The romantic rolling hills of Istria are one of the world’s top places to visit in 2012, according to the latest edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine. Twenty destinations around the world were hand-picked by National Geographic Traveler editors.
Under the heading "On the Trail of Romance," the magazine features a photo of Rovinj and two paragraphs of praise, including:
“The shady, rolling hills of Istria – Croatia’s northernmost peninsula – are becoming widely known for their truffles, Malvazija white wines, olive oil stancijas (estates), and crumbling hill towns. Cyclists can spin their spokes over some 2,000 miles of extensively maintained bike trails. Along the coast, sunny ocean views and impromptu opportunities for swimming and snorkeling abound.”
For the picture perfect Istrian town of Rovinj, the magazine said that it “rises from the Adriatic like an estranged island of Venice”, adding: “Evenings are capped off with Champagne cocktails at the Valentino Bar, a breezy boîte perched directly on the water and illuminated in vivid cerulean by underwater lights – not a bad spot to nurture your own inner Casanova.”
Other destinations featured on the National Geographic Traveler’s “Top 20 places to visit in 2012” list are: Iceland, Koh Lipe Thailand, Dresden, North Columbia, Virunga Volcanoes of Africa, Spain’s Costa Brava, Sonoma California, Muskoka Ontario, Oman, London England, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Greece, Belfast Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Pittsburgh and Mongolia.