Istria through history

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Tourism in Istria today

First traces of history in Istria

In order to clearly depict the beauty of Istria and thus make you visit it,  we will bring you back to its past, both rich and ancient, which left visible evidence through its numerous preserved archeological, cultural and historical monuments belonging to different cultures and eras. As by a time machine, travel through the history of Istria, start with the pre-history. From that period you can find traces of immemorial inhabitants, the magnificent dinosaurs, along the Istrian coastline around Bale, not far from Pula.

At the beginning of the Bronze Age (2000 BC) the inhabitants abandoned their cave shelters and started heading towards the sea, where they founded settlements at plateaus so as to enable better protection.

Istria was named after the Illyrian tribe of Histri. It is said that they came on these areas because of water, settling the regions from the Timava River to Mount Učka and the Raša River respectively. The custom of incineration appeared in 11th century BC and represents one of the typical characteristics of the culture of pre-historic tribe of Histri. From times immemorial, specially because of its strategic importance (the exit to the Mediterranean from Central Europe), numerous invaders tried to conquer Istria and thus left their traces not only throughout Europe, but throughout Istria as well. It can be said that all European history "walked" on the grounds of Istria through the contact of three European civilizations – Roman, German and Slavic.

From the Roman Times to Today

Numerous sites are witnessing the existence of the Roman Empire, especially in Pula and Porec. After the fall of the Roman Empire Istria was invaded by Goths, afterwards Byzantium, Slavs, Avars, Slovenes, Croats, Franks and Aquileians. One hundred fifty year dominance of Venice, the influence of the Austrian rulers (the Habsburgs) and all the cultures that have succeeded one another on the Istrian territory have left a significant cultural heritage. During World War I and II Istria suffered great losses and damages under the Italian and German Fascist regime.

Nevertheless, the preserved monuments defiantly and proudly remained to witness the thousand years long and rich Istrian past, which cannot be either denied or forgotten.

Pre-historic findings, Roman Amphitheatre and Triumphal Arches, early Christian Churches, Byzantium Mosaics, Romanic Basilicas, medieval towns on top of hills, Renaissance frescoes, towers and town walls, Gothic Cathedrals, Baroque Palaces, Austro-Hungarian fortifications: these are all silent witnesses of a rich and turbulent Istrian past. You will discover these traces of time in almost every Istrian town, village, locality. You will find them at the most unexpected places: ruins of an old church, old town ruins, theatres and many other monuments will tell you another story or legend of Istria...

The beginnings of tourism in Istria

The development of tourism in Istria dates back to the period of the Roman Empire. It is this time (I century AD) that saw the construction of the Vespasianus' Amphitheatre in Pula that could hold up to 20 thousand spectators, of course for the amusement of citizens and also tourists.

Besides, the Ancient Romans, famous for their taking delight in all that life offers, built numerous luxurious summer houses called " villae rusticae" along the coast and on the Brijuni Islands, a famous Croatian national park.

The Istrian geographical position in the proximity of major land and marine routes of Central Europe, its mild Mediterranean climate and the vicinity of the warm sea  and the richness of its natural beauties are definitely an advantage which certainly contributed to the development of tourism on these areas.

The beginnings of the modern tourism can be traced back in the 19 century. The time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy saw the boom of tourism and the growth of numerous facilities along the coastline: hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, beaches and spa baths. Towns like Portorož, Umag, Poreè, Rovinj, Pula and the Brijuni Islands on the west and the town of Rabac, Lovran and Opatija, the queen of beauty, on the east coast, started growing into real tourist centers.
Entrepreneurs from this period started investing in the Istrian tourism. If we leave apart the periods of the World War I and II and of our country war, the periods of devastation and stagnation in Istria, the development of the Istrian tourism has continued its growth.

The Istrian tourist offer today abounds in tourist capacities and facilities ranging from those situated on the Istrian coast, to those in the Istrian inland, most on demand today. Istria is becoming famous today, apart from its famous stationary tourism in numerous hotels, tourist villages, campsites, private accommodations, for the development of nautical and congress tourism, excursions, hunting and fishing tourism, agrotourism, cultural and eno-gastronomic tourism, sport and recreational tourism, diving and equestrian tourism and ecologic tourism.

 

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