THE ENCHANTED LAND OF ANCIENT ROME’S ‘ILLYRIA’…FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE BRONZE AGE HISTRI TRIBE OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS HISTRIA.

A spectacular food, wine, history & cultural adventure through the lesser-known region of Istria in northern Croatia. Starting from Trieste in northern Italy, we will pass through Slovenia to reach Istria in Croatia - all in one day! We will then be veering off-the-beaten-path, deep into the Istrian countryside to peel back the layers of Istria’s fascinating history, and all during the local truffle and porcini season and local harvest time.

From wandering through charming medieval hilltop towns, to discovering the region’s strategic importance as the ancient Roman colony known as Illyria and uncovering its’ Celtic origins as the homeland of the mysterious Histri tribe – the land of Histria.  Defeated by the ancient Romans around 178-177 BC, the spirit of the Histri tribe lives on in the food, wine, culture and hearts of the Istrian people. This cultural travel experience embraces these origins.

Home for the week is a contemporary 4-star beachside boutique hotel in the antique centre of Novigrad-Cittanova in Istria. Each room has a plush double bed, well-appointed bathroom with shower, and private balcony with seaviews. The gentle sound of the lapping waves of the Adriatic sea will be your new Istrian lullaby. Breakfast is inclusive.

Istria once formed part of the Venetian Republicof Italy, from the 1200s until the late 18th century when Venice fell as a political power. To this day, Istria still has very strong Italian ties and Italian is widely spoken. A section of what was previously considered Istria is now officially considered Slovenia, so we will be doing a few border hops as part of our wine tasting itinerary and just for fun!

Itinerary highlights outlined below. More details are available in our Itinerary Highlights book on request. Link below.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS:

+ pick-up and return transfer from Trieste, northern Italy

+ a guided walk through the Miramare castle gardens & an iconic Belle Époquecafé experience in Trieste

+ welcome dinner at a local seafood restaurant by the sea

+ walking tours of Roman ruins in medieval towns

+ guided visits to ancient Histri tribe settlements and archaeological sites

+ a visit to a secret church in a forest covered in medieval frescoes

+ wine-tastings at vineyards in Istria & Slovenia, specialising in indigenous varietals

+ evocative wanders through medieval Istrian hilltop villages

+ truffle hunting in an Istrian forest with a local truffle-hunter and his dogs and a visit to a truffle fair

+ afternoon cocktails in a jazz bar in a medieval village

+ a Sunday long lunch of traditional Istrian dishes at a local trattoria and winery

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JOIN OUR NEXT ADVENTURES:

• 19 - 26 May 2027 - Opening for Reservations in July 2026

• 06 - 13 October 2027 - Opening for Reservations in July 2026

GROUP SIZE:

These are micro-group cultural travel experiences of maximum 6-8 guests. We operate only a small number of Antica cultural travel adventures each year to maintain the integrity of our local relationships and the experience for our guests.

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EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT:

Our 2027 Inclusive Package Cost to join us for a breathtaking journey through the enchanted land of Istria starts at AUD$8,997 per person for couples sharing, with an AUD$1,650 single supplement.

AUD$1,000 non-refundable but transferable deposit [up to 2 years] required to secure your place.