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Istria, formerly ruled by Italy, is triangle-shaped peninsula, located on the extreme western side of Croatia. It became a part of Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia) after the World War II. It is turned out to be a popular destination for tourists because of its geographical closeness to Italy, Slovenia and Austria and it's large coastline, which is full of small and large bays with hundred of places and villages offering tourist services. The beauty of the interiors of the peninsula is enhanced with pretty small towns built on hills.
DESTINATIONS
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BRIJUNI (BRIONI) ISLANDS: This is an attractive group of islands near the main peninsula. The main island of Veli Brijun is also home to the Croatia National Park and is open to visitors. The two-mile-wide Fažana Channel separates the archipelago from the mainland.
The archipelago stretches over 736 hectares and forms a 30 miles long coast. It is a place where sumptuous wildlife (680 different local and exotic plants, 150 bird species, etc.) couples with a wealth of historical traces ranging from a Neolithic settlement and Illyrian ruins, to monuments dating from the Byzantine period and the Middle Ages, as well as from Austro-Hungarian architecture to a more recent time.
The island of Veli Brijun was one of the favourite destinations of the elite of Austrian, Hungarian and German aristocracy when Istria was part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Brijuni was also the residence of late President Tito of Yugoslavia and almost every major statesman has visited the islands. |
The Brijuni Minor fortress, built in the late 19th century is the largest edifice in the defense system of the Austro-Hungarian central naval base of Pula. Stretching over 15.750 square meters, the edifice is 175 meters long and 90 meters large.
The mild climate and the favorable geographical conditions, deep retracted bays and easily defendable elevated fortifications, have secured a continuum in the human activity on the island from a pre-historic age until the present day.
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