RIJEKA (Hrvatska)

On foot among the jewels of Istria: first in Hum, the smallest town in the world, with a castle, two Romanesque churches and three rows of stone houses, perfectly preserved since Medieval times. A scenic road connects it to Roč, a Renaissance gem nestled among green hills, and then to Rijeka with its Baroque churches and colorful palaces: Istria is just full of surprises, right?

• Sightseeing bus tour of Rijeka to Hum and Roč
• Walk through the streets of Hum
• Walk through the streets of Roč
• Sightseeing tour of Rijeka

• 100 meters x 30 and 20 inhabitants: Hum is the smallest city in the world. That's right, because with its mighty defensive walls, three rows of houses and two streets, it has earned official city status.
• Step through the bronze gateway and you're right back in the Medieval era, among cobbled streets, simple stone houses and the bell tower of St. James touching the sky.
• The mysterious inscriptions you see next to its Byzantine frescoes are in Glagolitic: ask your guide about it - it's the oldest known Slavic alphabet, invented by the missionary Cyril and still in use today.
• Glagolitic Alley is the road that connects Hum to Roč, a tiny village nestled among the verdant natural beauty, and here, too, you can wander among Romanesque and Renaissance churches dating back to Venetian rule.
• Then head to Rijeka and discover ancient palaces and Baroque churches: the one with the round floor plan is Rijeka Cathedral, while the 538 stone steps lead you to the Church of Mary of God of Trsat, the oldest church in Croatia. There's so much history and so many hidden gems in Istria!

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.
  

On foot around the best preserved medieval town in Istria: Through the lanes and hillside houses of Labin, to the municipal museum and the lookout point over the sea. In your free time, you can take photos of the Venetian palaces and Gothic churches or hunt for famous artists' studios. Hungry? Locally-made wines, extra virgin olive oil and tartlets await you immersed in the greenery of the Bacac family business.

• Sightseeing bus tour from Rijeka to Labin
• Walk through the streets of Labin
• Labin Municipal Museum Interior visit
• Free time in the old town of Labin
• Bacac Winery: Tasting – wines, extra virgin olive oil, brandy and tartlets

• Istria is covered with olive groves and studded with towns nestled on the hills: You'll get a first look from the bus.
  
• Your destination is the most beautiful and best preserved of all: Labin, known as the town of artists. Yes, because dozens of painters and sculptors have their studios in the old town and art, throughout the centuries, was never amiss.
• With your guide, you'll pass through the town's main gate, welcomed by the lions from the Venetian coat of arms: It used to be ruled by the lagoon city and the elegant architecture of palaces and churches bears witness to this.
• Then, you'll visit the municipal museum, which tells the story of the town: There's also a reconstructed mine, as coal mining is closely linked to the territory.
• From the highest lookout point, you can take photos of the sea and the Istrian mountains and in your free time of other Gothic and Baroque churches.
• Then, amid the hills owned by the Bacac family business, you'll taste the wines, extra virgin olive oil, brandy and snacks produced by them. At the end, you'll discover that Istria is not just history, art and beauty, but also a symphony of flavors.

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.

A journey filled with discoveries on Krk Island: With your guide, you'll delve through the cobbled streets of the ancient town of Krk, losing yourself amid the details of the Frankopan Castle and the Romanesque cathedral. Then, take the road to the town of Vrbnik, where a tasting of traditional produce awaits you as well as… one of the narrowest streets in the world!

• Sightseeing bus tour from the port of Rijeka to Krk Island
• Krk old town; Vrbnik village: Walking tour
• Snack and wine tasting in a local tavern
• Free time

• The bus crosses the panoramic bridge that connects Krk to the mainland and leads to the beating heart of the island: The town of Krk, nestled on the southwestern coast.
• Enclosed within ancient walls, Krk invites you to wander through its cobbled lanes, to Kamplin Square with its Frankopan Castle: A defensive fortress built in several stages between the 12th and the 15th centuries. A few steps ahead, you'll see the towering bell tower of the Romanesque cathedral, built over an early Christian basilica from the fifth century.
• Now, back to the east coast to explore a medieval town perched on a cliff overlooking the sea: Vrbnik. The most curious thing you'll see here? One of the narrowest streets in the world – Klančić Street.
• It's time for some refreshments: Stop at a local tavern to taste local produce, including the renowned “žlahtina”: White wine made from grapes that grow only in this region. Cheers!

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.

24 km of tunnels, caverns and chambers under the ground: you're about to step inside the Postojna caves, the most famous in Europe. The reason for this? They were formed by a river, and are the only caves in the world that can be visited on an underground train. Jump aboard and at the end of your trip, you'll understand why the person who discovered them said: “Here is a new world, here is paradise!”

• Sightseeing bus tour from the port of Rijeka to Postojna
• Postojna caves: interior visit
• Free time

• Set off from Rijeka on your bus, cross the Croatian border and enjoy the journey through the landscapes of Slovenia: you're about to arrive at the Postojna caves.
• Awaiting you at the entrance is a little train that will take you into the heart of the caves, to the cavern of the Great Mountain, and through the Gothic hall and the ballroom, lit by Murano glass chandeliers.
• Now the exploration continues on foot with your guide, among stalactites and stalagmites that are thousands of years old: the oldest formation you will encounter, the Skyscraper, is 16 meters high and is an amazing 150,000 years old!
• Move through the tunnels to discover the most unusual spaces, such as the Spaghetti Room. Why does it have this name? You'll understand when you look at the ceiling! Then, you'll spot the Brilliant: the stalagmite that has become the symbol of the caves. It takes its nickname from its shimmering white color -
• and that's not all! Here, you'll also get to see "baby dragons" up close: they are olms or proteus, amphibians who can live for up to 100 years and survive without food for more than a decade. Incredible, just like everything you'll see in this underground world!

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.
• Bring a jacket and warm clothes.
• The transfer time by bus from the port to the caves is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes each way.

Discover the icons and monuments that are synonymous with Rijeka: by bus, you'll reach the Medieval castle. At your feet, you'll see the old town and the entire bay, and you'll feel as if you've stepped into a painting. Then, wander through the streets of the old town among Baroque churches, ancient buildings and fountains. In your free time, meander among the galleries and ceramics workshops. There's so much choice: what souvenir will you bring back to the ship with you?

• Panoramic bus tour from the port of Rijeka to Trsat Castle
• Trsat Castle: interior visit
• Walk through Rijeka
• Free time

• Trsat Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles of the Adriatic, with its bulk still intact, and towers which touch the sky.
• By bus, climb the hill upon which it towers: it's only 138 meters high, but from up here, the old town and the entire Kvarner Bay are at your feet. Your phone battery is fully charged, right? Photos from up here are a must!
• With your guide, you'll pass through its mighty walls, which are home to a collection of modern art, and discover all the secrets of the castle, built in the 13th century and restored by an Irish count in the 19th century.
• Then go down into Rijeka and walk along the Korso, the city's famous pedestrian boulevard, past the colorful old buildings and Baroque churches: the one with the round floor plan is Rijeka Cathedral, while the 538 stone steps lead you to the Church of Mary of God of Trsat, the oldest church in Croatia.
• In your free time, get a few more shots of the town hall and the municipal tower, and wander around Rijeka's many galleries in search of a worthy souvenir of your day: from hand-painted ceramics and paintings, you'll be spoilt for choice!

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.

Cross Rijeka and explore Opatija and Lovran in the Kvarner Gulf. Discover them aboard a comfortable bus as your guide reveals glimpse after glimpse of the history and secrets of these coastal towns, the preferred destinations of Austro-Hungarian nobility. The grand finale greets you at Trsat Castle: An unparalleled panoramic view just waiting to be immortalized!

• Sightseeing bus tour through Rijeka, Opatija and Lovran
• Trsat Castle: photo stop

• Discover Rijeka in total comfort: a bus awaits you which will drive to the Istrian peninsula and its coastal towns, nestled in the Kvarner Gulf.
• Passing through Opatija is like plunging into the Belle Époque, among elegant botanical gardens and Liberty-style hotels and villas built in the 19th century for Austro-Hungarian nobles in search of relaxation.
• With the blue of the sea on one side and the green of Mount Učka on the other, you'll continue along the Riviera until you reach Lovran, a famous seaside resort since the time of the Habsburg Empire. It's still got all the charm of the golden days!
• Then it's back toward Rijeka, but before returning, enjoy the view from the hill with Trsat Castle at its summit: the perfect viewpoint for capturing the entire city and the Adriatic from above.

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Step into the history of Rijeka: with your guide, walk through the narrow streets of the old center among 18th-century palaces, churches and fountains. You'll enter the Baroque Rijeka Cathedral to discover its treasures, lose yourself in the elegance of the Croatian National Theater and the Church of St Mary of the Assumption, and then get ready for a special photo: did you know that there is a leaning tower in Rijeka?

• Walk through Rijeka: leaning tower; Church of St Mary of the Assumption market; Croatian National Theater
• Rijeka Cathedral: interior visit

• Rijeka is a port city and jumping-off point for many Croatian destinations, but few know that it also offers so much more.
• You've now got the perfect opportunity to find out: walk along the "Korzo", the pedestrian avenue par excellence, between historical buildings and colorful bell towers, and immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the old town and its history, which dates back thousands of years.
• The round church you see is Rijeka Cathedral, adorned with fine Baroque decorations: inside is a 13th century crucifix - ask your guide about it, it's said to be miraculous.
• Wander around the market and photograph the elegance of the Croatian National Theater: just think, its ceilings were painted in the late 19th century by Ernst and Klimt.
• Now get ready for the photo of the day: your subject is the tall medieval tower made of rough stone, but you are not seeing double: it really does lean to one side, and is known as the leaning tower of Rijeka!
• After the exploration, you can continue to hunt for souvenirs, discover other hidden corners of Rijeka in total liberty and return to the ship independently. The choice is yours!

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.

Discover two gems of the Adriatic in a single day: on foot through the elegant streets and 19th-century buildings of Opatija, the spa town suspended between the blue of the Adriatic sea and the green of the mountains. Then you'll walk with your guide between the Medieval and Baroque monuments of Rijeka, with the castle towering above you: were you expecting so many beautiful sights?

• Sightseeing bus tour from Rijeka to Opatija
• Walk through Opatija
• Free time
• Walk through Rijeka
• Free time and return to the ship on foot

• The panoramic road that connects Rijeka to Opatija passes dreamy beaches and bays, and from the windows of your bus, your camera will capture them all.
• Then you'll descend and walk between the luxury villas along the seafront which winds from the city of Opatija to a number of fishing villages: now can you see why they call it the pearl of the Adriatic, right?
• The “Maiden with the seagull” statue that stands on the rocks is the bronze icon of the city, and symbolizes its deep connection with the sea.
• In your free time, you can also wander among the boats in the harbor, through the historical covered market on the hunt for tasty souvenirs or in the gardens of Villa Angiolina where the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I also walked.
• Then the bus will take you to Rijeka: another historic center, with more treasures to discover! Like the baroque cathedral of St. Vitus with its fine decorations. Save a bit of space on your camera roll though: did you know that Rijeka also has a leaning tower?
• Want to continue wandering on your own? Go hunting for 18th-century palaces and other hidden corners of Rijeka, before returning to the ship on your own when you feel like it.

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.
• Wear suitable clothing for the places of worship you will be visiting.
• At the end of the excursion, if the length of the stopover permits, stay as long as you wish in the city center and then get back on board free of charge with the Costa shuttle bus service, showing your Costa Card to the driver. Check the time for returning on board and of the last available shuttle bus in “Oggi a Bordo”.