Porec Trieste Ferry

Porec Guide

The Croatian town of Porec is located on the western coast of the Istrian Peninsular. With a history that dates back almost 2,000 years, Porec's heart is its harbour which is protected from the sea by the small island of Saint Nicholas. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 the town's main attraction, the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, is known for its gold mosaics and is worth a visit. The church is actually a collection of buildings which include the baptistery and the Bishop's Palace. Also in the town are some preserved Romanesque houses and some amazing Venetian Gothic palaces. Originally a Gothic Franciscan church built in the 13th century, the 'Dieta Istriana' hall was remodelled in the Baroque style in the 18th century.

The town is often voted Croatia's top resort by the Croatian National Tourist Office which has helped make it a popular holiday destination. The principle tourist areas are the town's two bays to the south of the town; Zelena and Plava Laguna. Each have their own hotels, camping facilities, marina and shops.

From the town's harbour, ferries depart to Venice in Italy.

Trieste Guide

The Italian city of Trieste is located at the edge of north east Italy and is situated close to the border with Slovenia and lies on the Adriatic Sea coast. The city is one of Italy's most unique with is former grandeur still in evidence today with is grand buildings complete with neoclassical facades. Despite the grandeur on display, the city is frequently overlooked by visitors who choose instead to visit other Italian cities that have a more established tourist infrastructure such as Venice, which is around 160 km to the west of Trieste. The city is a great place to be based in order to explore this part of Italy's coast but the city itself has a number of tourist attractions, museums, ancient Roman remains and some lovely cafes and restaurants in which to relax. Many of the city's most popular attractions are located in the medieval quarter of the Old Town and one attraction that is hard to miss is the Basilica di San Silvestro as it sits on top of the Colle Capitolino hill. Also in the city is the impressive 14th century Trieste Cathedral which is found overlooking the Piazza della Cattedrale.