss chard, fruit salad with cream. Embark on sightseeing of the city with a local tour guide and spend the rest of the day at leisure in Opatija, relaxing at your hotel or exploring the town. (B, L) 2 • Day 8 − Farewell, Istria After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Opatija or Pula for your departure flight home or to your next exotic destination. (B) DESTINATION INFORMATION • Žminj Žminj is a municipality in the central part of Istria in Croatia, 15 km south of Pazin with a population of 3,447. The town is located on a limestone hill between the Lim valley and the RaÅ¡a valley. This unique part of Istria has a number of attractions − beautiful landscapes and remnants of cultural heritage from all ages, such as a tower Citadel in the old town. Exquisite specialities of Istrian cuisine include "manestra", sausages with cabbage, venison with gnocchi, "supa" (crisp bread in red wine, with olive−oil and pepper) and the famous wines, teran and malmsey. • Brijuni Brijuni (also called Brioni or Brionian) are a group of fourteen small islands in the Croatian part of the northern Adriatic Sea, separated from the west coast of the Istrian peninsula by the narrow Fažana Strait. Famous for their scenic beauty, the islands are a holiday resort and a Croatian National Park. The largest island, Veli Brijun (5.6 km²), lies 2 km off the coast. At four sites on Veli Brijun over 200 dinosaur footprints have been discovered, which can be traced to the Cretaceous Period from where Brijuni's Cretaceous Park gets its name. • Buje Buje is a picturesque town situated in Istria, Croatia's westernmost peninsula, with a population of 2,979 (2001). Buje was known as the "sentinel of Istria" for its hilltop site located 10 km inland from the Adriatic sea. It still commands an excellent panorama. Buje has a rich history, with traces of life in the region dating back to prehistoric times. The town developed from a Roman and Slavic settlement into a medieval town, and today it is a modern regional center. Despite its development Buje has retained many features typical of various historical periods. With its narrow streets and a central square, the old town is a fine example of medieval architecture with strong Venetian influences.