RACE GUIDE

IS A HIDDEN GARDEN OF BEAUTY WHICH OPENS THE DOOR
istria.
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Discover hidden treasures
of breath-taking history
and unspoiled nature
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Istria truly is ‘terra magica’; blessed
with unspoiled nature, the crown jewel
of which are the Brijuni islands, one of
the most beautiful archipelagos in the
Mediterranean with rare plant and animal
species. This is a land whose long
and rich history can be read literally
from dinosaur footprints. Fortified by
the northerly bora and invigorated by
the mistral, fragrance imbued with
Spanish broom, sage and lavender,
drowsy from stone pines, thyme and
immortelle, with a climate that makes
for a five month long swimming season,
Istria is indeed the ideal tourist
destination. Of course, don’t forget to
taste Istria! From delicacies of the sea
to delectable truffles, the liquid gold of
the local Malvasia, the aromatic Muscat
of Momjan, or the ruby-red Teran
that once fortified Casanova himself,
your palate will combine these divine
pleasures into a fusion of unforgettable
Istrian experiences. So, rather than
dreaming of the holiday of your life -
wake up in Istria! Step into this vibrant
hub of civilisations whose cultural arboretum
has been jealously nurtured
since the times of the Histri, the Celts
and the Romans, through the Slavonic
peoples and the Venetians, all the
way to the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
and you will soon learn why Istria is
so special. To begin, remember the Legend
of the Argonauts. In vain pursuit
of Jason and the stolen Golden Fleece,
having arrived to the shores of Istria,
the people of Colchis decided not to
return to their home. There is something
in her magic, like in no other
place in the Mediterranean. Here you
will find a town which, just like Rome,
lies on seven hills and boasts a famous
amphitheatre. On one of those hills, a
weary Hungarian king felt the desire
to exchange his resplendent robes for
the modest robe of a monk, and die in
a state of sanctity, while the immortal
Dante, inspired by the view from a panoramic
viewpoint, wrote the verses of
his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy.
The name of this town is Pula, Istria’s
largest urban centre. It is the beating
heart of the peninsula, with 3000 years
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100 MILES OF ISTRIA 2016 83