POREC
Area: Croatia


Location:
In the extreme W of Croatia, centrally placed on the rugged W coast of the Istrian Peninsula, 45 miles NW of Pula airport; 5» miles from Vrsar.

Telephone code from UK:
385 52

Website:
http://www.htz.hr

Position:
The old town occupies a rocky headland jutting out towards a small island.

Description:
The largest, and probably best known resort on the Istrian Riviera, Porec stretches for several miles along the coast road on a series of neighbouring headlands. At its heart lies a picturesque Roman-built town with quaint narrow streets and Venetian-style pastel stone houses crowned with terracotta-tiled roofs. It has a 6th-century basilica and a fine church tower among other ancient treasures. The animated harbour has a pleasant tree-lined quayside promenade and a little "minitrain" that trundles around the bay.

Suitability:
Middlemarket families, groups and couples of all ages and nationalities.

Accommodation:
Most is situated N and S of the old town in three main areas known as Zelena Laguna (Green Lagoon), Plava Laguna (Blue Lagoon) and the town itself. The former pair are self-contained village-style complexes boasting several hotels, apartments and campsites, equipped with their own shops, sports facilities and entertainment. One hotel is situated on a small island opposite the town harbour.

Shopping:
The old town boasts a good selection of boutiques, souvenir emporia and handicrafts, augmented by myriad waterfront stalls selling cheap and cheerful bric-a-brac and trinkets. Regular food market. The tourist complexes provide their own minimarkets and beachwear huts.

Beach:
Fairly poor but numerous. The nearest one to town is little more than a large concrete platform jutting into the sea. Most of the tourist complexes have a mixture of rock and pebble beaches, often punctuated with boat jetties. Some are often a short but stiff walk from their respective accommodation.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach or pool; water sports; tennis, volleyball and minigolf. Daily excursions by bus and boat. Nightlife: liveliest resort on Istria's W coast. Choice of music bars, cafes and several unsophisticated discos inside the tourist developments. Most hotels host live bands and dances on the terraces.

Eating:
Several informal restaurants and snack bars line the beachfront promenades inside the tourist developments. Augmented by a large complement of colourful harbourfront cafes in the old town. Locally caught seafood is a speciality. Traditional Italian-style pizzas; charcoal-grilled meat and chicken; burgers and chips.

Public-transport:
Regular buses call at the main accommodation areas as well as stopping at several points inside the town. Several hotels provide courtesy minivans. Abundant taxis. Motor launches from town harbour to outlying islands and Hotel Fortuna.

Local-excursions:
Plenty of organised programmes by boat and bus. Pula (day by boat); Lim Fjord (day by boat); Rovinj (half day); Venice (long day by hydrofoil).