This morning, your driver and guide will meet you in your hotel lobby to explore some of the Istrian peninsula. Drive down the western Istrian coast along the Adriatic Sea to Pula, at the southernmost tip of the Peninsula.
Pula is a story of fortunes gained and lost. The Romans, the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines all held sway over it, and the Austro-Hungarians established a naval base here. Start at the historic center of the city at the Pula Amphitheater – one of the best- preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Today it is Pula’s main cultural venue.
Continue to visit the Golden Door at the Temple of Augustus, built between 2 BCE and 14 CE. You will also see the City Hall with its blend of architectural styles, the Hercules Gate and the fragments of the city walls, as well as the Forum, medieval Pula’s central square.
Today all that remains are fragments of the once large Basilica of Mary Formosa in Byzantine design. Off to the side of the Basilica you will see the Arch of the Sergii. Smaller than the Hercules Gate, the arch is distinctly Corinthian in style.
Continue towards the Cathedral of Pula, which stands today is a graceful Renaissance building overlooking the Adriatic. If you like, visit the Archaeological Museum of Istria, which contains several exhibits from Neolithic times to the medieval period of objects found in Pula and the surrounding areas.
Exeter International Extraordinary Experience
Imbibe in a private wine tasting and learn more about the spectacular wines from this region at a private vineyard, which belongs to a local family in Istria.
Return to Rovinj, which is at its most charming at dusk. Your guide will take you to visit the Church of St. Euphemia. The Venetian Baroque structure dominated the Old Town center of Rovinj and is dedicated to St. Euphemia, the patron saint of Rovinj. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Exeter Services: Full-Day Car, Driver & Guide
Hotel:
Monte Mulini
