A walk through Poreč old town: Roman streets, towers and squares

Poreč old town fits on a small finger of land pointing into the sea. Its streets are laid out on the grid of the Roman town of Parentium, and two thousand years of history are stacked on top: Byzantine mosaics, Romanesque and Gothic houses, Venetian towers and summer cafés. Here is a route that links the highlights in about an hour, without hurrying.

1. Start at the Pentagonal Tower

Enter the old town at Trg slobode, the large square on the land side. The Pentagonal Tower, built in the mid-15th century, marks the start of the old main street. Its Venetian lion has watched over the gate for centuries.

2. Walk down the Decumanus

The Decumanus is the main street of Poreč, following the line of the Roman east–west axis. Today it is lined with shops, galleries and ice cream parlours, but look up: you will see Romanesque windows, a Gothic palace from 1473 with ornate trifora windows, and the Baroque Sinčić palace from the early 18th century. Where the Decumanus crosses the Cardo, the north–south street, you stand at the heart of the Roman plan.

3. Detour to the Euphrasian Basilica

A short lane to the north leads to the Euphrasian Basilica, the town’s UNESCO-listed treasure, with its 6th-century gold mosaics. Read our guide to the basilica before you go, and give it at least 45 minutes.

4. Marafor square and the Roman temples

At the far end of the Decumanus is Marafor, the site of the Roman forum. In the 1st century it held the largest Roman sanctuary in Istria. The remains of the Great Temple and another temple, often linked with Neptune, stand in the open. Nearby, the two-storey Romanesque House has a wooden balcony and often hosts exhibitions.

5. The tip of the peninsula and the seafront

From Marafor, walk to the water. The promenade around the tip looks out over the sea and St Nicholas island just opposite. In the evening, this is where Poreč watches the sunset.

6. The Round Tower

Follow the north side of the old town to the Round Tower, built in the second half of the 15th century. Its top terrace is used as a café bar in season, with views over the rooftops.

7. Back along the harbour

Finish along the harbour (riva), where taxi boats leave for St Nicholas island, excursion boats tie up and cafés fill up at dusk. Near the harbour is the Istrian Parliament hall, originally a 13th-century Gothic Franciscan church, later used by the Istrian regional assembly and now for exhibitions and concerts.

Tips

• Timing: Early morning is cool and quiet. Evenings are lively, especially in summer.
• Shoes: The old stone paving is polished smooth by centuries of feet, and slippery when wet.
• Parking: The old town is pedestrian. Use the paid car parks around the centre.
• Combine it with the island. A boat from the harbour takes about five minutes to St Nicholas island.

From the villas

Villa Duga is 3.6 km from the old town, close enough to cycle along the coast. From Villa Bina and Villa Cvita Domenica in Labinci it is about 11 km by car.