Motovun

Motovun is the postcard shot of inland Istria — a medieval town perched on a steep hill, surrounded by vineyards and the forest where they hunt for truffles. It’s about an hour from the house and absolutely worth the drive.

What Makes It Special

The views. From the town walls you can see across the Mirna valley to other hilltop villages. On clear days it feels like you can see half of Istria. The town itself is tiny — you can walk it in 20 minutes — but it’s beautifully preserved.

My Tips

Come for lunch. The restaurants here specialise in Istrian food with truffles. Pasta with truffles, steak with truffles, even truffle ice cream. It’s not cheap, but it’s a proper treat.

Park at the bottom. There’s parking at the top but it’s limited and the drive up is nerve-wracking. Park below and walk up — it’s steep but takes less than 10 minutes.

Visit a wine cellar. Several houses in town have small wine cellars offering tastings. Malvazija is the local white — crisp and perfect with seafood.

Check the film festival dates. Every July, Motovun hosts an outdoor film festival. Movies shown against the medieval walls, under the stars. If your dates overlap, it’s worth planning around.

Combine It With

Motovun pairs well with Grožnjan (the artists’ town) and a drive through the Istrian hill towns. I can draw you a route that hits the best spots without too much driving.