Lim Fjord and Basilica in Porec

Let's start the day with a scenic viewpoint. From here you can see the Lim Fjord from the South. The Lim fjord is called like this but it is not actually a real fjord as it does not come from a glacier. It is actually a canal that is 10 kilometers long and 600 meters large between cliffs that can reach 100 meters high. So it is the most interesting geological curiosity of Istria.

From here you will see better the whole fjord from the end of it until the sea, since the location is on a hill and there is a viewing tower. In this location, there are also a lot of little shops selling local products like honey, ham, cheese and local liqueur. It is nice to walk around and you get to taste everything so you can make choices before you buy.

Now, you have reached the small beautiful town of Vrsar. It kind of looks like Rovinj with a church on the hill as well. This place is called Casanova viewpoint because Casanova visited Vrsar in 1743 and 1744. It will give you an amazing panorama over the sea and the coastline. Then you should walk around the old town and visit the church.

After visiting the historical center on the hill, go down to enjoy the beach. There is a very nice coastline and beach in Vrsar and you can enjoy lunch at this beach bar so you enjoy the beach at the same time while you are waiting for food and drinks. They have lots of choices.
Open hours Monday - Thursday 12:00 - 22:00 Friday - Sunday 12:00 - 23:00.

The Euphrasian Basilica of Porec is an incredible place to visit which is on the Unesco World Heritage Sites list. It is one of the most beautiful and best preserved Byzantine art site in Europe. It was built originally in the 4th century. The whole site comprises a church, an atrium, a baptistry and the episcopal palace. The most beautiful thing to see are the mosaics from the 6th century, they were probably designed by the same artists from the famous Ravenna mosaics in Italy. You can also go up the belfry where you will enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings.
Open hours Monday - Saturday 9:00 - 18:00 Closed on Sundays.

After visiting the Euphrasian Basilica which is the masterpiece of Porec. You can walk around the historical center of Porec and have a coffee or an ice cream. The main street is loaded with ice cream shops. Close by, at the end of the peninsula, you will find the remains of the Neptune Temple which are some nice ruins to walk amongst. It used to be a huge Roman temple from the 1st century dedicated to Neptune, the god of the Seas. It is also a great location to enjoy the view of the sea.

After visiting well Porec and learning about all the history and culture it has to offer, you can relax at the beach. This is a public beach, you can walk along the seaside and choose your favorite spot. Then you can have a refreshing swim in the clear blue sea, especially after a hot summer day.

Have dinner at this restaurant, it is a bit inland but well worth the detour. It is located in small and very cute village named Veleniki, 5 kilometers east of Porec. This taverna is an Istrian restaurant famous for its tartare steaks, stuffed raviolis and typical Istrian dishes according to the season. The desserts are also very good.
Open hours Monday - Sunday 12:00 - 23:00. You can book a table on their website.