Apr 26, 2012

A Hilltop Hideaway in Istria


The tranquil terrace of the Hotel Kastel

Croatia’s coastline has been on the tourist radar for years, attracting suntan oil-covered beach goers to its pristine islands and rocky turquoise coves. But food and wine lovers might want to consider an oil odyssey of a different variety. Head north to the country’s arrowhead-shaped Istrian peninsula, jutting into the Adriatic Sea, and discover family made olive oils, prolific truffle trees, and award-winning vineyards producing the famed Teran and Malvazia wines amidst the undulating green hills and valleys speckled with warm-hearted people.
A local legend says that giants used to roam the area, including one named Veli Jože from the perched medieval village of Motovun, said to be so strong he could shake the bell tower of the town’s church with his bare hands. Whether it’s the legend or the situation, 277 meters (over 900 feet) above the Mirna River Valley, Motovun, today, lures tens of thousands of visitors each year to its pitched cobblestone streets, and is among the most picturesque villages in Istria. At the heart of  Motovun is the the Hotel Kaštel, a perfect pied-a-terre for getaway guaranteed to have your camera, and your knife and fork, working double-time.  Read More:

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