Book Croatia: Walks in Istria for Orchids and Mediaeval Frescoes
Istria, the small, easily accessible, heart-shaped peninsula at the head of the Adriatic, is divided between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Its history encompasses periods of Illyrian, Roman, Venetian and Italian occupation; we concentrate on its Croatian area. This is a true discovery, offering ancient ports and fishing villages along the coast with mediaeval hilltop towns and fresco-filled churches inland. Naturalists will appreciate the region’s diverse habitats, ranging from dry Mediterranean grassland and maquis to karst upland covered by beech and oak forests with species of wild orchids endemic to this area.