Poreč,Croatia

*Poreč (Parenzo in Italian; Parentium in Roman times) and the surrounding region is like a country unto itself, one that is devoted to tourism. The ancient Roman town of Poreč is the centrepiece of a vast system of tourist resorts that stretch north and south along the Istrian coast. The most scenic are south of the city and the largest is Zelena Laguna, with a full range of facilities and accommodation.

These holiday villages and tourist camps offer a somewhat industrialised holiday experience with too much concrete and too many tour buses for some tastes. The hotels, restaurants, tourist offices and travel agencies, however, are almost universally staffed by friendly, multilingual people who make a real effort to welcome visitors. Tourism is all they’ve got and they know it, and they’re not ashamed of it. This is not the place for a quiet little getaway (unless you come in January), but there’s a World Heritage basilica and the Istrian interior is within easy reach.