the riviera of flavour and tradition

Discover the Riviera of the most delighting Mediterranean flavours and traditional beautifulness! Riding along the centenary pine wood close by the sea, across Savudrija, the surrounding stancia?s (rural properties), villages, hamlets and settlements, this track will offer you numberless picturesque Mediterranean sceneries, but also their unforgettable fragrances and flavours. From the old boat cranes (derricks) and romantic lighthouses, roman remains, ruins of castles and modest churches, to fish specialities and high quality wine cellars, the Savudrija area will enchant you with its authentic beauty. Besides for the fact that its lighthouse is inscribed as the westernmost point of Croatia, Savudrija ? once one of the most important antique ports of the northern Adriatic, also known for a famous naval battle which took place in its waters in the year 1177 between the Venetians and the fleet lead by Oton ? son of the king Frederich Barbarossa.

According to a legend, the toponym of Savudrija comes from Salvo-re which, if translated means ??the salvation of the king?? whereas, after the defeat on the sea, the son of the glorious Barbarossa escaping tried to hide in a nearby cistern. The importance of the Savudrija?s battle is being witnessed by the fact that it has been immortalized by the brush of Tintoretto himself. Right here you?ll also find the oldest functional lighthouse on both coastlines of the Adriatic sea! Except for being the first European lighthouse which has adopted a gas-based illumination obtained by stone carbon, the 36 metres high lighthouse of Savudrija built in the year 1818, is also known for a sad love episode.

According to that story, the count Metternich, although married, madly enamoured in a local brunette has made their love nest to be build right here. But, as it goes in sad love stories, the two lovers couldn?t settle down here because just few days before the finishing of the lighthouse the beautiful and mysterious brunette has died. Riding along the coast of Savudrija, pay special attention to the unusual and for Istria completely atypical way of storing the fishermen boats. The highly hanged boats on specially prepared wooden frames, are a special visual attraction of this area!