Biking unexplored Istria Amazing history on a self-guided biking excursion in Croatia

Arrival in Poreč. Info meeting with Fiore representative at 7pm at the hotel reception area where we will provide you with the package including hotel vouchers, bicycle with all equipment, maps and a road book. Overnight in hotel “Casa la Parenzana”. Rural house in heart of Istria, a peaceful oasis for relaxation and an ideal starting point for daily exploration of this beautiful area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Casa la Parenzana 3* in Volpija or Lovac 3* in Kaldanija (Buje area)
• Transfer: Transfer from Poreč to accommodation in Buje

Breakfast, apart from enjoying the breathtaking landscape of the terrace – styled vineyards which resemble to an image on the front page of a holiday guide to Tuscany, you can indulge the sensation the area of Buje gives, a real polyphony of fragrances and tastes. After we have walked along the paved streets of the old center of Buje, we continue downhill, follow the trail leading through Bibali, Krug and Smilovici and you will reach Momjan – a magnificent place located at an altitude of 270 meter with impressive ruins of the medieval citadel built on a rock. Visiting one of most popular wine cellar you will have opportunity to taste world’s best Muscat – that from Momjan. Overnight in Buje area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Casa la Parenzana 3* in Volpija or Lovac 3* in Kaldanija (Buje area)
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 38 km / 23 miles (asphalt 18 km, macadam 20 km)
• Points of interest: City of Momjan with medieval castle, local wine cellar, City of Bure

After breakfast we will start biking (on macadam) on the legendary route of the Parenzana, the former narrow-gauge railway line which penetrates deeply into the Istrian peninsula connecting 33 istrian towns between Porec and Trieste, which today are located on the territory of even three states. Passing through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards, it will became obvious why it was also know as the wine railroad. After passing through its several tunnels, nad over old bridges you can stop on many fascinating view points between the charming medieval town of Grožnjan and Vižinada before reaching Poreč. Poreč is the town where you can find material and spiritual evidences of great cultures at every step. Ride along the old city center and you will find the Roman Forum, magnificent palaces from different historical periods, and to top it all there is the famous Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana). Overnight in Poreč area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Poreč 3* in Poreč or similar
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 68 km / 42 miles (asphalt 19 km, macadam 49 km)
• Points of interest: Grožnjan the city of artists, Parenzana road with tunnels and bridges, LIvade (Truffle centre of the world), Motovun, city of Poreč, Euphrasian Basilica.

Breakfast. The ride along this trail is particularly pleasant because you’re riding along the coastline with beautiful bays where you can enjoy the breathtaking Mediterranean landscape with green vineyards and olive groves and taste home made food, wine, brandy and honey produced in this area. Continuing along the trail, you will reach Višnjan, a little place that vaunts an astronomical observatory ranked among the 5 most important observatories in the world. If you have found here your guiding star, or if you have refreshed yourself with a glass of excellent home made wine we can continue our ride towards Poreč where our adventure has, actually, began. Overnight in Poreč area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Poreč 3* in Poreč or similar
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 59 km / 36 miles
• Points of interest: Wine yards and olive groves, Observatory in Višnjan, Wine cellars with local wine varieties

Breakfast. A marsh, rare birds, a cursed city, an abandoned monastery, buried pirates treasure, a deep bay, a cave with a primitive man and a hermit, an ancient solar observatory – all this you can find on our bike trail of Captain Morgan. After riding along the coastline we reach Vrsar, a romantic fishermen village where the famous Casanova came back even two times. Our bike ride continues through the magical forest Kontija with a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of the Lim bay, passing by the old benedictine abbey at Kloštar and to the ruins of the medieval town Dvigrad. Just to stir your imagination – you are now in an area where many legends and mysteries based on historical events still live on: that of Dvigrad devastated by the plague because of an ancient curse, of the buried treasure of Captain Morgan’s pirates near the village named after him (Mrgani), of the cave where the remains of the primitive man were found and where, as legend has it, St Romuald used to live as a hermit in the Middle Ages.
Passing Kanfanar and the hill Maklavun, an astral- archaeological site – tumulus from the Bronze Age, we will finish this day in Rovinj. Called also little Venice, Rovinj is a typical Mediterranean seaside resort which will seduce you with its extraordinary beauty. In the dense tissue of the old city center there are numerous magnificent palaces from different historical periods and today most of them host a gallery or an art studio. If you follow numerous chimneys of Rovinj and narrow meandering streets you will come in front of the baroque church of St Eufemia, the greatest monument in the city from which you can admire a magnificent view of the Mediterranean almost in your hand palm. Overnight in Rovinja area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Vila Lili 3* or Baron Gautsch 3* in Rovinj or similar
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 60 km / 37 miles
• Points of interest: City of Vrsar, Lim fjord, LIm valley Pirate cave, Dvigrad (ruins of abandoned city), Old town of Rovinj

After breakfast we start riding along the coastline towards Pula. Riding through the ornithological reserve Palud with rich variety of ornitho – fauna, a unique place where you can hear the chirping of even 215 different bird species we reach Fažana. Situated on a low coast, well protected from the open sea by the enchanting Brioni archipelago (nowadays a national park) and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the hinterland, Fažana was well known already in ancient Roman times. Which city is situated on seven hills, has a magnificent Amphitheater and is not Rome? The answer is – Pula. No, it is not a mistake – you are, indeed, in front of Pula, the largest city in Istria. Pula is an enchantress with thousand appearances which has been casting spell on its visitors for centuries. This day we finish visiting the old city with the Sergius’ Triumphal Arch (from the end of the 1st century B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century A.D.) and famous Arena, a Roman amphitheater (from the 1st century B.C.).
Overnight in Pula area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Amfiteatar 3* or Galija 3* in Pula
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 50 km / 31 miles
• Points of interest: “Golden cape” protected landscape, “Palud” ornithological reserve, Fish restaurants in Fažana, Roman amphitheater in Pula.

After we start last biking tour along well – intended coast to Cape Kamenjak, surrounded by the 30 km long coast with numerous gulfs, bays and white beaches washed by the crystal clear blue – green sea we reach ancient Mutila, nowadays Medulin. On the way you can find 22 types of orchids including the endemic specie “Serapias Istriaca” (the Istrian orchid), see the so-called “islet – plate” where the dinosaur’s footprint has been preserved or find the remains of luxurious Roman villae rusticae.  Overnight in Pula area.

• Accommodation: Hotel Amfiteatar 3* or Galija 3* in Pula
• Meals: Breakfast included
• Distance: 50 km / 31 miles
• Points of interest: Protected landscape of “Cape Kamenjak”, numerous hidden bays with crystal clear water, view.

After breakfast transfer to Poreč included.