The wealth of Istrian cuisine is not small. The eventful past has left its mark on the culinary arts. Various traditions can be found in the cuisine of the people, the basis of which is nature (aromatic spices, wild plants, vegetables, seafood ...), but the influences of the Franconian and German feudal rule and the Romanesque dishes and cuisine are also noticeable, who came from the hinterland with the Slavic population since the 7th century. "People who enjoy eating are always the best," Julia Child once said while she was learning to cook and, more importantly, how to eat right. Enjoying the meal, the wine and conversations. This has inspired us to invite you on a journey, which is crowned with first-class dishes and wines, which are prepared with a lot of love in a traditional way, and to enchant you with unforgettable backdrops and tastes of Istria.
What is Istrian cuisine? Is it composed of dishes that were eaten by Istrian field labourers in the distant past? Or those once served in patrician houses? Or is it the food that is today served on Istrian tables? The wealth of this cuisine is not at all negligable. Istria’s turbulent past has certainly left a trace on its cuisine. Various traditions are interwoven in the local cuisine, which is based on nature (aromatic spices, wild growing plants, vegetables, seafood...) but there is also the influence of Franconian and German feudal rule, Roman dishes, and the cuisine that from the 7th century appeared with the settling of the Slavs. However, all dishes that were brought to these areas bear a characteristic stamp. The main feature of Istrian food, generally speaking, would be: predominance of boiled over roast food, a lot of spices and wild growing plants, plenty of fish, vinegar that is always wine vinegar, and oil that is always olive oil, whereas wine is an important ingredient in cooking. ..
INCLUDED SERVICES:
- Welcome with our tour guide
- Welcome drink
- 4x overnight stay with buffet breakfast
- 3x buffet dinner
- 1x three-course dinner with drink: wine and water or juice on the ship or in the restaurant, depending on your choice, including a gift from the ship's captain or host
- Music at dinner on the ship or in the restaurant
- Panoramic boat trip
- All-day tour guide for excursions to Poreč, Rovinj, Lim Fjord and accompaniment to dinner on the ship or restaurant
- Entry to the Batana House Ecomuseum in Rovinj
- Sparkling wine tasting in Rovinj
- Full day tour guide for the excursion Grožnjan (or Labin) and Motovun
- Lunch in Motovun at the award-winning winemaker
- Full-day tour guide for the excursion to Pula and the Renaissance town of Svetvinčenat
PROGRAM SUGGESTION:
DAY 1: Arrival. Welcome drink with our tour guide
DAY 2: Unknown Istria Grožnjan (or Labin) and Motovun
Our day begins in the artists' village Grožnjan, which is known for its numerous studios and concerts. From Grožnjan we drive into the river valley of the Mirna where the road leads us to Motovun. Our destination is the town of Motovun, the truffle center of Istria. Here we have the opportunity to taste this rare noble mushroom during lunch and at the same time to taste the award-winning wines at the winemaker, whose wines Malvazija and Teran have won gold medals several times at the Decanter World Wine Awards (London) (largest and most prestigious annual international Wine tastings / competitions).
Note: If you choose the hotel in Rabac, we will visit Labin - one of the most beautiful towns in Istria with an impressive view of the neighboring islands and then we will drive to Motovun.
DAY 3: Unforgettable experiences of Istria:
The day begins in Poreč: City tour through the enchanting old town with the city palace, the pentagonal defense tower and the famous Euphrasius basilica, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (admission to the basilica exclusive). Via the Lim Fjord we reach the picturesque town of Rovinj, one of the most beautiful and popular towns in Istria. Here you will find many buildings from different times. The Venetian bell tower towers over the old town. Colorful houses, the lively harbor promenade and inviting alleys with an Italian flair are perfect for a stroll after the city tour. During the city tour you will learn about batana. Batana is a traditional Rovinj fishing boat made of wood. There are no two batana boats of the same size. These boats were built by shipbuilders in-house. The house of the Batana is a museum (entrance fees included), which has already been awarded at an international level. In the museum, the rich Rovinj fishing tradition is presented in an interesting way. After visiting the museum, we invite you to relax on a champagne tasting. We end the day on the ship: You are invited by the ship's captain to a traditional fisherman's dinner, while we are happy to offer a choice of fish or meat menu. Depending on which hotel you have selected, the cities are particularly beautiful from the sea side with a night panorama. It doesn't matter whether it is Poreč, Rovinj or Rabac. You are right with every choice.
Note: If you choose the hotels in Novigrad and Umag, we will drive along the Poreč coast. Return to the hotel around 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. On request, instead of dinner on the ship, we can organize a daytime panoramic boat trip from Rovinj to Poreč or vice versa, or a panoramic boat trip in Rabac and dinner in a local restaurant.
DAY 4: Pearl of Istria - Pula and Renaissance experience in the hinterland
After the city tour in Pula, where we drive past the magnificent arena (admission excluded) - one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the whole world and the most important monument in Pula, we walk through the old town to the old town center. City tour and free time. The renaissance town of Svetvinčenat, one of the pearls of Istria, offers a real experience. Numerous events take place in the village, which take place in front of the particularly attractive historical backdrop of the village. Svetvinčenat boasts of its Renaissance square and Morosini-Grimani Castle, and is one of the most important Venetian fortresses in Istria. The significant cultural heritage of Svetvinčenat consists, among other things, of the well-preserved frescoes in the chapel of St. Vincent near the cemetery and in the church of St. Catherine.
DAY 5: Journey home
Hotels: Novigrad, Poreč, Rabac, Rovinj, Umag