Go Slow... in Istria in Autumn

Istria represents an extraordinary compendium of natural beauty, history and civilization at the crossroads of Europe stretching back beyond the Romans and into prehistory. This Go Slow holiday incorporates nature and culture, history and cuisine in a relaxing schedule of local guided walks in breathtaking Karst scenery in the mornings, optional visits to nearby cultural sites after lunch and magnificent Istrian dinners each evening. Based in the modern San Stefano complex at the thermal baths at Istarska Toplice, you can opt out from the itinerary whenever you wish to go swimming or enjoy a therapeutic massage.

After a short flight to Trieste it is just a 90 minute drive to our hotel, where each of our daily natural history excursions will be within 25km of our base. The grounds of the hotel include a stunning set of limestone cliffs with Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart present all year. If the autumn has not been too cold there should still be some butterflies about including the second and third broods of Heath and Spotted Fritillaries and a variety of blues and skippers, as well as scarce autumn butterflies such as the False Grayling. Whilst the flora of the Karst is largely a spring affair, the woods and meadows will be enlivened by Cyclamen purpurascens, as well as displays of purple Autumn Crocus.

After lunch, our excursions take on a more cultural air, with visits to the Roman arena in Pula, the sixth largest surviving to the modern day, the hilltop towns of Motovun-Montona and Grožnjan-Grisignana, the fabulous frescoes in the Romanesque church of Hrastovlje, the caves at Baredine and the tiny walled “city” of Hum. Evenings will be spent in two magnificent local restaurants with wonderful meals that reflect the long period of Venetian and Italian domination in this area with fresh pasta, gnocchi, truffles and wild boar, with a nod to the best of Balkan cuisine in the form of cevapcici sausages and mixed grills…and a glass of delicious local wine!