Rustic Charm of Porec, Croatia
Byzantine traces
Poreč is around 22 miles (36km) north of Rovinj, and you can take in some lovely scenery, with a little detour off the motorway.
Venice on your doorstep
We drove into Poreč, and the rain had stopped yeh!!!
My initial reactions to Poreč was that it was quite busy, I shouldn’t have been surprised as this ancient town is steeped in centuries of history and is a catamaran’s ride away from Venice.
Stroll along the marina
We wandered around the harbour front soaking up the atmosphere, and the view over the Adriatic Sea, nestled in the bay of Poreč and almost protecting it is the small island of Sveti Nikola.
A helpful guide
If you've yet to discover the delights of Croatia you're in for a treat. While planning our road trip, I used the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our north to south Croatian road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
Those lovely white cobbles
Heading into the Old Town, once again strolling on the shiny white cobbles, which for me have now become so synonymous with Croatia.
Charisma
The Old Town of Poreč has some fantastic architecture, from the polished to the not so polished and the mixture gives Poreč quite a rustic charm.
Why Not?
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Neptune
Strolling around there are reminders of its past life of the Romans and Venetians. The ruins of the Great Temple of Neptune can be seen at the far end of the Old Town and would have once overlooked the Adriatic Sea.
But there is such a strong influence of Venetian architecture wherever you wander.
Along the promenade
Weaving our way through the streets & lanes, we head along the north promenade and enjoy the beautiful views across the bay.
UNESCO
Our visit to Poreč was only for a few hours.
However, if you come here, you must tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Euphrasian Basilica and the group of religious monuments that make up the complex.
Amongst the birds
Within the walls, you can visit the Basilica, atrium, octagonal baptistery and archbishop's palace. Also, make sure you climb the Bell Tower; the views are lovely over the rooftops of Poreč.
Intricacies
The amazing architecture and colourful mosaic detail, within the 6th-century Basilica, is stunning.
The original Basilica which stood on these grounds dates back to the 4th-century and part of the original mosaic flooring can be seen within the church garden.
Surviving centuries
Understandably restoration has taken place over the years; however, the centuries of history and detail is incredible.
Our last stop
Heading back to the car and the sun returns!!!
We enjoyed our visit to Poreč; however, we had gained quite a soft spot for Rovinj, so heading back and experiencing the sunset across the bay was a lovely way to end our tour of Croatia.
Have You
Visited Poreč, and explored its ancient streets, did you manage to climb the Bell Tower and capture the view across the rooftops?
Inspired to visit Porec?
Poreč is a charming town, and also an ideal base to explore the Istrian peninsular.
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