Grand Prix of Croatia

Porec is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Almost 2,000 years old, the town is set around a harbour protected from the sea by the small island of Sveti Nikola. The municipal area covers 142 square kilometres (55 sq mi), with the 37 kilometres (23 miles) long shoreline stretching from the Mirna River near Novigrad to Funtana and Vrsar in the south. Ever since the 1970s, the coast of Porec and neighbouring Rovinj has been the most visited tourist destination in Croatia.

Given the town’s long history, a visit to the old town is a must due to its numerous historical sites – particularly the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica which is wonderfully preserved and is well known for its beautiful gold mosaics. The Basilica is really a collection of various buildings, including a bapistry and the Bishop’s Palace. The Basilica was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

The Decumanus is the main street in Porec which runs east-west through the centre of the old town. Marafor Square (Trg Marafor) is where a Roman forum was once situated, and parts of two temples – to Neptune and Mars – can still be seen here.

North of Marafor Square, the Parliament Buildings (of the then Istrian regional parliament; the buildings are now a museum) can be found. These were converted from a Franciscan church which was built in the 13th and 14th centuries.