Latest news with #Istrian
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Scotsman
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula: Here is why you need to visit the mini-Rome on Croatia's Istrian Coast
Here's why you need to visit Croatia's Istrian coast right now before this mini-Rome becomes a must-visit holiday destination. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With only around 60,000 inhabitants, Pula isn't a sprawling metropolis. But for what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for by being packed with history and culture. The small area in the west of Croatia has punched well above its weight when it comes to the food and drink it produces, but perhaps its crown jewel is the Grand Hotel Brioni. A hotel that just screams class, both in terms of service and design. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Situated around a 10-minute drive from the Pula Arena, the hotel is a sprawling property that has a very much old world feeling about it in some ways. But don't confuse that with it feeling dated. Whilst the hotel is designed to hark back to Pula's Roman routes, modernity still plays a huge role in the amenities offered on-site. It can boast two pools, which can each be filled with salt water, and an absolutely top-class spa. The rooms are designed to demonstrate the hotel's high quality | Matthew Shaw There is a reason that the Grand Hotel Brioni has become a haven for those playing at the Arena. The rooms themselves are stunningly decorated. The breathtaking views from your room across the Adriatic Sea are worth writing home about themselves. You'll find three restaurants at the Grand Hotel Brioni, including the stunningly opulent Sophia. Here you can dine on some of the best food the area has to offer. All accompanied by some of the best wine you're likely to sample, and all produced in the surrounding region. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pula and the Istrian Coast doesn't just produce wine however. For each of the last eight years, it has been named the best in the world for the production of olive oil. No mean feat when you consider Croatia's neighbours across the Adriatic, Italy. The people of the Istria are passionate about their olive oil. On a visit to award-winning extra virgin olive oil producers Chiavalon in Vodnjan our guide tells us that he consumes around 200ml of the stuff every day, such are the health benefits of the olive oil produced locally. And of course you'll find bottles of Chiavalon's carefully produced goods at the Grand Hotel Brioni. Family business Chiavalon produces some of the world's best Olive Oil | NW And it is easy to see why wine and olive oil are so important to the people of Pula. If you were to give the area a catchy nickname, it might be mini-Rome. Just shy of the harbour is the Pula Arena, a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre; the sixth largest in the world and one of the best preserved. From here you can learn the whole ethos and cultural progression of the town. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The town became an outpost for retiring Roman legionnaires and this is where we find the origins of Pula's incredible pantry. Whilst the Arena has progressed from the heady days of gladiatorial combat, although the current crop of gladiators who still perform at the arena can claim to be some of the best in the world, to being a favoured concert spot for people like Tom Jones, Andrea Bocelli and Arctic Monkeys among others, below it you'll find the story of local olive oil production going back to those original Roman days. The amphitheatre is one of the best preserved in the world | NW The amphitheatre itself is a marvel, the only to have its four side towers still intact - the particularly strong stone it was built with was eventually exported by the ruling Venetians to build certain areas of Venice. And that raises another interesting element of the town. Whilst the Romans may have left the most obvious mark on the area with the Arena, Pula has had a revolving door of ruling nations and dynasties pass through it stamping their own styles. A walk down any street in Pula will have you examining the Roman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian, amongst others, architecture. It is a lot to take in, but it is well worth doing so. I was glad to retire back to the hotel afterwards and spend some time sitting at the Brioni's terrace bar looking out over the Adriatic, and if you're lucky like me you'll catch the dolphins putting on a show, watching the sunset in an incredible setting. Doing that allowed me to reflect on a place that just seems to be such an incredible hidden gem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While Dubrovnik and Split might have become bona fide tourism hotspots in recent years, Pula hasn't quite had the same levels. Now is the time to explore a genuinely incredible place at your own leisurely pace. Pula and the Grand Hotel Brioni each in their own way left an incredible impression on me, each for very different reasons. But as I sat in the airport ready to fly home, I was researching how quickly I could get back to them. There is so much more that could be said about this place, a visit via speedboat to a beach bar on a secluded island could probably have sold this place to me on its own, but I believe that it is somewhere you must see yourself to believe. Callum McCormack was a guest of the Grand Brioni Hotel in Pula, Croatia.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula: Here is why you need to visit the mini-Rome on Croatia's Istrian Coast
Here's why you need to visit Croatia's Istrian coast right now before this mini-Rome becomes a must-visit holiday destination. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With only around 60,000 inhabitants, Pula isn't a sprawling metropolis. But for what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for by being packed with history and culture. The small area in the west of Croatia has punched well above its weight when it comes to the food and drink it produces, but perhaps its crown jewel is the Grand Hotel Brioni. A hotel that just screams class, both in terms of service and design. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Situated around a 10-minute drive from the Pula Arena, the hotel is a sprawling property that has a very much old world feeling about it in some ways. But don't confuse that with it feeling dated. Whilst the hotel is designed to hark back to Pula's Roman routes, modernity still plays a huge role in the amenities offered on-site. It can boast two pools, which can each be filled with salt water, and an absolutely top-class spa. The rooms are designed to demonstrate the hotel's high quality | Matthew Shaw There is a reason that the Grand Hotel Brioni has become a haven for those playing at the Arena. The rooms themselves are stunningly decorated. The breathtaking views from your room across the Adriatic Sea are worth writing home about themselves. You'll find three restaurants at the Grand Hotel Brioni, including the stunningly opulent Sophia. Here you can dine on some of the best food the area has to offer. All accompanied by some of the best wine you're likely to sample, and all produced in the surrounding region. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pula and the Istrian Coast doesn't just produce wine however. For each of the last eight years, it has been named the best in the world for the production of olive oil. No mean feat when you consider Croatia's neighbours across the Adriatic, Italy. The people of the Istria are passionate about their olive oil. On a visit to award-winning extra virgin olive oil producers Chiavalon in Vodnjan our guide tells us that he consumes around 200ml of the stuff every day, such are the health benefits of the olive oil produced locally. And of course you'll find bottles of Chiavalon's carefully produced goods at the Grand Hotel Brioni. Family business Chiavalon produces some of the world's best Olive Oil | NW And it is easy to see why wine and olive oil are so important to the people of Pula. If you were to give the area a catchy nickname, it might be mini-Rome. Just shy of the harbour is the Pula Arena, a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre; the sixth largest in the world and one of the best preserved. From here you can learn the whole ethos and cultural progression of the town. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The town became an outpost for retiring Roman legionnaires and this is where we find the origins of Pula's incredible pantry. Whilst the Arena has progressed from the heady days of gladiatorial combat, although the current crop of gladiators who still perform at the arena can claim to be some of the best in the world, to being a favoured concert spot for people like Tom Jones, Andrea Bocelli and Arctic Monkeys among others, below it you'll find the story of local olive oil production going back to those original Roman days. The amphitheatre is one of the best preserved in the world | NW The amphitheatre itself is a marvel, the only to have its four side towers still intact - the particularly strong stone it was built with was eventually exported by the ruling Venetians to build certain areas of Venice. And that raises another interesting element of the town. Whilst the Romans may have left the most obvious mark on the area with the Arena, Pula has had a revolving door of ruling nations and dynasties pass through it stamping their own styles. A walk down any street in Pula will have you examining the Roman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian, amongst others, architecture. It is a lot to take in, but it is well worth doing so. I was glad to retire back to the hotel afterwards and spend some time sitting at the Brioni's terrace bar looking out over the Adriatic, and if you're lucky like me you'll catch the dolphins putting on a show, watching the sunset in an incredible setting. Doing that allowed me to reflect on a place that just seems to be such an incredible hidden gem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While Dubrovnik and Split might have become bona fide tourism hotspots in recent years, Pula hasn't quite had the same levels. Now is the time to explore a genuinely incredible place at your own leisurely pace. Pula and the Grand Hotel Brioni each in their own way left an incredible impression on me, each for very different reasons. But as I sat in the airport ready to fly home, I was researching how quickly I could get back to them. There is so much more that could be said about this place, a visit via speedboat to a beach bar on a secluded island could probably have sold this place to me on its own, but I believe that it is somewhere you must see yourself to believe.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Stunning coastal city is food heaven with beautiful Old Town and the cleanest sea water in Europe
In the port below, tiny fishing boats bulging with early morning catches of squid and John Dory can be seen racing the local tour boats to the best moorings in the harbour PORT OF CALL Stunning coastal city is food heaven with beautiful Old Town and the cleanest sea water in Europe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH terracotta-red rooftops tessellated more precisely than the most intricate of Tetris puzzles, the view of the walled city of Dubrovnik from leafy Srd mountain looks like something straight off a film set. We're 412m above the Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and with the Adriatic Sea stretching out into the horizon, it's nothing short of picture-perfect. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Take in the stunning views of Dubrovnik's Old Town 5 Take a cable car up, up and away for the best view We stop for a pricey Coke, £6, at the Panorama Restaurant, but it's worth every delicious sip to sit for an hour and watch the world go by, before getting the busy cable car back down. Return trips cost £23 per person. Catch of the day In the port below, tiny fishing boats bulging with early morning catches of squid and John Dory can be seen racing the local tour boats to the best moorings in the harbour. Nets full of fresh fish are then delivered to the plethora of restaurants in the Old Town. Stylish Portun, close to the entrance to the city, is where my friend Caroline and I enjoy fish smothered in garlic, with local octopus salad and Istrian ravioli stuffed with prawns. An oozing chocolate fondant finishes things off nicely. Three courses cost £33 ( Dubrovnik's charming cobbled streets, baroque churches and pretty squares date back to the 7th century, and arriving at the north gate of the city walls the next morning feels like walking straight into a fairy tale. A boat trip to the island of Lokrum, just a 10-minute ride away and home to a natural salt-water swimming lake, wild peacocks, luscious shady botanical gardens and a Benedictine monastery built in 1023, proves a great day trip. Tickets cost £26 per person ( Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival Later, we find Aroma, home to Dubrovnik's best gelato – and the long queues prove it. Luckily, a cup of salted pistachio ice cream, £5, is worth the wait. Settling down for the evening in bustling Gundulic Square, we tuck into tasty margherita pizza, £11, and a bottle of crisp white Graševina wine, £41.50, at charming Pizzeria Castro. Here, locals on the next table insist we watch the sunset from Buza Bar, a unique tiny cliffside place to the west of the city walls, accessed via a narrow hole in the wall ( Sitting on the whitewashed veranda, we watch local teens diving into the crystal-clear waters below from rocks on either side of us as we sip local wine from tins, £6, before wandering back to our beds. Room with a view Built into a cliffside to the north of the Old Town, the five-star Rixos Premium Dubrovnik is a 20-minute walk from the city walls, and our sea-view room comes with a Jacuzzi bath and walk-in wardrobe. The buffet breakfast is a feast, too – don't miss the local sheep's cheese counter. 5 A corner bedroom at the Rixos Premium Dubrovnik 5 Spot pretty peacocks on Lokrum island Croatia has the cleanest sea water in Europe and snorkelling the next morning off the hotel deck, below the main sunbathing platform, we catch glimpses of octopus and crabs. We celebrate our finds with a pint of local Ozujsko lager from the pool bar, £6, and a grilled shrimp Caesar salad, £27, before walking along the pebbled shore of Sunset Beach at dusk. Come evening, a duo of violinists serenade us as a full moon lights up the bay. It's just as magical as the moment we arrived. FYI Double rooms at Rixos Premium Dubrovnik cost from £286 a night ( UK flights to Dubrovnik cost from £56 return.
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Stunning coastal city is food heaven with beautiful Old Town and the cleanest sea water in Europe
WITH terracotta-red rooftops tessellated more precisely than the most intricate of Tetris puzzles, the view of the walled city of Dubrovnik from leafy Srd mountain looks like something straight off a film set. We're 412m above the Old Town – a 5 Take in the stunning views of Dubrovnik's Old Town 5 Take a cable car up, up and away for the best view We stop for a pricey Coke, £6, at the Panorama Restaurant, but it's worth every delicious sip to sit for an hour and watch the world go by, before getting the busy cable car back down. Return trips cost £23 per person. Catch of the day In the port below, tiny fishing boats bulging with early morning catches of squid and John Dory can be seen racing the local tour boats to the best moorings in the harbour. Nets full of fresh fish are then delivered to the plethora of restaurants in the Old Town. Read More on Travel Stylish Portun, close to the entrance to the city, is where my friend Caroline and I enjoy fish smothered in garlic, with local octopus salad and Istrian ravioli stuffed with prawns. An oozing chocolate fondant finishes things off nicely. Three courses cost £33 ( Dubrovnik's charming cobbled streets, baroque churches and pretty squares date back to the 7th century, and arriving at the north gate of the city walls the next morning feels like walking straight into a fairy tale. Most read in City breaks A boat trip to the island of Lokrum, just a 10-minute ride away and home to a natural salt-water swimming lake, wild peacocks, luscious shady botanical gardens and a Benedictine monastery built in 1023, proves a great day trip. Tickets cost £26 per person ( Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival Later, we find Aroma, home to Luckily, a cup of salted pistachio ice cream, £5, is worth the wait. Settling down for the evening in bustling Gundulic Square, we tuck into tasty margherita pizza, £11, and a bottle of crisp white Graševina wine, £41.50, at charming Pizzeria Castro. Here, locals on the next table insist we watch the sunset from Buza Bar, a unique tiny cliffside place to the west of the city walls, accessed via a narrow hole in the wall ( Sitting on the whitewashed veranda, we watch local teens diving into the crystal-clear waters below from rocks on either side of us as we sip local wine from tins, £6, before wandering back to our beds. Room with a view Built into a cliffside to the north of the Old Town, the five-star Rixos Premium The buffet breakfast is a feast, too – don't miss the local sheep's cheese counter. 5 A corner bedroom at the Rixos Premium Dubrovnik 5 Spot pretty peacocks on Lokrum island We celebrate our finds with a pint of local Ozujsko lager from the pool bar, £6, and a grilled shrimp Caesar salad, £27, before walking along the pebbled shore of Sunset Beach at dusk. Come evening, a duo of violinists serenade us as a full moon lights up the bay. It's just as magical as the moment we arrived. FYI Double rooms at Rixos Premium Dubrovnik cost from £286 a night ( UK flights to Dubrovnik cost from £56 return. 5 The Sun's Jess Wilson in Dubrovnik
Los Angeles Times
27-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Once A Medieval Village, Now a Rustic Wedding Hideaway in the Istrian Hills of Croatia
Tucked into the hills of olive trees near Buje, San Canzian Village & Hotel offers a secluded yet sophisticated setting for destination weddings in the Istria region of Croatia. The property occupies the site of a once-abandoned medieval village, now thoughtfully restored into a design-forward retreat that honors its rural heritage. Located near the Slovenian border, the region is steeped in a rich blend of Roman, Venetian, and Austro-Hungarian influences, which lend the area its layered character and slow, sun-warmed rhythm. San Canzian accommodates celebrations both small and large, with full buyout options of the full estate. Across 24 rooms, suites, and villas, guests are invited to stay in understated luxury, surrounded by vineyard views and modern interiors rooted in local craftsmanship. Ceremonies and receptions can be held in a choice of serene garden courtyards, stone-lined terraces, or a cozy indoor setting. San Canzian's fine-dining restaurant can handle catering needs. They offer a world-class culinary experience showcasing the best of Istrian cuisine, a Mediterranean-influenced tradition known for its use of truffles, olive oil, seafood, and locally grown produce. Couples can tailor the food selection to reflect personal preferences and dietary requirements. Pre-wedding gatherings or farewell brunches can also be arranged, making the property well-suited to multi-day celebrations. Croatia is fast becoming one of the most popular countries for destination weddings. With on-site coordination available and an elevated setting that also feels immersive in the surrounding culture, San Canzian quietly delivers the hallmarks of a romantic European wedding: beauty, privacy, and an authentic connection to the land. Istria, Croatia's heart-shaped peninsula, blends Mediterranean romance with old-world charm. Rolling vineyards, hilltop villages, and a dramatic Adriatic coastline create a naturally cinematic setting for weddings and honeymoons. With its fusion of Italian and Croatian influences, couples are drawn to Istria for its relaxed pace, stunning views, and culinary excellence—from truffle-rich pastas to fresh-caught seafood under the stars.
