Istria County (; hr, Istarska
županija
''Županija'' (singular; plural ''županije'') or ''Župnija'' (singular; plural ''župnije'') is a South Slavic administrative subdivision.
For the etymology, see Župa.
The term Županija is used in:
* Croatia: counties of Croatia
* Cantons o ...
; it, Regione istriana, "Istrian Region") is the westernmost
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
of
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
which includes the biggest part of the
Istrian peninsula ( out of , or 89%).
Administrative centers in the county are
Pazin
Pazin ( it, Pisino, german: Mitterburg) is a town in western Croatia, the administrative seat of Istria County. It is known for the medieval Pazin Castle, the former residence of the Istrian margraves.
Geography
The town had a population of 8,6 ...
,
Pula and
Poreč
Poreč (; it, Parenzo; la, Parens or ; grc, Πάρενθος, Párenthos) is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, west Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, wh ...
. Istria County is the most prominent
Italian-speaking part of Croatia.
History
The caves near Pula (in latinium ''Pietas Julia''), ''Lim fjord'', ''Šandalja'', and ''Roumald's cave'', house
Stone Age archaeological remains. Less ancient
Stone Age sites, from the period between 6000 and 2000 BC can also be found in the area. More than 400 locations are classified as
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
(1800–1000 BC) items. Numerous findings including
weapon
A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, ...
s,
tool
A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...
s, and
jewelry
Jewellery ( UK) or jewelry ( U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a w ...
) which are from the earlier
iron era around the beginning of
common era
Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
.
The Istrian peninsula was known to
Romans
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
as the ''terra magica''. Its name is derived from the
Histri, an
Illyrian tribe
This is a list of ancient tribes in the ancient territory of Illyria ( grc-gre, Ἰλλυρία; la, Illyria). The name ''Illyrians'' seems to be the name of a single Illyrian tribe that was the first to come into contact with the ancient Greeks ...
who as accounted by the geographer
Strabo lived in the region. Romans described them as
pirates who were hard to conquer due to the difficulty of navigating the territory. After two military campaigns, Roman legions finally subdued them in 177 BC.
With the
fall of the Western Roman Empire
The fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome) was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vas ...
in 476, Istria was conquered by the
Goths
The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Europe ...
and then by the
Byzantines. During Byzantine rule, it was shortly ruled by Avars. Istria was annexed by the
Lombards
The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774.
The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the '' History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 an ...
in 751, by the
Avars in 774, by the
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
during the reign of
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first ...
in 789, and successively controlled by various dukes, (
Carinthia,
Merano
Merano (, , ) or Meran () is a city and ''comune'' in South Tyrol, northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier ...
,
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
). Later it was run by the patriarchs of
Aquileia.
In 1267 the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
annexed the western and southern coast of the Istrian peninsula because of the strong presence of the autochthonous Italian community; during this period the region prospered. The major Istrian cities were reborn under Italian government; it was in this half millennium that they developed architecturally and culturally. The eastern half of Istria was administered by the Habsburgs, and was referred to as "Imperial Istria" with its capital at Pisino (German: Mitterburg).
In 1797, with the
Treaty of Campo Formio
The Treaty of Campo Formio (today Campoformido) was signed on 17 October 1797 (26 Vendémiaire VI) by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Philipp von Cobenzl as representatives of the French Republic and the Austrian monarchy, respectively. The trea ...
written by
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, the peninsula with the whole Republic of Venice passed to the
Habsburgs of Austria. The
Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 handed Istria to the Kingdom of Italy. The
Treaty of Schönbrunn
The Treaty of Schönbrunn (french: Traité de Schönbrunn; german: Friede von Schönbrunn), sometimes known as the Peace of Schönbrunn or Treaty of Vienna, was signed between France and Austria at Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna on 14 October ...
in 1809 transferred Istria to France. In 1815, the
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...
confirmed Austria's possession on the Northern
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
along with
Istria. Regional guvernative units were formed in
Gorizia
Gorizia (; sl, Gorica , colloquially 'old Gorizia' to distinguish it from Nova Gorica; fur, label= Standard Friulian, Gurize, fur, label= Southeastern Friulian, Guriza; vec, label= Bisiacco, Gorisia; german: Görz ; obsolete English ''Gori ...
(Gorizia county),
Trieste
Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...
(Istrian area), and
Rijeka (
Pazin county and
Kvarner Gulf
The Kvarner Gulf (, or , la, Sinus Flanaticus or ), sometimes also Kvarner Bay, is a bay in the northern Adriatic Sea, located between the Istrian peninsula and the northern Croatian Littoral mainland. The bay is a part of Croatia's internal wa ...
). From 1849 they were united in
Austrian Littoral. The free port of Trieste presented an individual guvernative unit outside of other guvernative areas.
Starting in 1861 until 1918/1920 the seat to a regional
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
in the
Austro-Hungarian Empire was in Parenzo (today: Poreč).
After World War I, according to the peace treaty of
Rapallo
Rapallo ( , , ) is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, located in the Liguria region of northern Italy.
As of 2017 it had 29,778 inhabitants. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, on the Tigullio Gulf, between Portofino and Chiav ...
Istria became part of Italy in 1920.
Fascism
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy an ...
and later
Nazi
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
occupation spoiled otherwise tolerant ethnic relations in the area. After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
Istria was assigned to
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
and many ethnic
Italians
, flag =
, flag_caption = The national flag of Italy
, population =
, regions = Italy 55,551,000
, region1 = Brazil
, pop1 = 25–33 million
, ref1 =
, region2 ...
(
Istrian Italians
Istrian Italians are an ethnic group from the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic region of Istria in modern northwestern Croatia and southwestern Slovenia. Istrian Italians descend from the original Latinized population of Roman Empire, Roman Istria#Early h ...
) left in the
Istrian–Dalmatian exodus
The Istrian–Dalmatian exodus (; ; ) was the post-World War II exodus and departure of local ethnic Italians (Istrian Italians and Dalmatian Italians) as well as ethnic Slovenes, Croats, and Istro-Romanians from the Yugoslav territory of Juli ...
. With the
collapse of Communist Yugoslavia Istria became part of an independent Croatia and the region saw no fighting in the
ensuing war. Today it is one of the most economically developed parts of Croatia. Currently, some people ask for a higher degree of autonomy for the county. This is known as
Istrianism
Istrianism or Istrianness is the name given to the Regionalism (politics), regionalist identity developed by the inhabitants of the part of Istria located in Croatia. Istria is the biggest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea and a multiethnic region di ...
.
Personalities like
Robert Koch
Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch ( , ; 11 December 1843 – 27 May 1910) was a German physician and microbiologist. As the discoverer of the specific causative agents of deadly infectious diseases including tuberculosis, cholera (though the bacteri ...
and writer
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of ...
lived and worked in Istria. Writer
Jules Verne was inspired to write his novel ''
Mathias Sandorf
''Mathias Sandorf'' is an 1885 adventure book by French writer Jules Verne. It was first serialized in ''Le Temps'' in 1885, and it was Verne's epic Mediterranean adventure. It employs many of the devices that had served well in his earlier novel ...
'' after hearing of the
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...
and
cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
in Pazin and the poet
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: '' ...
visited and wrote a few lines about Istria.
Geography
![Istria Croatian Adriatic](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Istria_Croatian_Adriatic.png)
Its coastline is long with islands making up . A smaller part of Istria also belongs to the
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County of Croatia. Mirroring the bay of
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
across the
Adriatic and the
Quarnaro Gulf, the region is not far from the
Julian Alps
The Julian Alps ( sl, Julijske Alpe, it, Alpi Giulie, , ) are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia. A large p ...
. The westernmost point is at
Savudrija
Savudrija () is a coastal settlement in northwestern Istria, Croatia. It has developed from a fishing village into a pleasant holiday centre. Savudrija is also the name of the surrounding area in the peninsula.
The 19th century Savudrija Light ...
while the southernmost is near
Premantura
Premantura – Promontore is a small village in the municipality of Medulin in Istria, on the southernmost tip Istrian Peninsula, just south of the city of Pula
Pula (; also known as Pola, it, Pola , hu, Pòla, Venetian; ''Pola''; Istriot: ' ...
, on the local
promontory of Kamenjak.
The terrain consists of a
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...
much of which lacks water owing to its
karst topography. The northeastern section is an extension of the
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps (), also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herz ...
. The highest point is ''Vojak'' on
Učka
The Učka ([], it, Monte Maggiore) is a mountain range in western Croatia. It rises behind the Opatija riviera, on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula.
It forms a single morphological unit together with the Ćićarija range which stretche ...
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually highe ...
above sea level and there is another range of mountains, the
Ćićarija
Ćićarija ( sl, Čičarija; it, Cicceria, Monti della Vena; ruo, Cicearia; german: Tschitschen Boden), is a mountainous plateau in the northern and northeastern part of the Istria peninsula, long and wide. It mostly lies in Croatia, while i ...
.
There are so called "bijela", "siva", and "crvena" Istra (white, grey and red Istria). White Istria is around the mountain peaks, Grey Istria is the fertile inner lands while Red Istria is the blood-red painted lands of
terra rossa or "crljenica" near the coastline.
Sites such as the ''Grotto of Baredine'' near Poreč, the underground river
Pazinčica, and the
karst Pazin pit (Pazinska jama) near
Pazin
Pazin ( it, Pisino, german: Mitterburg) is a town in western Croatia, the administrative seat of Istria County. It is known for the medieval Pazin Castle, the former residence of the Istrian margraves.
Geography
The town had a population of 8,6 ...
are geologic attractions. The
Limski Kanal is the only structure resembling a
fjord
In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Förden and East Jutland Fjorde, Germany, ...
in continental Europe outside of
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swe ...
(though actually it is not a fjord, but a
ria
A ria (; gl, ría) is a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley. It is a drowned river valley that remains open to the sea.
Definitions
Typically rias have a dendritic, treelike outline although they ca ...
). The
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...
near
Rovinj
Rovinj (; it, Rovigno; Istriot: or ; grc, Ρυγίνιον, Rygínion; la, Ruginium) is a city in Croatia situated on the north Adriatic Sea with a population of 14,294 (2011). Located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, it is a p ...
has been designed for studying geology. The longest river, the
Mirna
MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21 to 23 nucleotides. Found in plants, animals and some viruses, miRNAs are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miR ...
is only long and its mouth is near
Novigrad. Other rivers that pass through Istria include the ''Dragonja River'' and the
Raša River Raša may refer to:
* Raša, Istria County
Raša ( it, Arsia, Chakavian: ''Aršija'') is a municipality in the inner part of the Raška Inlet in the south-eastern part of Istria, Croatia. Raša lies southwest of Labin at an elevation of .
Sit ...
.
The continental plains and valleys are primarily utilized for agriculture, such as growing cereals and vegetables. Closer to the sea, red lands are used for cultivation of
grapes
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...
,
vine
A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...
, olives, and
fig
The fig is the edible fruit of ''Ficus carica'', a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world ...
s. Agriculture and the production of ecological food, the
olive gardens, and the production of quality wines is the focus of Istria's
agriculture sector
The primary sector of the economy includes any industry involved in the extraction and production of raw materials, such as farming, logging, fishing, forestry and mining.
The primary sector tends to make up a larger portion of the economy in d ...
. The coastline and nearby islands are rich in the
maquis shrubland (mostly
holm oak and
strawberry tree). Woods, mostly
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
and
pine
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...
trees, cover a third of the territory.
The
Brijuni
The Brijuni () or the Brijuni Islands (also known as the Brionian Islands; same as it, Brioni) are a group of fourteen small islands in the Croatian part of the northern Adriatic Sea, separated from the west coast of the Istrian peninsula by ...
national park and the
Učka
The Učka ([], it, Monte Maggiore) is a mountain range in western Croatia. It rises behind the Opatija riviera, on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula.
It forms a single morphological unit together with the Ćićarija range which stretche ...
nature park are well-known natural reservations and legally protected landscapes. This mountain range feeds the rivers and lakes from eastern Istria to the Raša river in the ''Labinština'' peninsula. Other interesting localities are
Lim Bay, the wood near
Motovun
Motovun (, it, Montona or ''Montona d'Istria'') is a village and a municipality in central Istria, Croatia. In ancient times, both Celts and Illyrians built their fortresses at the location of present-day Motovun. The name of the village is also ...
, park woods ''Zlatni Rt'' and ''Šijana'' near Pula, the protected landscape of ''Kamenjak'' in the extreme south of Istria, and the reservation Palud with an
ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...
near
Rovinj
Rovinj (; it, Rovigno; Istriot: or ; grc, Ρυγίνιον, Rygínion; la, Ruginium) is a city in Croatia situated on the north Adriatic Sea with a population of 14,294 (2011). Located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, it is a p ...
. The Brijuni
archipelago
An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands.
Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Arc ...
is an interesting habitat of about 680 plant species and also decorated by the most diverse vegetation and olive groves.
Climate
Protected from the north by the mountain chain of
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Swi ...
as well the inner highland, the
climate
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologi ...
is
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa ...
and very pleasant with the highest
air temperature
Atmospheric temperature is a measure of temperature at different levels of the Earth's atmosphere. It is governed by many factors, including incoming solar radiation, humidity and altitude. When discussing surface air temperature, the annual atm ...
averaging 24 °C during August The lowest air temperature averages 5 °C in January. Summers are usually warm during the day and cooler near the evening, although strange heat wave patterns are common. The weather ranges from humid to dry with over 10 hours of sunshine daily. Primarily, there is a lot of moisture in the air especially in the coastal towns of Istra such as Poreč, Vrsar, Rovinj, Pula, and others. Temperatures above 10 °C last for more than 240 days a year. Excessive heat (above 30 °C) lasts for three weeks at the most. Despite air temperatures being lower than those in
Dalmatia, the
Adriatic sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
is warmer reaching up to 26 °C in August, coldest in March, (9-11 °C), while the freezing even in small, shallow bays is quite rare. There are two kinds of winds - the
bora is bringing cold and clear weather from the north in winters, and the southern
jugo bringing rain in summer. The
maestral is a summer breeze blowing from the inland to the sea. The
salinity of the sea water is 0.37%.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census the total population of Istria County is 208,055 which amounts to 4.85 percent of Croatia's entire population. The population density is 73 inhabitants per km
2 with an average age of 43 years.
Istria county is administratively subdivided into 41 local units of government - 10 of these are officially designated as cities/towns and 31 are largely rural municipalities. More than 70 percent of the county's population lives in these ten urban areas:
*
Pula / Pola (57,460)
*
Poreč
Poreč (; it, Parenzo; la, Parens or ; grc, Πάρενθος, Párenthos) is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, west Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, wh ...
/ Parenzo (16,696)
*
Rovinj
Rovinj (; it, Rovigno; Istriot: or ; grc, Ρυγίνιον, Rygínion; la, Ruginium) is a city in Croatia situated on the north Adriatic Sea with a population of 14,294 (2011). Located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, it is a p ...
/ Rovigno (14,294)
*
Umag
Umag (; it, Umago) is a coastal town in Istria, Croatia.
Geography
It is the westernmost town of Croatia, and it includes Bašanija, the westernmost point of Croatia.
Population
Umag has a population of 7,281, with a total municipal populatio ...
/ Umago (13,467)
*
Labin
Labin (Italian/Istriot: Albona) is a town in Istria, west Croatia, with a town population of 5,806 (2021) and 10,424 in the greater municipality (which also includes the small towns of Rabac and Vinež, as well as a number of smaller villages).
...
/ Albona (11,642)
*
Pazin
Pazin ( it, Pisino, german: Mitterburg) is a town in western Croatia, the administrative seat of Istria County. It is known for the medieval Pazin Castle, the former residence of the Istrian margraves.
Geography
The town had a population of 8,6 ...
/ Pisino (8,638)
*
Buzet / Pinguente (6,133)
*
Vodnjan
Vodnjan (; it, Dignano) is a town in Istria County, Croatia, located about 10 kilometers north of the largest city in Istria, Pula.
History
According to the legend, it developed out of the association of seven villas which were part of the colon ...
/ Dignano (6,119)
*
Buje
Buje ( it, Buie) is a town situated in Istria, Croatia's westernmost peninsula.
Buje was known as the "sentinel of Istria" for its hilltop site located inland from the Adriatic Sea.
History
Buje has a rich history; traces of life in the regio ...
/ Buie (5,182)
*
Novigrad / Cittanova (4,345)
There are also 31 municipalities:
*
Bale / Valle (1,127)
*
Barban
Barban ( it, Barbana, Čakavian ''Barbon,'' or ''Brban'') is a small town and municipality in the southern part of eastern Istria, Croatia.
The municipality of Barban covers an area of around 100 km2 and contains 72 villages with a total of ...
/ Barbana (2,721)
*
Brtonigla
Brtonigla ( it, Verteneglio; Venetian: ''Vertenejo'') is a village and a municipality in the north-western part of Istria County, Croatia. Brtonigla is officially bilingual, with Croatian and Italian being equal; in 2011, 40% of the population d ...
/ Verteneglio (1,626)
*
Cerovlje
Cerovlje ( it, Cerreto) is a village and a municipality in Istria, Croatia.
Description
Many ancient towns and decayed castles ( Belaj, Posert, Paz, Gologorica, Gradinje) can be found in its territory. Almost every town or castle in Cerov ...
/ Cerreto (1,677)
*
Fažana
Fažana (; Italian: ''Fasana,'' ) is a village and a municipality on the western coast of Istria, in Croatia.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југ ...
/ Fasana (3,635)
*
Gračišće / Gallignana (1,419)
*
Grožnjan
Grožnjan ( it, Grisignana) is a settlement and municipality in Croatia. It is part of Croatia's Istria County, which takes up most of the Istrian peninsula. 39% of the municipality's population has Italian ethnicity.
History
Early history
In G ...
/ Grisignana (736)
*
Kanfanar / Canfanaro (1,543)
*
Karojba / Caroiba (1,438)
*
Kaštelir-Labinci
Kaštelir-Labinci ( it, Castellier-Santa Domenica) is a municipality in Istria, Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"( ...
/ Castellier-Santa Domenica (1,463)
*
Kršan
Kršan ( it, Chersano, ruo, Cârșån) is a village and municipality in the eastern part of Istria County, Croatia.
Description
It is located in the eastern part of Istria, west of mountain Učka and south-west of Čepić field, on the state r ...
/ Chersano (2,951)
*
Lanišće
Lanišće ( it, Lanischie) is a village and municipality in the mountainous Ćićarija area, Istria, Croatia. In 2011, the population of the village itself is 88, with a total of 329 residents in the municipality. Over 92.40% of the population a ...
/ Lanischie (329)
*
Ližnjan
Ližnjan ( it, Lisignano) is a village and municipality in Istria, Croatia. It has high biodiversity. There is a small church named Crkva Majke Božje od Kuj that dates back to the 17th century but was built on ancient foundations. It has a glas ...
/ Lisignano (3,965)
*
Lupoglav / Lupogliano (924)
*
Marčana
Marčana ( it, Marzana) is a village and municipality in the southern part of Istria, Croatia, 15 km northeast of Pula. The village is situated on the D66 state road (Pula - Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, ...
/ Marzana (4,253)
*
Medulin
Medulin ( it, Medolino) is a municipality in the southern part of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. At the 2011 census the municipality had a population of 6,481, while the settlement proper had 2,777 inhabitants.
Medulin is built around a harbour ...
/ Medolino (6,481)
*
Motovun
Motovun (, it, Montona or ''Montona d'Istria'') is a village and a municipality in central Istria, Croatia. In ancient times, both Celts and Illyrians built their fortresses at the location of present-day Motovun. The name of the village is also ...
/ Montona (1,004)
*
Oprtalj
Oprtalj ( it, Portole) is a village and municipality in Istria, Croatia. Oprtalj is a community in the central northern part of Istria County, situated across the Mirna river valley from the village of Motovun, about 20 km northwest of Pazin ...
/ Portole (850)
*
Pićan
Pićan ( it, Pedena, Chakavian: ''Pićon'', sl, Pičen,) is a village and municipality in the central part of Istria, Croatia, 12 km southeast of Pazin; elevation 360 m. The chief occupations are agriculture and livestock breeding. It is sit ...
/ Pedena (1,827)
*
Raša / Arsia (3,183)
*
Sveta Nedelja / Santa Domenica d'Albona (2,987)
*
Sveti Lovreč / San Lorenzo di Pesenatico (1,015)
*
Sveti Petar u Šumi / San Pietro di Selve (1,065)
*
Svetvinčenat
Svetvinčenat ( it, Sanvincenti, Chakavian language, Chakavian: ''Savičenta,'' or ''Savicjenta'') is a village and municipality in the south of the central part of Istria, Croatia, about 16 km north of Vodnjan; elevation 250 m.
Description ...
/ Sanvincenti (2,202)
*
Tar-Vabriga / Torre-Abrega (1,990)
*
Tinjan
Tinjan ( it, Antignana) is a village and municipality in Istria, Croatia. The total population is 1,684 (2011 census), distributed in the following settlements:
* Brčići, population 100
* Brečevići, population 187
* Jakovici, population 268 ...
/ Antignana (1,684)
*
Višnjan
Višnjan ( it, Visignano) is a village and municipality in Istria, Croatia. Višnjan is the site of Višnjan Observatory (an astronomical observatory). The observatory is home of several long-running international summer programs for youth in astr ...
/ Visignano (2,274)
*
Vižinada
Vižinada ( it, Visinada) is a village and municipality in the interior of the western part of Istria, Croatia. It is 17 km northeast of Poreč, with an elevation of 400 m. The economy is agriculture-based.
Demographics
The total municipalit ...
/ Visinada (1,158)
*
Vrsar
Vrsar ( vec, Orsera) is a small seaside town and a municipality in Istria, Croatia located 9 kilometers south of Poreč. The historical center is located on top of a hill, including the St. Martin parish church and the 40-meter high bell tower. I ...
/ Orsera (2,162)
*
Žminj / Gimino (3,483)
*
Funtana
Funtana ( it, Fontane) is a village and municipality (2006) in Istria, Croatia, located between Poreč and Vrsar
Vrsar ( vec, Orsera) is a small seaside town and a municipality in Istria, Croatia located 9 kilometers south of Poreč. The histori ...
/ Fontane (907)
Besides official Croatian, the
Chakavian dialect
Chakavian or Čakavian (, , , sh-Latn, čakavski proper name: or own name: ''čokovski, čakavski, čekavski'') is a South Slavic regiolect or language spoken primarily by Croats along the Adriatic coast, in the historical regions of Da ...
of
Croatian is often in use, as in most coastal counties.
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
is also recognized in the county as an official language.
In 2021 the population was 208,055 and the main ethnic groups were as follows:
*
Croats
The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic, ...
– 149,152 (76,40%)
*
Italians
, flag =
, flag_caption = The national flag of Italy
, population =
, regions = Italy 55,551,000
, region1 = Brazil
, pop1 = 25–33 million
, ref1 =
, region2 ...
– 9,784 (5.01%)
*
Serbs
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language.
The majority of Serbs live in their na ...
– 5,778 (2.98%)
*
Bosniaks – 4,838 (2.48%)
*
Albanians – 2,055 (1.05%)
Before World War I and until World War II, Istria contained a large autochthonous Romance language speaking community consisting of
Venetian dialects,
Istriot
The Istriot language () is a Romance language of the Italo-Dalmatian branch spoken by about 400 people in the southwestern part of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia, particularly in Rovinj and Vodnjan. It should not be confused with the Istrian ...
and
Istro-Romanian along with
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
, plus various local
Slavic dialects, some of which were likewise unique to Istria. Today, apart from the
local dialects and official
Croatian, one still finds in this region a small community of people, the
Istro-Romanians
The Istro-Romanians ( ruo, rumeri or ) are a Romance ethnic group native to or associated with the Istrian Peninsula. Historically, they inhabited vast parts of it, as well as the western side of the island of Krk until 1875. However, due to se ...
, who speak
Istro-Romanian, closely related to
Romanian
Romanian may refer to:
*anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania
**Romanians, an ethnic group
**Romanian language, a Romance language
*** Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language
** Romanian cuisine, tradition ...
, other districts where
Venetian dialects and
Istriot
The Istriot language () is a Romance language of the Italo-Dalmatian branch spoken by about 400 people in the southwestern part of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia, particularly in Rovinj and Vodnjan. It should not be confused with the Istrian ...
are still spoken.
Due to its traditional bond with Europe and its level of international integration, in 1994 Istria County was the first Croatian region to become a member of the
Assembly of European Regions
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together regions
from 35 countries and 15 interregional organisations, AER is a forum for interregional cooperation. Histori ...
.
Communication
Istria is well connected with the rest of Croatia and Europe. Due to its connection with a wider European area, road development suitably covers all needs and contributes to a balanced development of the coastal area and the Istrian interior.
Initially, the need for
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
s in Istria was based upon fast development of industrial activities;
shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befo ...
, construction material, machine and electric industries, as well as Austrian military interests. After
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
and
Trieste
Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...
were connected in 1876, the railway between
Divača
Divača (; it, Divaccia) is a large nucleated village in the Littoral region of Slovenia, near the Italian border. It is the seat of the Municipality of Divača and a railway hub.
Geography
Divača lies along the A1 motorway and the old main r ...
, (in today's
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
) and Pula, ( long with long branch
Kanfanar - Rovinj), was opened. Despite numerous initiatives, the western parts of Istria have been connected with the railroad only in 1902, with construction of the
Parenzana
The Parenzana in Italian and Croatian or Porečanka in Slovene is one of the nicknames of a defunct 760mm/15 15/16 inch narrow gauge railway (operating between 1902 and 1935) between Trieste and Poreč (at that time Parenzo, hence the name ' ...
narrow-gauge railway. The long railway, was dismantled in 1935. To this day, Istria County's rail connections are only towards
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
, and despite the fact that some plans to build railroad tunnel through
Učka
The Učka ([], it, Monte Maggiore) is a mountain range in western Croatia. It rises behind the Opatija riviera, on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula.
It forms a single morphological unit together with the Ćićarija range which stretche ...
mountain date from decades ago, there are no projections about financing and works are not scheduled to start any time soon.
The connection to the rest of Croatian rail network is by
HŽ
Croatian Railways ( hr, Hrvatske željeznice; abbreviated as HŽ) is the national railway company of Croatia. Croatia is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Croatia is 78. The Croatian rail network carr ...
national railways' bus service from the
Lupoglav junction to the
Rijeka Station via
Učka road tunnel
Croatian Istria County's highway system is callen the "
Istrian Y".
A8 motorway connects the county to the rest of Croatia from
Matulji
Matulji ( it, Mattuglie) is a municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. It is located west of the city of Rijeka, north of the town of Opatija, and it borders Slovenia.
Municipality
There are a total of 11,246 inhabitants in the m ...
(
A7/ further
A6) interchange through Učka Tunnel to
Kanfanar interchange, and
A9 motorway connects Pula via
Kanfanar to
Umag
Umag (; it, Umago) is a coastal town in Istria, Croatia.
Geography
It is the westernmost town of Croatia, and it includes Bašanija, the westernmost point of Croatia.
Population
Umag has a population of 7,281, with a total municipal populatio ...
, connecting the county to
Slovenian Istria
Slovene Istria ( sl, slovenska Istra, it, Istria slovena) is a region in southwest Slovenia. It comprises the northern part of the Istrian peninsula, and it is part of the wider geographical-historical region known as the Slovene Littoral. Its l ...
and further to Italy.
The only significant
airport
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surfa ...
with scheduled commercial service is
Pula Airport
Pula Airport ( hr, Zračna luka Pula; it, Aeroporto di Pola; ) is the international airport serving Pula, Croatia, and is located 6 km from the city centre. It served 777,568 passengers in 2019. The airport is designated as the alternative ...
. Large majority of flights are only seasonal.
Economy
Well-developed are
processing industry
Process manufacturing is a branch of manufacturing that is associated with formulas and manufacturing recipes, , with traditional
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
, sea fishing and growing, construction and production of construction materials (
lime
Lime commonly refers to:
* Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit
* Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide
* Lime (color), a color between yellow and green
Lime may also refer to:
Botany ...
,
cement
A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mi ...
, brick, stone), trade and
transport
Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipelin ...
. Most developed branches of industry are
shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befo ...
(In the early 1970s its
Uljanik
Uljanik was a shipbuilding company in Pula, Croatia.
History
Uljanik was founded in 1856, in the carefully selected bay of Pula (then known as Pola) as a shipyard of the Austro-Venetian Navy (from 1867 to 1918 Austro-Hungarian Navy). The f ...
shipyard was building the biggest ships in the world as
Berge Adria and others), metal processing, wood industry, furniture industry, automotive components industry, electric machines and appliances industry, glass, plastic, textile, tobacco industry. According to economic indicators, the leading activities are processing industry, tourism, and trade.
Great attention is being given to agriculture and the production of ecologic food, the wine and olive growing. Historically cultivated local wine varieties include
Malvasia
Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. ...
(white) and
Teran (red).
Tourism
Organized tourism in Istria goes back to the Romans, when emperor
Vespasian
Vespasian (; la, Vespasianus ; 17 November AD 9 – 23/24 June 79) was a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empi ...
, for the
entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousa ...
of that time, built the
Pula Arena
The Pula Arena ( hr, Pulska Arena; it, Arena di Pola) is a Roman amphitheatre located in Pula, Croatia. It is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved. It was constructed between 27 BC and AD 68, Kristina ...
. During the reign of
Austro-Hungarian Empire in (1866), Austrian and Hungarian royalty and aristocracy started visiting local resorts and discovered Poreč.
Significant efforts were made after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
to develop the tourist infrastructure and to accentuate its importance. In combination with the natural environment, history and
cultural heritage, investments resulted in developed and competitive service all along the western coast in Poreč, Pula, Rovinj, Umag, Novigrad, and Vrsar.
One growing trend among the centrally located cities, especially
Kanfanar, is
agritourism
Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Types
A 2018 article published in the ''Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development'' classified a ...
. Beginning with La Casa di Matiki in 1994 after the war, a number of eccentric agritouristic Bed and Breakfasts have sprung up in central Istria, providing opportunities for individuals, couples, and families to experience a very authentic Istrian experience while learning about the Istrian agricultural lifestyle.
In the eastern part, as part of another county, there are resorts like
Rabac
Rabac ( it, Porto Albona) is a Croatian resort town on Kvarner Bay, just southeast of Labin, in Istria.
Long a small fishing port, Rabac has grown in the 1970s into a resort town with numerous villas and apartment buildings.
The Rabac Festiva ...
,
Opatija
Opatija (; it, Abbazia; german: Sankt Jakobi) is a List of cities and towns in Croatia, town and a municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia. The traditional seaside resort on the Kvarner Gulf is known for its Mediterranean ...
. Istria was and still is the most important tourist destination in Croatia, hosting the western and central European visitors, mostly from Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Italy. Area is the most visited tourist region with 27% of all visitors and 35% of time spent in all of Croatia.
County government
The current
Prefect
Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
A prefect's ...
of Istria County is
Boris Miletić (
Ind.).
The county assembly is composed of 41 representatives from the following political parties:
See also
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč-Pula
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč and Pula ( hr, Porečko-pulska biskupija; la, Dioecesis Parentina et Polensis; Italian: ''Diocesi di Parenzo e Pola'') is a suffragan Latin diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdioces ...
*
Istria
*
History of Istria
Istria ( Croatian and Slovene: ''Istra''; Istriot: ''Eîstria''; Istro-Romanian, Italian and Venetian: ''Istria'', la, Histria) is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf ...
*
Counties of Croatia
The counties of Croatia ( hr, hrvatske županije) are the primary administrative subdivisions of the Republic of Croatia. Since they were re-established in 1992, Croatia has been divided into 20 counties and the capital city of Zagreb, which ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Istria
Counties of Croatia
Regions of Europe with multiple official languages
Italian-speaking territorial units in Croatia