Medieval villages and gravel routes in Istria

The Italia border is only a few kilometres away (there is an offshoot towards the sea of Slovenia in between) and Croatian Istria reflects this closeness in the traditions (as well as in the language) of an articulated territory, where the coastal landscape integrates with a hinterland made up of hills, vineyards and small historic centres. Spring is one of the best times to visit, also thanks to a calendar of events involving both seaside resorts and inland villages. Rovinj and Pula are well-known destinations for international tourism, and their historic centres on the Adriatic are always worth a visit. Lesser known and more authentic are Poreč and Fažana, a little further south, where local customs live on amidst celebrations and gastronomic specialities (such as pinca, a traditional cake associated with spring festivities). Heading inland, the landscape changes appearance and is characterised by medieval villages such as Motovun and Oprtalj, built on top of small hills and connected by secondary roads and nature trails. One of the most important outdoor events of the Istrian season also fits into this context, namely the Nova Eroica Truffle Tour, scheduled for 1 and 2 May with the start and finish in Novigrad, a town that is transformed for the occasion into a meeting point for visitors and local operators, with exhibition spaces, tastings and initiatives open to the public. The event attracts gravel cycling enthusiasts from all over Europe and offers itineraries on white roads through some of the most characteristic areas of the region, including wine cellars, olive groves and areas known for truffle production. The routes of the legendary race, which originated in Gaiole in Chianti and is now exported all over the world, run partly along the route of the Parenzana, a former railway line that has now been converted into a cycle and pedestrian route, and are the setting (as is also the case in Tuscany) for convivial meetings with stops dedicated to local products and a collateral programme involving the towns and villages crossed.

https://www.istra.hr/en

https://www.eroica.cc/events/nova-eroica-histria-2/