 | McLae´s guide to Croatia |  |
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Porec
Today, tourist infrastructure is intentionally dispersed along the 37 km long coastline, between the river Mirna and the deep Limski Kanal (Lim Fjord). The south hosts self-contained centers like Plava Laguna (Blue Lagoon), Zelena Laguna (Green Lagoon), Bijela Uvala (White Cove) and Brulo. To the north, mirroring centers are Materada, C(ervar-Porat, Ulika and Lanterna. In the high season, the area's temporary population can exceed 120,000. Porec's heritage can be seen in the historic town center, in museums and galleries hosted in houses and palaces, many of them still private homes as they have been for centuries. The city plan still shows the ancient Roman Castrum structure. The main streets are Decumanus and Cardo Maximus, still preserved in their original ancient forms. Marafor is a Roman square with two temples attached. One of them, erected in the first century AD, is dedicated to the Roman god Neptune; its dimensions are 30 m by 11 m. A few houses from the Romanesque period have been preserved and beautiful Venetian Gothic palaces can be seen here. Originally a Gothic Franciscan church built in the 13th century, the Istrian Assembly Hall was remodeled in the Baroque style in the 18th century. The Euphrasian Basilica, rebuilt in the 6th century under the Byzantine Empire and bishop Euphrasius, is the most important historical site in Porec. It is a protected World Heritage Site, so designated by UNESCO in 1997. Between the 12th and 19th centuries, the city had defensive walls, as the better-known Dubrovnik still does today. In the off season, weekend visitors from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and mostly Italy visit the area. Sports complexes are developed and used year-round. During the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), these complexes were used to host refugees from other parts of the country. |
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