Cycle Italy, Slovenia & Croatia on this Parenzana Trail cycling holiday. Ride from Trieste in Italy to Porec in Croatia.
Duration
PriceBeginning in the lovely former Habsburg seaport town of Trieste, this is the perfect tour for lovers of sun, sea and history. Under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste flourished as a busy and affluent port (4th largest in the empire), the remnants of which are still visible today in the main square and narrow streets.
After your stay here, you will cycle southwards out of Italy, through Slovenia and into Croatia. The sunny Istria Peninsula will present you with a multitude of picturesque little fishing villages, small towns atop karst hills, sparkling vineyards and fertile valleys. Indulge yourself in the charms of a landscape rich in contrast and colour.
Highlights of the Parenzana Trail:
* Cycle Italy, Slovenia & Croatia
* Trieste – old town, promenade & castle
* Istrian Hills – hilltop villages & vineyards
* Piran – a Venetian town in Slovenia
* Portorož – the Slovenian Las Vegas
* Porec – the 6th century Euphrasia Basilica
Parenzana trail itinerary: Cycle Italy, Slovenia & Croatia.
Day 1: Arrival in Trieste / Muggia (old southern outskirts of Trieste)
Today you will arrive and settle into your hotel in Muggia / Trieste. Spend the day strolling along the lovely promenade or visit the exquisite Miramare Castle, then enjoy a capoucino on stunning Piazza Unità d'Italia in the town centre. If you stay in Muggia, you can sail to the city center by a city transport boat.
Day 2: Trieste – Piran / Portorôz (approx. 30 km)
To begin with you can take a short visit to the coastal town of Muggia before crossing the Slovenia border and riding along the coastal cycle path through another lovely port town, Koper, and then onto the picturesque Venetian villages of Izola and Piran. Stroll through the narrow streets and visit their churches. In Piran, sip a coffee in Tartini Square amid the wonderful Venetian architecture. Visit Portorož, an affluent spa town on the Slovenian Riviera.
Day 3: Piran – Umag (approx. 35 km)
Today you will cycle past the vast saltpans of Sečovlje. Get there early enough to catch the beautiful morning light. From here you head across the border to Croatia and into the heart of Istria, across a slightly hilly terrain to the village of Umag. Once a Roman colony, within its town walls and across its gated drawbridge lies a town steeped in history. Take a tour through the medieval centre and visit the beautiful city tower.
Day 4: Umag – Porec (approx. 45 km)
Once again you cycle across some low hills to Novigrad (Cittanova), another medieval walled town. As well as its rich history, Novigrad is also renowned for its gastronomy, and is listed as one of Istria’s top gourmet destinations. Next stop is Poreč, where you can visit the UNESCO listed Euphrasian Basilica, a diverse mix of baroque, Gothic and Romanesque buildings.
Day 5: Departure after breakfast or extension of stay.
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