Poreč: two steps for first-time visitors

**Poreč **(**Parenzo **in Italian) is Croatian coastal city. **Poreč **is located on the west coast of the biggest Adriatic peninsula - Istria. As one of the most important Istrian cities, **Poreč **is worth writing about and talking about for pages and hours. Let me steal a few minutes of your time and let's dive into Poreč city and let's make two steps for first-time visitors. 

How it all started?

Located on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, **Poreč **is blessed with an amazing sea in front, beautiful nature behind, and great climate all year long. Surely, this is the piece of land to live in and fight for. That is exactly what the **Romans were thinking of when they decided to form a city right here. At the same place where the center of the old town is now, the Roman Castrum **or military camp was built. **Poreč **is actually a fortified peninsular city. That made it very attractive for its position and connections. Euphrasian Basilica, one of the city's landmarks got its foundations in this, Roman Era. A dozen of centuries later, during the Venetian Republic period, all important buildings were built, and the city got its shape as we see it now. Poreč/Parenzo was the last stop on the famous Parenzana railway that connects three countries.

Euphrasian Basilica

The first mentioning of this beautiful basilica is from the 5th century. Just a few years before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, this sacral object was built. In the 16th century, the bell tower was added, and the Basilica itself got its final shape in the 17th and 19th century when the chapel was constructed. Today, this basilica is an important point on all art and sacral maps of Europe. Since 1997, it's protected by **UNESCO **as the World Heritage Site.

What makes this basilica special are the mosaics, so spend some time to see and understand them. Pay attention, the mosaics on the floor in the garden are from the 4th century! It will take you two to three hours to visit the whole complex that includes: the baptistry, sacristy, bell tower, and church.

Baredine Cave

Around **Poreč, **the water temperature can be up to 28 degrees Celsius, while outside, it goes up to 35 degrees Celsius. The beaches are overcrowded, and the city bars full of people. That's the perfect moment for a cool down place. Only 6 km from the **Poreč **city center, Baredine Cave is located. This cave is on the private property, and the guided tours are organized every 40 minutes. Its amazing stalactites and stalagmites are a brilliant piece of art made by nature. You will spend 30-35 minutes exploring 200 meters of the cave on the temperature of only 13 degrees Celsius, and you will go 60 meters under the surface. On the way to this amazing cave, you will pass by olive trees and vineyards - so after the visit to the cave, come over for a glass of Istrian wine.

Yes, Poreč is one of the top touristic destinations in Croatia, but there is something more about this place, something mystical, strange but interesting. Poreč city and its secrets for first-time visitors in two steps are now revealed. Now is your turn to visit them and visit the surroundings of the Terra Magica - Istria. Don't forget to visit Four picturesque Istrian hilltop towns while you are here.