'A peaceful peninsula piercing the azure Adriatic, Lanterna offers amazing beaches, a relaxed family atmosphere and excellent amenities too.'
Get ready to pick you jaw up off the floor. The lush Lanterna peninsula jutting into the electric-blue Adriatic is so beautiful it's absolutely breathtaking. A vision of green-and-blue just 10 kilometres from bustling Porec, this quiet corner of Croatia could be in a different dimension to its bigger neighbour. Scattered through the trees and macchia are the apartments and campsites of a tasteful holiday village, none of which intrude on the barnstorming beauty or tranquillity. Wherever you tread here, there's serenity by the spadeful. And all in a low-key family atmosphere that'll get you relaxed the moment you get to the beach. Talking of which, Lanterna has more than its fair share of pebbled sun spots. For the classic sort, the two magnificent creeks bordering the headland come up trumps. Pressed between astonishingly clear seas and shady pines, they're brilliant for catching the rays and messing about on the water. Or if privacy's a priority the craggy rocks around Lanterna's outer edges are spot-on for secluded snorkelling and sunbathing. Feeling hungry? When lunch or dinner call, Lanterna and the neighbouring villages of Tar and Vadriga have a plethora of eateries. Focussing on seafood and forest game, specials include succulent young roast goat or rich spiny lobster on noodles. Crack open a prized local Teran wine and they'll taste even better. Then plates emptied, tootle round the local shops and markets to buy provisions and colourful souvenirs. And don't miss Porec. This mazy, medieval town has immaculate cobbled streets, gelateria-lined lanes and superb shops topped by a breathtaking cathedral. Be warned. That jaw of yours might just hit the ground again.
The peninsula provides hotel and rented accommodation as well as campsites, but the development of a tourist infrastructure has gone hand in hand with preserving the environment. Few stretches of coastline are endowed with such natural beauty and crystal clear seas, and care has been taken to protect the unspoilt Mediterranean scenery.
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Lanterna hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Lanterna include Lanterna Apartments.
More Croatia holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Croatia? Our Croatia holiday destinations include Baska Voda, Bol, Brac Island, Brela, Brtonigla, Cavtat, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula, Labin, Lanterna, Lopud Island, Loviste, Lovran, Makarska, Mlini, Novigrad, Opatija, Orasac, Orebic, Pjescana Uvala, Plat, Porec, Pucisca, Rabac, Ravni, Rovinj, Ruzici, Sibenik, Stikovica Zaton, Supetar, Trogir, Trpanj, Trsteno, Tucepi, Umag, Zaton Mali and Zaton Veliki.
Beaches
The beach, or rather the selection of beaches around the peninsula and in the neighbouring bays, is what many visitors come for. Pristine, clear seas, lapping white sand or pebble beaches surrounded by native green and fragrant bushes, soon wash away the stresses of working life in the city.
Eating out
Lanterna and the nearby town of Tar and fishing village of Vabriga between then have a host of local restaurants (konobe) specialising in delicious Istrian cuisine. Fish is the backbone of most menus, all of it supplied by local fishermen and including shrimps, lobsters and spiny lobsters and, of course, the Mediterranean standards: octopus, mussels and squid. From the interior come a variety of forest game, lamb, the famous Istrian smoked ham (proscuitto), sheep cheese and wild asparagus, mushrooms and truffles. Many dishes come with a home-made pasta. One local speciality not to be missed is young goat roast over an open fire. And to wash it all down there is the local Istrian wine whose varietals include Malvasia, Teran, Merlot, Hrvatica, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot, Borgonja and Muscat.
Nightlife
Discos are available at some hotels, and live music and dance terraces can be found at restaurants, particularly in neighbouring Tar.
Shopping
A supermarket provides for basic needs and there are market stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables as well as other basic shops. The nearby town of Tar has a better selection and can provide for most requirements but for everything else, head 10km down the road to the city of Porec. As the country's tourist mecca, it has excellent shopping facilities catering to all tastes and requirements.
Local information
The modern tourist facilities of Lanterna are complimented by the traditional attractions of the neighbouring town of Tar and fishing village of Vabriga, with the three together offering a well-balanced holiday. Lanterna provides natural beauty, modern sport and watersport facilities and disco-type nightlife. Tar and Vabriga party in a more traditional way, but party they do, with the whole community joining in on certain summer nights with donkey races, kids' fancy dress parades, live music, market stalls and an amusement park. 'Tonight is our party, tonight we drink wine,' go the words of one local folk song. On a clear day, the Tar church tower offers views of St. Marco's church tower in Venice, on the opposite side of the Adriatic, and of the Alps.
Location
10km north of Porec
Transfer time
About 1 hour 30 minutes
Recommended
Luxury
