Page 54 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

52  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Istria and the Kvarner Area

Istria is a triangular peninsula, traditionally divided into
three areas. White Istria is the mountainous northern
part characterized by karst or limestone; grey Istria
is the central plateau partially rich in vegetation and
furrowed by the rivers Mirna and Raša; and red Istria is
the coastal area that derives its name from a fertile red
soil called crvenica. The most popular destinations in Istria
are Poreč, Rovinj, Pula and the Brijuni National Park. The
Kvarner area includes the city of Rijeka and the coastline
as far as Jablanac. Woods cover the northern hinterland,
with the Risnjak National Park to the north, and the Plitvice
Lakes National Park to the southeast. The islands of Krk, Cathedral of St Mary the Great on the
Cres, Lošinj and Rab are delightful places to explore. Many island of Rab
of the towns on the coast have an Italianate appearance.

Trieste Tršće
Trieste Reka Ljubljana
PRIMORSKO -
Rupa
UMAG GORANSKA
(UMAGO) Crni Lug Kupa
RISNJAK Velika Karlovac
BUJE (BUIE) Buzet NATIONAL PARK
Delnice
Grožnjan TOUR OF THE KASTAV Vrbovsko
Mirna FORTIFIED TOWNS Matulji
NOVIGRAD Motovun OPATIJA RIJEKA Ravna
Gora
(CITTANOVA) ISTARSKA Boljun BAKAR Kapela
POREČ LOVRAN KRALJEVICA Bjelolasica
(PARENZO) PAZIN 1534m
GRAČIŠĆE MOŠĆENICE
Baderna PIĆAN Omišalj CRIKVENICA
VRSAR Brestova
(ORSERA) Dvigrad PLOMIN Porozina Šilo Karlovac
SVETVINČENAT
ROVINJ LABIN NOVI
(ROVIGNO) KRK VINODOLSKI
BALE BARBAN Rabac
(VALLE) Valbiska Krk
Krk
Venice Brinje
Merag SENJ M a l a K a p e l a Karlovac
VODNJAN (DIGNANO) Cres Baška
BRIJUNI FAŽANA(FASANA) Plavnik Gacka Korana
NATIONAL
PARK K v a r n e r Lubenice Lukovo Otočac PLITVICE LAKES Plitvice
PULA(POLA) CRES K Rab Lopar NATIONAL PARK
v
a
Kampor RAB Mali Rajinac Bihać
r
1699m
n
Rab Korenica P l j
e
Cres r Jablanac V e
Dolin
i e š
Getting Around Osor ć LIČKO - SENJSKA e
Unije l v
The roads are good; there is a motorway e i c
linking Rijeka to Zagreb, as well as from Nerezine b a
Pula to the border with Slovenia. The larger Pag i t Lički Osik Ozeblin
islands can be reached by tourist and local LOŠINJ (LUSSINO) Udbina 1657m
ferries and there are frequent sailings in the Lošinj Karlobag Gospić Lika Donji
summer season – these take cars also. Buses Susak Mali Lošinj Veli Lošinj Zadar Gračac Lapac
link all the main towns and there’s a bus that runs Zadar
from Pula to Trieste, while trains link Rijeka and
Zagreb, with connections to the south of Croatia. Ilovik
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp226–8 and pp238–40
052-053_EW_Croatia.indd 52 20/10/16 12:31 pm