Page 53 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA  51

ISTRIA AND THE

KVARNER AREA

The Istrian peninsula, nestling at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, and the
islands that tumble down the Kvarner gulf are some of the most sought-after
holiday destinations in Europe. The coast is spectacular and the towns and
cities are fascinating. Three National Parks – the Brijuni Islands, the Plitvice
Lakes and Risnjak – preserve the natural charm of the area.
Until 1000 BC, the region was inhabited by With the Treaty of Vienna in 1815,
Illyrians. From 42 BC Istria became part of Austria-Hungary extended its domain
the Roman empire, when the Province of to include Venetian lands. Rijeka
Dalmatia was founded. Cities were built developed into an industrial port under
along the coast and on the islands, and Austro-Hungarian rule and is still today
many traces of Roman presence remain. a hub for Croatian shipping. Close by
Pula has a well-preserved amphitheatre in Opatija the Habsburgs built elegant
dating back to the 1st century, the sixth- villas and planted lush gardens for
largest arena of its kind in the world. their winter holidays.
With the fall of the western Roman In 1918 Istria briefly became part
Empire, much of the eastern Adriatic coast of the new kingdom of Serbs, Croats
came under the control of Byzantium. The and Slovenes, which subsequently
intricate, well-preserved golden mosaics became Yugoslavia in the same year.
of the 6th-century basilica of St Euphrasius Many Istrian towns have two official
in Poreč survive from that time. names, an Italian and a Croatian one,
In 1420 the area came under Venetian rule, a legacy from 1920, when Istria was
a situation which was to last until 1797, when given to Italy as a reward for having
Napoleon dissolved the Venetian Republic. joined the Allies in World War I. During
Nearly 400 years of Venetian rule are recorded World War II, the region became a
by 15th-century open-air loggias, elegant bell stronghold for Italian partisans. After
towers and buildings with Venetian-Gothic 1943, most of Istria was given back
windows, built by wealthy merchants. to Yugoslavia.

The Roman amphitheatre at Pula, one of the best preserved Roman theatres in the world
Lake and falls, Plitvice Lakes National Park

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