Lots of gravel, olive trees and vineyards

June 8, 2025

Porec’s Basilica

We took off from Pula this morning and rode inland. We rode quite a few gravel roads, and that meant basically no cars! Very nice. Went through many small villages, a forest, olive groves, and vineyards.

When we come to a turn in the route the guide asked the person riding behind him to serve as a corner guide to make sure that everyone makes the turn. That person waits until the last person comes by and then joins the group again. This system seems to work quite well. We haven’t lost anyone yet! We are stopping periodically to regroup and to hear from the guide what is coming up. What we will see, what kind of roadway and the amount of traffic we can expect etc. We ended our ride in Porec where the boat was waiting for us.

Then lunch and we relaxed for awhile on the top deck before setting out to explore the old town of Porec. Porec has a basilica that dates from the 4th century as well as many charming narrow pedestrian streets.

Headed out near a canal that carries fresh and brackish water into the Adriatic sea

While we were on the gravel roads one part was like riding through a green tunnel

Periodic test breaks make it easier for the group to stay somewhat together

Another olive orchard on the other side of the road

The love bench and Porec in the distance

The streets of the old town were made of these old stones worn smooth

There were lots of little alleyways leading off the main street

The Euphrasian Basilica

In 313 the Emperor Constantine granted Christians freedom to worship in the Roman Empire and soon the Christians in Porec expanded the dining room of the residence of the Bishop and Martyr Mauro and thereby opened the first public church. The first basilica was built at this site in the second half of the fourth century. In the first half of the fifth century, next to the existing basilica, a larger temple was built, the so-called Pre-Euphrasian basilica.

In the sixth century, during the Byzantine rule, bishop Euphrasius came to Istria. Having noticed the poor condition of this basilica, he had it nearly destroyed and he built a magnificent three-nave basilica which is still there today. That is why the basilica is named after him. At that time, the entire complex was built - the atrium, the bishop's palace, and the old baptistery was restored as well.

From the 6th century, when the Euphrasian basilica was built, very little has changed in it. It is the best preserved early Christian cathedral complex in the world. For that reason, as a unique example of early Christian architecture, in 1997 it was included on the World Heritage List under the protection of UNESCO.