The Istrian peninsula, washed by the Adriatic Sea, is for a small part of Italy, for a part of Slovenia and for the most part of Croatia. The western Istrian coast is indented and not very deep, and is part of the so-called red Istria, so named for the reddish soil. It is a plateau sloping towards the sea, with very often low coasts.
Starting from the Gulf of Trieste, on the north-western end of this triangular-shaped peninsula, we find Muggia, the Italian municipality of Istria (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), from whose coastal hills it is possible to admire the sunset over the Adriatic, and the Slovenian coastal towns of Ankaran, Izola, Portoroz, Piran and Koper. Following, the long Croatian peninsular coast, with Medulin (Medulin), Pula (Pola), Fazana (Fažana), Rovinj (Rovigno), Vrsar (Vrsar), Poreč (Parenzo), Novigrad (Cittanova) and Umag (Umag), where the traces of the most ancient civilizations and the Venetian heritage are often still alive.
Along the approximately 46 kilometer long Slovenian Riviera, a one kilometer long sandy beach can be found in Portorož. In Piran you can stroll along the promenade and in the harbor, before going to see the palaces of Tartini Square and the Cathedral of San Giorgio. On the promenade and the port of Koper there is no shortage of benches, palm trees, playgrounds and green spaces. On the facade of Palazzo Tocco, seat of the Regional Museum, you can see the winged lion of San Marco. The Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, on the other hand, is located at the southwestern end of the Slovenian territory.
In Croatia, the western Istrian coast is the most populous and visited of the whole region. In addition to tourism, fishing and vine cultivation is practiced. In Umag there are many beaches and tennis courts. Novigrad is an old fishing village. Porec is the only Istrian city that has preserved the original Roman plan; here there are pebble beaches, rocky coves and many terraces for sunbathing along the seafront. Vrsar is an ancient fishing village, with the old town overlooking the sea. The Lim channel, a kind of fjord in the woods about twelve kilometers long, can be traveled by boat to its mouth. In Rovinj there are many tourist facilities and rocky coves with comfortable descents to the sea. Walking through panoramic cobbled streets you can visit the basilica of Sant'Eufemia, with its bell tower very similar to that of Piazza San Marco in Venice. The surrounding walls of the historic center are also Venetian, built in the 12th century. Fazana is a small fishing port, facing the archipelago of the Brijuni islands, where there are coarse sand beaches surrounded by maritime pines. From here you can go, crossing the canal by sea, to visit the Brijuni National Park. In Pula, especially on the Punta Verudela promontory, there are pebble beaches, cliffs and swimming pools, as well as hiking trails. It is strictly forbidden to approach the specimens of monk seals, a rare and pleasant mammal that rises to the shore during the day. Medulin, with Cape Promontore, is at the southern end of the Istrian peninsula on the Adriatic side and has a coast full of coves, beaches and coves.