Vela Vrata

Central & Eastern Istria


Offering panoramic views of the encircling hills, this lovely boutique hotel has revitalised Buzet's old town. Twenty tasteful antique-strewn rooms are spread through five interconnected buildings, along with an indoor swimming pool and a small spa. Its restaurant is the best place to eat in Buzet, serving adventurous, truffle-loaded takes on traditional cuisine.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central & Eastern Istria attractions

1. Church of the Blessed Virgin

0.03 MILES

Built by the Venetians in 1784, Buzet's pretty parish church has a pale-yellow ceiling with frescos, an elaborate pulpit and baroque altars. There's also…

2. Local History Museum

0.06 MILES

Housed in the grand Bigatto Palace (built 1639), this museum displays a collection of prehistoric and Roman artefacts as well as some ethnological items…

3. Large Well

0.09 MILES

At the centre of the old town is an ornate cistern topped with a well, built in 1789 in the rococo style. Look out for the carved lion, the symbol of…

4. St George's Church

0.14 MILES

Positioned by the cliffs at the far end of the old town, this church (completed in 1611) was in the throes of a major restoration during research but it…

5. Kotli

3.54 MILES

Don't miss this almost-abandoned village, 2.5km off the road to Roč. It's set on a stream which all but dries up in summer, but at other times bubbles…

6. Glagolitic Alley

4.36 MILES

The road from Roč to Hum has been dubbed Glagolitic Alley in reference to a series of 11 sculptures placed alongside it, commemorating the area’s…

7. St Jerome's Chapel

5.56 MILES

Positioned in a cemetery just outside the town walls, this little 12th-century Romanesque chapel still has the remains of its original frescoes on the…

8. Galerija J Pohlen

7.68 MILES

One of a number of small galleries to have opened in Hrastovlje in recent years, this quiet space exhibits works by sculptor Jožeta Pohlen (1926-2005),…