The Istrian peninsula is an ideal region for a road trip. Here, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy come together to share a small piece of land in the Adriatic Sea and Gulf of Trieste. A road trip was our plan, until colds kept us in our Airbnb bed and an asthma attack landed us in an Italian hospital. That said, we still managed to get out a bit and explore. Here are a few highlights from our recent weekend in Istria.
Pizza in Croatia…& a special treat
I’m not sure why I was so surprised to find excellent pizza in a part of Croatia so near to Italy. Given that Pizzeria Tivoli (52100, Veli vrh 8, 52100, Pula, Croatia) was just down the road from our Airbnb, we ate from there multiple times over the course of a weekend (once there, once as delivery, and leftovers twice)—and were not the least bit bored with their interesting toppings combinations on crust that was perfectly thin, crisp and chewy, all at once.
After dining at Restoran Stari Kaštel (Kaštel 85, Buje, 52460, Buje, Croatia) with co-workers, my husband was dying to bring me there. Perched on a hill at the border of Croatia and Slovenia, this is fine dining with a beautiful view of Istria. Arrive early to enjoy drinks on the terrace before choosing between a handful of tasting menus, none of which is a poor choice. Alternatively, you can do what we did and have your post-meal espresso outside.
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Rustic Italian lunch
Located in Trieste, Baracca e Burattini (Via di Torre Bianca, 19, 34132 Trieste, Italy) serves up simple food, in a cozy atmosphere with friendly staff. It’s a lovely spot for a relaxed lunch before a walk along the water.
Slovenian salt
Slovenia has only 47 kilometers (about 29 miles) of coastline and at the southern end, along the boarder of Croatia, sits Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (6333 Sečovlje - Sicciole, Slovenia). According to the official website, this land comprises salt flats and various ecosystems (sea water, brackish, fresh water and land ecosystems), within which up to 272 bird species have been found, to-date. “The Sečovlje salts flats are the northernmost salt flats in the Mediterranean. The salt is produced in the traditional way based on a 700-year-old method that harmonizes man and nature.” You can purchase all sorts of salt-based souvenirs (bath salts, cooking salts, etc.) at the gift shop-cum-art gallery. Check out the website here to learn more.
Quick Guide
- Pizza in Croatia Pizzeria Tivoli (52100, Veli vrh 8, 52100, Pula, Croatia)
- Special occasion in Croatia Restoran Stari Kaštel (Kaštel 85, Buje, 52460, Buje, Croatia)
- Rustic Italian lunch Baracca e Burattini (Via di Torre Bianca, 19, 34132 Trieste, Italy)
- Slovenian salt flats Sečoveljske Soline (6333 Sečovlje - Sicciole, Slovenia)
