Author: villasborghetto Date: 25.10.21 Category: Blog

Istria is the most visited destination in Croatia in 2021. with the highest number of overnight stays during the summer months. Due to its many attractive locations and picturesque cities with interesting history, natural beauty, many events, and fantastic gastronomic delicacies it is full of tourists.

Given the overall situation with the coronavirus, we have great news for all those who want to avoid crowds and large numbers of people – Istria is not just the perfect destination for a visit in summer, but also in the fall and offers you many opportunities.

For this reason, autumn is ideal for a carefree visit exploring the riches of Istria. We bring you the Top 5 ideas for a perfect autumn vacation in Istria.

1. Romantic Rovinj & attractive locations from the movie ‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ (2021)

Rovinj’s Old Town is characterized by romantic winding stone streets full of colorful houses. The historic heart of Rovinj consists of beautiful buildings along the waterfront that create an illusion that they are rising from the sea.

A walk through the town will reveal many small boutique shops, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. With the influence of Venice being evident in Rovinj and the Italian history of the city, you will enjoy many scenes that are a dream come true for many scenic photographers.

Old Town is represented by a mixture of architecture from different periods, such as the Renaissance, Neoclassicism, Gothic and Baroque, and you will be delighted by the art corner, an open-air exhibition, known as Grisia.

Fans of the film industry and action comedies certainly did not miss the new movie ‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ with popular actors in the lead roles – Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek.

Film scenes were shot all over Croatia and fans would certainly want to visit numerous locations in Istria where the film was shot. The city of Rovinj was the location of many scenes and the film features the Old Town and the Carera Street in an exciting scene of a motorcycle chase.

2. Motovun & Truffle hunting

We mostly spend the summer months enjoying the Istrian coast, while spring and autumn are perfect for exploring its interior. One of the most popular tourist places is Motovun – the most famous Istrian medieval town.

Motovun is a city full of cultural features from the various reigns in which it found itself. The city is characterized by walls and a bell tower that dominates the entire landscape. Apart from the medieval ambiance, Motovun is attractive because of the colorful doors and facades of its houses.

You will also be delighted by the view that stretches through the vineyards, the valley of the river Mirna and the forest of Sv. Marko with the Učka mountain on its other side.

Istria is famous for the food equivalent to gold – truffles. The Motovun forest is full of white truffles, which you can also try hunting. Accompanied by a licensed guide and search dogs, you will have the opportunity to learn all about truffles and find your specimen in the woods. Also, Zigante Truffle Days are held every year in the autumn months in the nearby Livade and fresh white and black truffles and other products are available in the specialized Zigante store or you can simply taste them in the restaurant located next to the shop.

You could recently learn about truffles in the episode of the documentary series “Uncharted” on the National Geographic Croatia channel, in which the famous British chef Gordon Ramsay is visiting Istria and preparing top dishes.

For this reason, if you dare to hunt truffles, we bring you a video that the famous Scot posted on his YouTube channel, in which he prepares a sandwich with scrambled eggs and truffles that he gathered himself.

For all those who want to enjoy comfort, feel at home, and relax in a private pool after the truffle hunt – we offer modern and luxurious Borghetto villas just half an hour drive from Motovun.

3. ‘The Seven Waterfalls Trail’

‘The Seven Waterfalls Trail’ is the most popular hiking trail in Istria. The trail passes by the natural beauties of the river Mirna and its tributary, the river Draga.

It got its name for a reason – along the way you will enjoy the view of seven waterfalls, the playful riverbed, and in addition, you will get to explore abandoned Istrian villages, but also the popular picnic area Kotli.

Every hiking and nature lover should pass this trail at least once and forget about everyday problems and challenges with the murmurs of the river and the refreshment of waterfalls. In summer, the riverbed is mostly dry, so you won’t even see the waterfalls in full force. The ideal time is spring or autumn.

4. Grožnjan – the “city of artists”

Grožnjan-Grisignana is a small Istrian town widely known as the “city of artists”. The city is of great cultural importance, not only in Croatia, but also internationally, and you can enjoy many art galleries and beautiful viewpoints.

This medieval town on a hill reveals a beautiful view that reaches the valley of Mirna and the sea between Novigrad and Umag and its streets have a special charm.

A visit to Grožnjan is an ideal escape from everyday life and during the visit, you can rent bicycles for a unique experience and enjoy truffle dishes typical for this area of ​​Istria.

When visiting, be sure not to miss:

• The chapel of St. Cosmas and Damian with a shovel from 1554.
• The Baroque Spinotti Palace
• Relaxing with a cup of tea at the Fonticus City Gallery
• Studying the preserved Venetian lodge from the 16th century

5. Escape Castle Svetvinčenat – a unique “escape” game in Croatia

Many legends are told about the Morosini-Grimani castle in Svetvincenat. One of them is the legend of an unknown knight who won the knights’ tournament held on Žlinja, the lawn in front of the castle.

To not reveal his face, he refused the prize and instead drove his sword into the rock and no one but the future king could pull it out. He then rode straight into the sunset leaving behind a legend and 7 knightly temptations.

Unlike the classic “escape room” games, Escape Castle Svetvincenat includes the entire castle Morosini-Grimani, info point, all 3 towers, dungeon, armory, and throne, where players must pass the 7 knightly temptations – loyalty, courage, faith, justice, caution, knowledge and perseverance to discover the secret of the castle.

It is an innovative concept, unique in the world, based on Istrian legends and historical records. The game is for all generations and lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. Try your hand at Escape Castle, where teams of 2-5 players can participate.

Escaping from a (real) castle has never been so much fun!

Autumn vacation is always a great idea, and the perfect holiday destination in the Adriatic is certainly – Istria. Istria is attractive all year round, and in the autumn months, there are many interesting activities and natural beauties that you can visit. In this blog, we have revealed only a part of the autumn magic in Istria.

During your stay in Istria, for maximum relaxation, enjoyment and privacy, stay in one of the luxury Borghetto villas and let your autumn vacation be perfect!