As Morski writes, larger Istrian towns and municipalities have been enjoying better results during these last five months than they did back during the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Istrian local culture, which is abundant and very rich, from the Pula amphitheatre to the numerous small museums dotted throughout the county, is doing very well in drawing in the international crowds.
Statistics show that any tourist who comes to Istria for seven days visits the Euphrasian Basilica, the only Istrian monument under UNESCO protection, at least once. It attracts all generations and people from all walks of life.
”We liked it, it’s interesting to get better acquainted with the history of this area, to see what they used to do and how they used to do it,” said Sebastian and Filip from Germany.
Porec is also breaking records left, right and centre. In the first five months of 2022, they’ve enjoyed tourist results which are several percentage points better than the record year of 2019.
”June has started out very well, we’re enjoying numbers which are as much as 20 percent higher than they were back in 2019, so we’re going full speed into the peak of the tourist season,” said Nenad Velenik, the director of the Porec Tourist Board.
The second pearl of Istria, gorgeous Rovinj, has enjoyed some even better numbers. The warmth which it somehow radiates, is a lure for tourists. The first eco-museum in the country is located in Rovinj and it has proved to be an unavoidable stop for visitors, even the most professional ones.
”Such museums are extremely important to tourism because they show what the tourism of the future should look like. They respect the rich legacy with the help of numerous technological innovations,” emphasised Davide Gnola of the Maritime Museum of Cesenatico in Italy.
Come rain or shine, the imposing, ancient Pula Arena is always open to visitors, and recently it was additionally decorated with greenery. When it comes to Istrian local culture, few would fail to mention this astonishingly well-preserved Roman structure.
”Pula’s monuments are some of the best preserved ancient monuments in the entire Mediterranean,” stated Darko Komso, the director of the Archaeological Museum of Istria. Back during pre-pandemic years, it was visited by half a million tourists.
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