On Wednesday morning, we set off from Opatija to see more of the Istrian Peninsula. We drove along the coast road to Pula. We parked our car within a few feet of the Roman amphitheater, one of the largest still standing. We walked around the amphitheater, amazed at its size, age, and construction, given when it was built! Pula's history dates to the Neolithic Age, 6000 to 2000 BC.
It has been the administrative center of Istria since Roman times.
We drove further up the coast, to Rovinj. The old part of the city is on the water, on a hill, crowned by St. Euphemia's Basilica. Rovinj is oriented to the water, with cafes and walkways along the waterfront, and boats moored in the harbor. It is a picturesque little city, with history dating back thousands of years. We enjoyed walking about and having lunch in Rovinj.
After lunch we drove to Porec, another small waterfront city with ancient history. The Euphrasian Basilica is in Porec. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It's mosaics were built by many of the same artisans that made the mosaics in Ravenna, from 500 to 600 AD. We explored all around the Euphrasian Basilica, climbing up into its bell tower. The views were amazing!
