Once you have already booked your ideal
villa in Istria, where you will spend the best holiday of your life (guaranteed), it´s time to make some additional plans. Some of us prefer to stay active while on holiday, some spend all of their time by the pool or on the beach, some of us like visiting museums, and some like to relax, get a glass of wine (or beer, which ever you prefer) and listen to some quality music. If you belong to the last group we mentioned, maybe this overview will help you decide where to go and what to see this summer in Istria – or better said, what to listen to.
Even in the smallest towns and villages in Istria, music is a part of the everyday life. In Funtana you can listen to various concerts in the local church throughout the summer. Not far away, in the charming town of Vrsar, you can enjoy humming to serenades, performed by local musicians. In Rovinj, the main square hosts numerous concerts and in Porec you can truly find something for everyone: choose between classical music concerts in Euphrasiana or the “Jazz in Lap” festival for those that prefer this unique music genre.
MAY
There is no better way to start the tourist season than with a festival, which attracts a lot of local and foreign music stars – the “Sea Star Festival” held in
Umag. The festival is only 3 years old, but it has already been named one of the best festivals in Europe.
However, if electro music is not something you identify with, maybe the “
Rovinj Spring Jazz Festival” will be a better choice. This music festival has a decade long tradition and as such, it´s crucial in promoting jazz through music performances as well as visual arts, books, lectures.
And if you want to learn more about Istrian music and folklore, you should definitely visit the “Small Istrian Folklore Festival” held in Barban. The program is based on old Istrian songs and dances, recited on dialect and played on traditional instruments. The “Small Folklore Festival” is basically a children’s festival, which does not make it any less important for the preservation of musical heritage.
JUNE
The month of June offers a variety of different genres, events, solo concerts and festivals. For starters, every year since 1973,
Porec becomes the venue for the traditional meeting of choruses. This event is truly unique since it focuses on the music of Istria and Primorje as well as the chakavian dialect.
Starting in June and lasting for most of the summer, you can visit the “Lanterna Summer Nights Festival” in Tar, or, if you prefer the east coast, the “Open-Air Festival” in
Rabac, which offers everything from street performances to music and cinema. On the 16th of June we celebrate the World Music Day („Fête de la Musique“) with concerts held all over Istria.
A couple of days later, the Arena in Pula will be the host of a once-in-a-lifetime rock spectacle – the world famous band Foo Fighters is visiting Croatia. The tickets are sold out, however, if you somehow manage to get your hands on them, this concert is a must.
JULY
If you find yourself in a villa near the Slovenian border, you should visit the “Savudrija nights” festival. The festival brings the town to life with music events and great food. Rovinj has something completely different to offer – The “BaRoMus Music Festival” celebrating baroque music. If you prefer Central Istria, in Sv. Lovrec you can participate in the “Festival of folk music and dance” while the stunning, artistic town of Groznjan offers a festival called “Jazz is back”!
Istria´s largest town,
Pula, has prepared something completely different for its guests: in Pula Arena you can listen to some of the best classical works of art ever written, from “Aida” by Verdi to “Symphony No. 9” by Beethoven.
AUGUST
In August we pick up where we left off, in Pula Arena. On the very first day of the month the Arena will turn into a theatre hosting the world-known opera “Carmen”.
One of the greatest Italian singers, Eros Ramazzotti, is coming to visit
Opatija, the so-called “Pearl of the Adria” on the 15th of August. There are still tickets available, so make sure to get them in time.
Funtana is hosting its traditional a capella evenings, an ideal musical background for warm and lazy summer nights. And last but not least, younger generations will love the “Dimensions Festival” held in Pula. This electronic music festival brings together young people (and those with a young spirit) from all over Europe.
SEPTEMBER
Mid-September you will have the opportunity to sing along to traditional Istrian songs and learn more about the “Istrian way of singing”. We already wrote about this tradition, so if you want to read more about it, just click here. The festival in
Barat is appropriately called “Zakantajmo istrijanske kante” which can be translated as “Let´s sing Istrian songs”. Singing “thin and thick” is one of the 13 intangible Croatian assets protected by UNESCO.
If you are visiting Istria in September, be sure to visit Fort Punta Christo in Pula, where “Outlook festival” takes place. For all dubstep/drum&bass/hip-hop/reggae lovers (and many other genres, of course) Outlook festival is the place to be.
As you can see, Istria is the place to be this summer. Have fun, soak up the sun and listen to some music – Istria offers something for everyone!
Marija Kancir
05.04.2019
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
