Many people will tell you that perhaps the most beautiful towns in all of Istria is that of Vrsar. The town sits upon an emerald green hill looking out over the Lim Bay. The town has always been known as a place for rest and relaxation. Many a seafarer has made his way into town to relax after a long trip out to sea. There are 18 magnificent islands located in the bay and all of them are just waiting for you to come and explore them.
As with much of Istria, the area where Vrsar stands today can be dated back to the prehistoric times when a fortified settlement was first built upon the hill where the town is today. The coming of the vast Roman Empire brought prosperity and rapid growth to Vrsar. During this time the village expanded from the hill all the way down to the waterfront. It had become a center of trade for the rich Roman aristocrats and as such, many Roman villas had been built in the area surrounding the city and the bay. Today the ruins of many of these villas can still be seen.
There were at one time, many churches and grand buildings located throughout most of the area. Most of these were built from locally quarried white stone that was also used by the Venetians and the Romans for many sculptures and other works of art from the time period.
Today, one can see the city’s main gates which were built back in the 13th century as well as parts of the original wall which protected the city for centuries. A castle that was built in the 14th century that features two towers built in the 13th century still stands today and is the summer residence of the Bishop of Poreč. Several 2nd century Roman necropolises can be seen by those wishing to take a glimpse back into time.
