Istrian Peninsula continued...

Opatija

In the golden age of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Opatija was the eastern Riviera.  The Habsburgs are long gone but Opatija retains a belle époque feel with villas in the Broque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles.  There's not a lot to do there but a great place for, as the Italians say, 'dolce far niente', or sweet idleness.  I don't know why I'm translating since my fellow Americans don't grasp the concept in English.

Rovinj

Romantic Rovinj is the most Italian town in Croatia's most Italian area.  Long connected to Venice, on a very clear day, it's possible to see Venice from the church bell tower.  Tourism started under the Habsburgs in the late 19th century and more recently it has become a destination for nudists.  Today it's the host for Red Bull Air, fortunately just practice not the races or the town would have been packed.

Brtonigla

Heading back to Motovun stop in Brtonigla for dinner at Konoba Astarea where everything is cooked in an open hearth.  In the picture below the food being cooked is under the domed lids.  When the cook decides it's time she brushes away the coals then lifts the dome by its handle.  It looks like they grill things as well but not today as the drill is on edge on the left out of the way.

Motovun

Home again just before sunset.