Istria (Croatian and Slovenian: Istra, Venetian and Italian: Istria), formerly Histria (Latin), is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner.
The geographical features of Istria include the U?ka mountain range (Monte Maggiore) in the east, the rivers Dragonja, Mirna, Pazin?ica and Raša, and the Lim bay. When these definitions are applied, Istria lies in three countries: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. The largest portion, Croatian Istria, is further divided into two counties. The largest portion is Istria county in western Croatia. Important towns in Istria county include Pula (Pola), Pore? (Parenzo), Rovinj (Rovigno), Pazin (Pisino), Labin (Albona), Umag (Umago), Motovun (Montona), Buzet (Pinguente) and Buje (Buie), as well as smaller towns of Višnjan (Visignano), Ro? (Rozzo), and Hum (Colmo). A small slice in the north, including the coastal towns of Izola (Isola), Piran (Pirano), Portorož (Portorose) and Koper (Capodistria) lies in Slovenia, and is commonly known as Slovenian Istria (Slovenska Istra), while a tiny region encompassing the town of Muggia (Slovenian Milje) belongs to Italy and is known as Italian Istria.
The small town of Peroj, although not large by size, has had a unique history which exemplifies the multi-ethnic complexity of the history of the region.
The geographical features of Istria include the U?ka mountain range (Monte Maggiore) in the east, the rivers Dragonja, Mirna, Pazin?ica and Raša, and the Lim bay. When these definitions are applied, Istria lies in three countries: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. The largest portion, Croatian Istria, is further divided into two counties. The largest portion is Istria county in western Croatia. Important towns in Istria county include Pula (Pola), Pore? (Parenzo), Rovinj (Rovigno), Pazin (Pisino), Labin (Albona), Umag (Umago), Motovun (Montona), Buzet (Pinguente) and Buje (Buie), as well as smaller towns of Višnjan (Visignano), Ro? (Rozzo), and Hum (Colmo). A small slice in the north, including the coastal towns of Izola (Isola), Piran (Pirano), Portorož (Portorose) and Koper (Capodistria) lies in Slovenia, and is commonly known as Slovenian Istria (Slovenska Istra), while a tiny region encompassing the town of Muggia (Slovenian Milje) belongs to Italy and is known as Italian Istria.
The small town of Peroj, although not large by size, has had a unique history which exemplifies the multi-ethnic complexity of the history of the region.
