Porec: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Poreč, (Parenzo, Parentium), (latitude 45.2258 N, longitude 13.5939 E, altitude 29 m), is almost 2 000 year old city and the harbor built the western shores of Istria peninsula, in Istarska zupanija, (Croatia), It is protected by small island of Sveti Nikola. The city population of around 7 600 is residing mostly in the outskirts outside it's historic core. With nearby municipalities included, there are 12 000 inhabitants, 18 000 within the Poreč county limits. City area covers 142 km², with the 37 km long shoreline streaching from Mirna river near Novigrad to Funtana and Vrsar on south. Real estate prices are wery high since the city's prime location. Between 12 and 19th century, city possesed the protective walls as Dubrovnik still does today.

Climate

The climate is extremely mild, free of oppressive summer heat. The month of August is the hottest averaging 24 °C in conditions of low humidity while January is the caldest with an average of 5 °C. There is more than 3850 hours of sun insulation a year more than 10 hours of sunshine during the summer days. Sea temperatures are up to 25 °C what is above expected comparing to southern Croatia where the air temeratures are higher. The average annual rainfall of 920 mm is equally distributed all around the year. Winds here are "bura" or bora, bringing the cald and clear weather from the north in winters, "Jugo", (jug=south in Croatian language), warm wind from south bringing rain. The summer breeze blowing from the land to the sea is Maestral.

The grotto,(cave), of Baredine the only open geological monument of Istria is in the vicinity. Lim fjord,(Limski kanal) is a 12 km long fjord-like structure, created by the river Pazinčica eroding the ground on its way into the sea. Boulders of quartz are occasionally found here usually exposed by the sea.

Landscape is rich in Mediterranean vegetation with pine woods and the green macchi mostly of the holm oak and strawberry tree. For generations, fertile blood red land, (Terra rossa or Crljenica), mixed with stones is used in agriculture, (cereals, orchard, olive gardens, vegetables). Today, production of organic food, olives, grapes quality vines like,Malvazija, Borgonja, Merlot, Pinot, Teran) is significant.

Main way of communications are roads. Poreč is connected well with rest of Istria and with all bigger cities as Trieste, Rijeka, Pula, where nearest commercial airport is located. Also, Ljubljana, Zagreb. Sea traffic is less important than it was for centuries and is today mostly used for tourist excursions. Closest railroad connection is in Pazin/Pisino which is the seat of regional government, (Istarska zupanija). In 1902 , a narrow-gauge railway line connecting Trieste and Poreč called Parenzana or Parenzaner Bahn was introduced providing service until 1935.

Traditionaly, the people activities were allways connected with the land and the sea. No significant industries but food processing is in existence here. Since entirely integrated with the Europe since 1994 trade, finance and communication sectors are growing. Prime source of income is --tourism.

Population is mixed with Croats, Italians, Slovenes, Albanians, Serbs with the tradition of tolerance between the people.

Locality is known since the prehistoric times. During the 2nd century BC Roman Castrum was built on tiny peninsula with dimensions just about 400m by 200 m where the very city core is situated. During the reign of the emperor Octavian in the 1st century, it officially became city and was part of the Roman colony Colonia Iulia Parentium. In the 3rd century place already had organized Christian community with early Christian complex of sacral buildings. Basilica was built here in 5th century where bishop Mauro, today's patron of the city already posesses his building.

With the fall of the Roman empire in 476, different rulers and powers governed here. First, it was held by Ostrogoths and after 539 was part of the Byzantine Empire. With the end of 6th century, Croats arrived and built first permanent settlement around the year 620. Since 788 it was ruled by Franks. Short independence period followed in the 12th Century and later it was ruled by the patriarchs of Aquileia. After 1267 it was part of Venice who ruled it for more than five centuries. Was administred for a while by Napoleon Bonaparte and became part of Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1797. Starting in 1861, Poreč was the capital of Istria, the seat to a Regional Parliament with schools, administrative and judiciary offices, other services. For a few decades, (1920 - 1943), it possesion of Italy and finally, after 10 September 1943 was united with what is today Croatia.

The city ground plan still shows ancient Roman Castrum structure. The main streets are Decumanus and Cardo Maximus still preserved in original ancient forms. Marafor is Roman square with two temples attached. One of them is dedicated to Neptune erected in the first century AD, with dimensions of 30 m by 11 m. Few houses from the Romanesque period have ere preserved and beautiful Venetian gothic palaces could be seen here. Originally Gothic, Franciscan church built in 13th century, Istrian Assmbly Hall was made into Baroque style in 18th century.

The complex of Euphrasian Basilica, (5th century), for the first time extended in the 6th century under the Byzantine Empire and bishop Euphrasius), is the most important object protected as the monument of the world heritage by UNESCO in 1997.

In 1844 the steamers society, the Austrian Lloyd from Trieste, opened a tourist line which included Poreč. As soon as 1845 the first tourist guide of describing and depicting city was printed. Austro-Hungarian aristocracy was the first to discover it in 1866 when Austrian archduchess Stephanie introduced the city to the public by sailing into Poreč's harbor in her yacht Phantasy. In 1867 archduke Charles Stephen and archduchess Mary Terese, (Maria Theresa), vecationed here while in 1868 it was visited by Charles Ludwig. The oldest hotel and it's trademark is Rivijera constructed in 1910. Later came Parentino and others.

Unknown outside the Europe, today as it was for decades within Yugoslavia, Poreč is undisputed Croatian tourist capital with no other area to come to realy compete. Here are more then 95.000 places, more then 30 hotels, 13 camping sites, naturist camps, 16 apartment complexes, villas, bungalows, pavilions, and family houses. Tourist infrastructure is intentionally dispersed along the coastline almost 30 km long, between river Mirna and the deep Limski Kanal, (Lim Fjord). South is hosting selfcontaining centers like Plava Laguna, Zelena Laguna, Bijela Uvala, (plavo=blue, zeleno=green, bijelo=white), Brulo. Northbound, mirroring centers are Materada, Červar-Porat, Ulika, Lanterna. More then 30 % of the tourists vacationing on the west shores of Istria, (most visited region in Croatia), do stay here.

Those summer suburbs have their hotels, beaches, camping sites, marina s, department stores, transportation, playgrounds, entertainment, grocery and other stores. In the high season, the area's temporarily population might be over 120.000. Since the best part of vacationing is taking place outside the city, Poreč is crowded with vacationers strolling trough it's stony slippery streets, along the harbor and around exclusively in the evenings when at any time at least ten languages are being spoken in the shops, restaurants, disco clubs, bars, harbor, in ordinary communication.

More then sea and sun is what is offered here and European summer visitors do know that. Its heritage can be seen in the historic town center, in museums and galleries which are in the most prestigious houses and palaces, many of them still people homes as they have been for centuries. Numerous guests probably do not realize or think any more that they are walking on streets built by the Romans, enriched with traces of other great cultures.

Off season area is visited by weekend wisitors from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and mostly Italy. Sport infrastructure is developed and used year around. During the liberation war, (1991-1994), infrastructure was used to host the refugees from the other part of the country.