Poreč

For other uses, seePoreč (disambiguation).

Poreč Parenzo Parenso
City
City of Poreč Grad Poreč Città di Parenzo
Poreč
Flag
Poreč
Coordinates:45°13′38″N13°35′45″E
Country	Croatia
County	Istria County
Government
• Mayor	Loris Peršurić(IDS)
• City Council	17 members •IDS(9) •SDP,HSS,HNS,HSLS(3) •HDZ(1) •HSU(1) •ŽZ(1) • Independents (2)
Area
•City	111.7 km2(43.1 sq mi)
• Urban	14.3 km2(5.5 sq mi)
Elevation	29 m (95 ft)
Population (2021)
•City	16,607
• Density	150/km2(390/sq mi)
•Urban	8,841
• Urban density	620/km2(1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code	52 440
Area code	052
Website	porec.hr

Poreč(Croatian pronunciation:[ˈpɔrɛtʃ];Italian:Parenzo;Venetian:Parenso;Latin:ParensorParentium;Ancient Greek:Πάρενθος,romanized:Párenthos) is a town and municipality on the western coast of theIstrian peninsula,inIstria County,westCroatia.Its major landmark is the 6th-centuryEuphrasian Basilica,which was designated aUNESCOWorld Heritage Sitein 1997.

The town is almost 2,000 years old, and is set around aharbourprotected from the sea by the smallislandof Sveti Nikola/San Nicola (Saint Nicholas). Its population of approximately 12,000 resides mostly on the outskirts, while the wider Poreč area has a population of approximately 16,600 inhabitants. The municipal area covers 142 square kilometres (55 sq mi), with the 37 kilometres (23 miles) long shoreline stretching from theMirna RivernearNovigrad(Cittanova) toFuntana(Fontane) andVrsar(Orsera) in the south. Ever since the 1970s, the coast of Poreč and neighboringRovinj(Rovigno) has been the most visited tourist destination in Croatia.

History

Church of Our Lady of the Angels

Main entrance of theEuphrasian Basilica

Roman period

During the 2nd century BC, a Romancastrumwas built on a tinypeninsulawith approximate dimensions of 400 m × 200 m (1,312.34ft× 656.17 ft) where the town centre is now. During the reign ofEmperorAugustusin the 1st century BC, it officially became acityand was part of the RomancolonyofColonia Iulia Parentium.

In the 3rd century the settlement had an organisedChristiancommunity with an early-Christian complex of sacral buildings. The earliestbasilicacontained the remains of and was dedicated toSaint Maurus of Parentiumand dates back to the second half of the 4th century. The floor mosaic from itsoratory,originally part of a large Roman house, is still preserved in the garden of theEuphrasian Basilica.

Middle Ages

With the fall of theWestern Roman Empirein 476, different rulers and powers governed. First, it was held by theOstrogothsand after 539 was part of theByzantine Empire.From 788 it was ruled by theFranks.A short independence period followed in the 12th century and later it was ruled by thePatriarchate of Aquileia.In 1267 Parenzo became the first Istrian city that chose to become part of theRepublic of Venice,whose rule lasted for more than five centuries. During this period several palaces, squares and religious buildings in Venetian style were built. In 1354 the city was destroyed by theGenoese.In 1363 the town was given the City Statute.

Modern period

The population was decimated byplagueat the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. After thefall of the Venetian Republic,Parenzo came under the sovereignty of theHabsburg monarchy.

Between 1805 and 1814, Parenzo was part of the NapoleonicKingdom of Italyand then of theIllyrian Provinces,nominally part of theFirst French Empire.After this period it was again annexed by theHabsburgs,with the Monarchy reorganized into theAustrian Empire.In 1844 a steamship connection was established between Parenzo andTrieste.

In 1861, underAustrian LittoralParenzo became the seat of the regional Parliament,with schools, administrative and judiciary offices, and other services. During this time, it slowly became a shipbuilding center. It also became a popular tourist resort for theAustro-Hungarianaristocracy. Between 1902 and 1935 theParenzana(from the name 'Parenzaner Bahn'), a narrow-gauge railway line connected the town toTrieste.

After 1918, it became part of theKingdom of Italy.In 1944, the city wasbombedby theAllies34 times, damaging 75% of the city.

Yugoslav period (1945/47-1991)

In 1947, two years afterWorld War II,it was occupied by Yugoslavia and the city name was changed intoPoreč.The Italian populationleft the cityand was replaced by Slavic people from different regions of Yugoslavia.

From 1945 to 1991, Poreč was a city ofCroatia,then part of theSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Independent Croatia (since 1991)

In 1991Croatiabecame an independent state. Today, the city'sItalianname (Parenzo) is also used in an official capacity.

Center of Poreč by night

Climate

Poreč seaside.

Situated on the western coast of Istria and cooled by sea breezes, the localclimateis relatively mild and free of oppressive summer heat. The month of July is the hottest, with a maximum air temperature of30°Cin conditions of lowhumidity,while January is the coldest with anaverageof 6 °C (43 °F). There are more than 2,400 hours of sun a year, an average of more than 10 hours of sunshine during the summer days. Sea temperatures can reach 28 °C (82 °F), higher than one might expect compared to the coast of southern Croatia where the air temperatures are higher. The average annualrainfallof 920 mm (36.2 in) is more or less equally distributed throughout the year, although July and August are very dry.Winds here are theBora,bringing the cold, clear weather from the north in the winter, and theJugo,a warm southern wind bringing rain. The summer breeze that blows from the sea to the land is called theMaestral.

Nearby sightseeing sites

Baredine Cave

TheBaredine Cave,the only open geologicalmonumentin Istria, is in the vicinity. Stalagmites in the cave are known for their curious shapes. One is said to resemble theVirgin Mary,another theLeaning Tower of Pisa.

Lim Bayis a 12-km longestuarywith the aspect of a narrow canal, created by the riverPazinčicaby eroding the ground on its way to theAdriatic Sea.Quartzboulders are occasionally found here, exposed by the sea.

Vegetation and agriculture

The landscape is rich inMediterraneanvegetation,withpinewoods and green bushes, mostly of theholm oakandstrawberry tree.For generations, the fertileblood-red land (crljenica) has been used foragriculture,withcereals,orchards,olivegroves andvegetablesthe main crops. Today the production of organic food is significant, includingolives,grapes,and popular wines such asMalvazija,Borgonja,Merlot,Pinot,Cabernet SauvignonandTeran.

Transportation

High-speed catamaran connecting the city toVenice

Road traffic is the primary form of transportation. Poreč is well-connected with the rest of Istria and with larger cities such asTrieste,Rijeka(Fiume),LjubljanaandZagreb.The nearest commercialairportis inPula(Pola). Seatrafficis less important today than it was in previous centuries; these days it is primarily used for tourist excursions. The closestrailwaystation is inPazin(Pisino), which is the seat of theIstria Countylocal authority.Between 1902 and 1937 theParenzana,a narrow-gauge railway line connected the town to Trieste.

Economy

Poreč Promenade

Intersection ofDecumanusandSaint Eleutherius, martyrstreets in central Poreč

Traditionally, economic activities have always been connected with the land and sea. The only significant industry in the area isfood processing,but Croatia's ongoing integration into the broader European economy has led to Poreč seeing growth in itstrade,financeand communication sectors. However, the primary source ofincomeistourism.

Real estateprices are very high due to the city's prime location.

Demographics

Historical populations
of Poreč – Parenzo

Year	Pop.	±%
1880	7,355	—
1890	8,478	+15.3%
1900	10,168	+19.9%
1910	12,439	+22.3%
1921	12,252	−1.5%
1931	12,607	+2.9%
1948	9,862	−21.8%
1953	8,604	−12.8%
1961	8,216	−4.5%
1971	8,820	+7.4%
1981	11,739	+33.1%
1991	14,633	+24.7%
2001	17,460	+19.3%
2011	16,696	−4.4%
Source: Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, DZS, Zagreb, 2005

According to the 2011 census, the main ethnic groups in Poreč areCroats(74.8%),Istrian Italians(3.2%),Serbs(3.4%),Albanians(2.7%) andBosniaks(1.95%). Also part of the Parentian people submitted the choice "regional" (asIstrian), regardless of their Italian or Croatian origin. In the common use Italian is spoken by 15% of the local population.

According to the 2011 census, there are 9,790 residents of the town of Poreč, and with allsettlementsincluded, municipality of Poreč has a total of 16,696 residents:

• Antonci,population 164
• Baderna,population 240
• Banki,population 17
• Bašarinka,population 90
• Blagdanići,population 15
• Bonaci,population 104
• Bratovići,population 19
• Brčići,population 163
• Buići,population 131
• Cancini,population 158
• Červar-Porat,population 527
• Črvar,population 99
• Čuši,population 20
• Dekovići,population 45
• Dračevac,population 166
• Filipini,population 43
• Fuškulin,population 181
• Garbina,population 68
• Jakići Gorinji,population 18
• Jasenovica,population 50
• Jehnići,population 39
• Jurići,population 3
• Kadumi,population 216
• Katun,population 64
• Kirmenjak,population 48
• Kosinožići,population 99
• Kukci,population 500
• Ladrovići,population 86
• Matulini,population 16
• Mičetići,population 37
• Mihatovići,population 122
• Mihelići,population 43
• Montižana,population 57
• Mugeba,population 180
• Mušalež,population 366
• Nova Vas,population 480
• Poreč - Parenzo,population 9,790
• Radmani,population 241
• Radoši kod Žbandaja,population 115
• Rakovci,population 26
• Rupeni,population 2
• Ružići,population 19
• Stancija Vodopija,population 116
• Starići,population 8
• Stranići kod Nove Vasi,population 177
• Šeraje,population 2
• Štifanići,population 61
• Šušnjići,population 29
• Valkarin,population 44
• Veleniki,population 107
• Vrvari,population 792
• Vržnaveri,population 76
• Žbandaj,population 417

City of Poreč:Population trends 1857–2021

population	5748	6333	7355	8478	10168	12439	12252	12607	9862	8604	8216	8820	11739	14633	17460	16696	16607
	1857	1869	1880	1890	1900	1910	1921	1931	1948	1953	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011	2021

Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

Ulica Stjepana Konzula Istranina

Main sights

The town plan still shows theancient RomanCastrumstructure.The main streets areDecumanusandCardo Maximus,still preserved in their original forms.Maraforis a Romansquarewith two temples attached. One of them, erected in the first centuryAD,is dedicated to theRoman godNeptune;its dimensions are 30 by 11 m (98.43 by 36.09ft). A few houses from theRomanesqueperiod have been preserved and beautiful Venetian Gothic palaces can be seen here. Originally aGothicFranciscanchurchbuilt in the 13th century, the 'Dieta Istriana' hall was remodeled in theBaroquestyle in the 18th century.

TheEuphrasian Basilica,rebuilt in the 6th century under theByzantine EmpireandbishopEuphrasius, is the most important historical site in Parenzo. It is a protectedWorld Heritage Site,so designated byUNESCOin 1997. Between the 12th and 19th centuries, the city haddefensive walls,as the better-knownDubrovnikstill does today.

Porec also has one of the smallest streets in Europe the Ulica Stjepana Konzula Istranina.

Tourism

Renovated Riviera Hotel today

Beach in Poreč

In 1844, theAustrian Lloydsteamship company opened atouristline which called at Parenzo. The first touristguidedescribing and depicting the town was printed as early as 1845. The oldesthotelis the Riviera, constructed in 1910. Later came the Parentino and others.

Today,touristinfrastructure is intentionally dispersed along the 37 km (23 mi) longcoastline,between theMirna Riverand the deepLim valley.The south hosts self-contained centres likePlava Laguna( "Blue Lagoon" ), Zelena Laguna ( "Green Lagoon" ), Bijela Uvala ( "White Cove" ) and Brulo. To the north, mirroring centres are Materada, Červar Porat, Ulika and Lanterna. In the high season, the area's temporary population can exceed 120,000.

Poreč'sheritagecan be seen in the historic town centre, inmuseumsand galleries hosted in houses and palaces, many of them still private homes as they have been for centuries. In the off season, weekend visitors fromCroatia,Slovenia,AustriaandItalyvisit the area. Sports complexes are developed and used year-round.

Notable natives

Chronologically:

• Giuseppe Picciola,Italian poet (1859–1907)
• Giuseppe Pagano,Italian architect (1896–1945)
• Mario Visintini(1913–1941), Italian flying ace of the Spanish Civil War and World War II
• Licio Visintini(1915–1942), brother of Mario, Italian naval officer during World War II, member of an elite commando frogman unit
• Rita Rusić(1960), Italian actress, singer and producer
• Simon Sluga(1993), Croatian footballer

Twin town and sister cities

• Massa Lombarda,Italy
• Siófok,Hungary
• Poing, Germany

See also

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč-Pula

External links

• Porečtravel guide from Wikivoyage
• Poreč – Croatian National Tourist Board Website
• Poreč-Parenzo Tourist Office Official Website
• Poreč – Istria Tourist Board Website
• Istra Music Festival - International Music Festival in Poreč
• Poreč on the Map– Poreč locations on the map with extended info and historical facts
• Giovanni Maria Cassini (1791)."Lo Stato Veneto da terra diviso nelle sue provincie, quarta parte che compren de porzioni del Dogado e dell' Istria".Rome: Calcografia camerale.(Map of Parenzo region).