My family traditionally visits Istria for Easter - a perfect time to explore this region while prices are a bit lower and crowds are not as pushy. Istria is a peninsula in northern Croatia which has an strong Roman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian roots, but it still very Croatian. We typically drive from Vienna with a rental car as a car is an absolute necessity to explore this area well. We have made many trips to this area over the years, normally spending 1-2 weeks on each visit. Every year we manage to return to old favorites but also explore new places.
We started our trip in the Opatija region - a place we had never visited. We stayed in a smaller town just south of Opatija. The highlight of this area is the Lungomare - a seaside path that goes for 12 km from Volosko to Lovran. This path was built at the turn of the 20th century, so a little over 100 years old. It is also known at the Franz Joseph Promenade, reflected in the fact that that the path is lined with Austro-Hungarian villas. Wisteria was around every corner and the sea is magnificent.
More to follow shortly...