Grand Hotel Brioni

Southernmost tip of Istria before a big blue yonder. It is a maze of bays and coves piercing into the rugged terrain, a sanctuary for marine and land wildlife, and a secret hideaway for people wanting to escape their daily chores and breath freedom.

Discovered two thousand years ago as a great resort area, Brijuni is as fascinating as ever. Today a national park, with remnants of the old roman villas in tranquil bays, and wild life freely roaming around, it is worth spending a day or two on the island. Even the Habsburg family had their official summer residence there.

When in Istria, you simply must visit a traditional oštarija. These places serve only home-grown foods and the ingredients never travel more than half hour from its source to the plate.

Istria is dotted with fortified medieval towns sitting on top of hills. Not only do they present a unique photo opportunity, each hides its own mystery dating way back in history.

Love wine? You are in the right region to be. The hotel guest’s love of wine can extend further to visit many traditional and ultra-modern wine cellars in Istria, including several labels with Decanter’s Best in Show title.

A rare opportunity to join a local truffle hunter and learn firsthand the ins and outs of this exciting and profitable activity.

Wherever you turn in Istria, you are bound to stumble upon the remnants of the great Roman culture. Follow the trails and you can easily spend days appreciating the ancient experience.