The city of Valbandon got its name from Medieval Italian, but it has been inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of the Franks. As a result of the plague, several epidemics, the malaria outbreaks and many wars, the area where Valbandon stands today had been deserted for hundreds of years until in 1910, new settlers arrived to this ancient area along the coast of the Istrian peninsula.
The resettlement of Valbandon in 1910 brought with it an entirely new industry; tourism. A year later, the first company to open up was an investment firm dedicated to making the area a tourist hotspot when they opened Hotel Valbandon; dubbed the Austrian Riviera. By 1913, Valbandon had a total of 45 resort cabins that could be rented along with 4 annexes to the hotel that now offered a total of 60 rooms.
Situated only 6 kilometers northwest of Pula, another popular tourist destination, Valbandon quickly grew into a world-class vacation destination. Nearby, one can find the Brijuni National Park which is composed of 2 large and 13 small islands. A simple boat ride from Valbandon will land you in this National Park where you can spend the day exploring the mysteries of what makes Istria so unique.
The beautiful shores of Valbandon are covered in soft, smooth pebbles which makes walking along them a treat. On the hotter days, make your way inland under the towering pine trees which offer you an escape from the heat of the sun. There are restraints galore and you can taste all the varieties of Istrian wine. If you do somehow get bored, just remember that Pula is only a short distance away and there are many great things to see and do in Pula that could keep you busy for days on end.
Photo by InIstrien
