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Poreč Culture & history

You will best be able to feel the spirit of Mediterranean towns by soaking up the atmosphere of their old towns. The ancient centre of Poreč is exactly like this: authentic, Istrian, Mediterranean. Let us take you there.
The turbulent centuries have left their traces on Poreč’s ancient streets. More than two thousand years have passed since the time when a Roman castrum was built on this small peninsula, which is now the nucleus of the old town. During the Roman Empire, through the Venetian, Byzantine and Frank Republics and up to the times of Napoleon and Austria, there was frequent turbulent change in the area. These changes left behind them the traces and histories of different cultures and nations.
When walking through the streets of Poreč, you will come across many hints of its rich history: churches, especially the unique Euphrasius, the narrow streets, towers, walls, and preserved fragments of some long ago times.
These areas are full of new life, and within them you have the chance to visit many lively places - galleries, museums, and concert stages.
The history of a town like Poreč is not easy to condense into a few lines of text. By presenting 18 great events, we humbly attempt to remember at least some of what Poreč has been through from 2 B.C. until today.

History

	2 B.C. The Roman castrum on the small peninsula (400m long, 200 m wide) was built, which today is the nucleus of the old town.
	1 A.D During the rule of Emperor Augustus, the castrum was officially declared a town and a part of the Roman colony of Julia parentium.
	3 A.D. The town had a Christian community and an early Christian church complex, and it became an Episcopal centre at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
	476 The fall of the Roman Empire. Afterwards the town had various different rulers, the first being the Ostrogoths.
	539 The start of Byzantine rule.
	6th century Euphrasius’ Basilica was built.
	End of the 6th century The Croats arrived in the Poreč area, and the first long term settlement was built in 620.
	After 788 The town was under Frankish rule.
	12th century A short period of independence, and then it was governed by the Aquileia Patriarchs.
	1267 Poreč becomes a part of the Venetian Republic, who ruled it for more than five centuries.
	1354 The town was destroyed by the Genovese.
	End of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century The Black Death came to Poreč and significantly reduced the population.
	In the second half of the 17th century The town and surroundings areas are inhabited by settlers from south Dalmatia.
	End of the 18th century With the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Poreč falls under the rule of Napoleon, and becomes a part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1814.
	1845 The first tourist guide about Poreč is printed with a description and pictures of the town.
	From 1861 The centre of the Istrian parliament with schools, administrative and court institutions.
	1902 The Trieste – Poreč narrow gauge railway line was built, the so called “Parenzana”.
	1910 The first Poreč hotel is built, Hotel Riviera.
	1920 -1943 Poreč is under Italian rule, and was badly damaged by bombing in 1944.
	10 September 1943 Together with Istria, Poreč becomes a part of Croatia.