It isn't easy being green in a country where blue is the dominant color, but the Istrian interior's countless hues of green sparkling beneath the sun hint at the unspoiled nature and unique experiences that await those who venture into this often overlooked part of Croatia. It hits you as you exit the deep blackness of Ucka Tunnel in the east or as you drive away from the golden brightness of the Istrian Coast in the west: This is territory that feeds the senses -- all of them. In Green Istria you can take time to breathe the perfumed air, listen to the bird chatter, touch the rough stone of a medieval castle, or savor the taste of local wines.
Inland Istria is a land of discovery where you can climb a hill to listen to cool jazz at Groznjan; or you can watch films in Motovun, perhaps choosing to gaze at one as you soak in hot spring waters at Istarske Toplice. Inland Istria is where you can marvel at still-vibrant 15th-century frescoes in a woodland church near tiny Beram, or tramp through the woods outside Buzet while following a couple of dogs on the scent of the elusive truffle.
Inland Istria is where you can feast on an elaborate dinner in an award-winning restaurant in Livade and wake up the next morning to a breakfast of home-smoked ham, homegrown fruit, and homemade cheese in the kitchen of the rural farmhouse where you spent the night. During the day, you can nose around Glagolitic artifacts in tiny Hum or explore the historic walled city of Roc. The possibilities are limitless in Inland Istria, where travelers can immerse themselves in the land and the lives of the people who live here. It's a place you can wander through but never feel lost.
