Croatia is still stigmatised by the unknowing as being a war torn country with minefields, uninhabitable areas and unfriendly people that only the foolhardy would dare to visit. I hope that through this small window, you will see that exactly the opposite is true.

Croatia is a country blessed with some of the most remarkable and breathtaking views on offer anywhere in the world. The people are warm, friendly and very accommodating to all those who are clever enough to seek out their historical natural beauties.

The area of Istra (or Istria), a peninsular on the north-east coast of the Adriatic sea is abundant with fertile farmlands and a rugged coastline. From the ancient city of Pula in the south to Umag in the north, the whole area is abundant with Venetian style coastal towns and villages. Inland at the heart of the peninsular is Pazin. To the north is Slovenia with its own beautiful mountainous scenery. To focus on just one town, let’s look at Poreĉ (pronoun - Porech). Situated just over half way up the Istran coast, Poreĉ has been an important centre both commercially and historically for over 2000 years. From pre-Christian times Poreĉ has been the favoured location of a port, protected as it is by the island of St. Nikolas with natural water supplies and shallow waters of its own and surrounding bays. Today, Poreĉ is an important commercial centre still, a busy fishing port and flourishing tourist centre. However, as the mayor of Poreĉ, Rodoljub Kosiĉ said... "the town does not rank the development of tourism higher than its citizens, its past or future. ...its aim is to enhance the harmonious co-existence of them all".

The most important building in Poreĉ is the Basilica of Euphrasius. The current 6^th century buildings stand on the site of an earlier church that was adapted from houses dating back some 300 years earlier. Much of the early mosaics and paintings are still visible and draw tourists, believers and historians from across the world.

Overlooked and overheard by the bell tower of the Basilica is the Juraj Dobrila park. Named after the 19^th century bishop of Poreĉ, this tranquil square is flanked on all four sides by thousands of years old buildings. People come here to relax in the beauty of the area and visit the local eating houses.