Description: It took us 40 minutes to drive to Porec from Rovinj - a relatively easy drive and well signposted. Most parking spaces in Porec were metered, we found a space close to the centre quite easily and it cost £4 to park for the whole day.
Porec is quite a nice resort - it has a big marina and lots of large yachts. This is the most popular resort in Istria. Tito planned to use resorts like Porec to draw in much needed currency from tourists from all over Europe. It worked and thousands of visitors came. The war did dent tourism but did not leave any physical damage. Numbers are climbing to pre-war levels and it is again a busy resort. It has lots of cafes, restaurants, bars and boats offering day trips.
The main reason to visit Porec is the Basilica of Euphrasius. It is UNESCO protected , well preserved and really worth a visit. It's known for its gold mosiacs - supposedly some of the finest in Europe. It was built between 543 and 554 AD by Bishop Euphrasius and has 9 naves, marble columns imported from Constantinople and fine sculptures. The church has a nice hushed and reverential atmosphere - you feel you are in a special place. Inside you can get up close to everything.
The entrance has a lovely open atrium with columns and arches and a square in the centre. Inside the church there are older mosiacs close to the main door that have been uncovered below floor level. These have been dated back to the fourth century. The wooden pews are from the 15th century.
We climbed the 120 steps of the steeple for a lovely panoramic view of Porec and the surrounding areas. It costs £1.00 to do this but the views are beautiful.
Porec has a small aquarium - we went there - give it a miss. It costs around £2.50 to get in and you can see everything they have there in less than 5 minutes.
The coastal drive from Porec back to Rovinj is lovely - Limski Fjord is a really nice place to stop. Lots of boat trips go here from the resorts, but you can drive right to the waters edge and park and enjoy the views from the land. The water is amazing - greeney blue and so clear.
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