Katarina Line Takes Travelers to ‘the Other Italy’ In 4-Day Istrian Rooftops Land Tour

Katarina Line, Croatia’s leading DMC and premier small ship cruise specialist, continues to enhance its wide array of guided land tours that offer seamless connections to many of its popular cruises. Among its most unique tours, the company’s 4-day Istrian Rooftops explores the picturesque hilltop villages of Istria, offering a taste of the region’s exceptional cuisine, wine, architecture and scenic charm. Situated between the Gulf of Trieste and the Kvarner Gulf on the Adriatic, Istria is Croatia’s largest peninsula, sharing borders with Slovenia and Italy. Notably, it is also directly across from Venice, whose influence is widely visible in the architecture and the people themselves, most of whom speak Italian.
Istrian Rooftops is a one-way land tour between Zagreb and Split, with stops at Opatija and the Istrian cities of Motovun, Rovinj, and Pula. The tour can also originate out of Venice or Trieste, upon request. Prices are $2,976 per person, based on double occupancy, to as little as $1,572 per person, based on a minimum of six people. In addition to an itinerary that includes guided walking tours, prices include transfers, hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch in Optatija, dinner with wine tasting at the Roxanich Hotel and Winery in Motovun, and a truffles dinner in Motovun. Accommodations are in four-star hotels, such as Hotel Capital and Hotel Academia in Zagre and the Roxanich Hotel in Montovun.

“Istrian Rooftops reflects Katarina Line’s continued efforts to immerse travellers in the history and culture of the picturesque towns, islands, and natural wonders of Croatia, some of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites,” said Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director for Katarina Line. “This unique tour takes travellers on a romantic exploration of Istria that includes tastings of its olive oils and truffle – specialties considered on par, and some might even say superior, to those of Tuscany.”
Many Top Attractions
Highlights of the Istrian Rooftops tour include a guided tour of Zagreb that features St. Mark’s Church and nearby Parliament building, the fortified Lotrscak Tower, the mystical Stone gate, as well as a funicular ride to the Zagreb cathedral. In Opatija, guests will walk through Angiolina Park along the 130-year-old Franz Joseph seafront promenade, which passes the famous Maiden with the Seagull statue. In Motovun, they will enjoy a walk through the old town, followed by dinner and wine from the hotel’s own wine cellar.
Other itinerary highlights include a visit to Rovinj’s St. Euphemia church, known for its legend of a young Christian girl from Constantinople who refused to give up her Christianity and was thrown to the lions. In Pula, travellers visit the 1st-century Amphitheater, better known as the Arena of Pula, once the site of gladiator fights and built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and at the same time as the great Colosseum of Rome. A tour of the Vodnjan parish church will be followed by dinner in a local tavern that includes the delicious Istrian specialties of olive oil and truffles. After stopping for coffee in the old town of Buzet, guests can then make seamless connections to any planned Katarina Line deluxe cruise.
Strict Health and Safety Protocols
Katarina Line observes strict health and safety protocols, with frequent and regular cleaning of all common surfaces, including handrails, doorknobs, and light switches, as well as the use of air purifiers in the restaurant area.  Cabins are cleaned on a daily basis, upon request, with all surfaces thoroughly sanitized.
Edited by: Stephen Morton