Hidden villages and forgotten stories. Follow along the footprints made by generations.

I will take you into the heart of Istria’s rural north, a place where old tales are still told, and life is felt in every step.

This is not a typical guided tour. It is an experience in which you become part of the local story. You become a local.

I am Ana, a certified tour guide born and raised in Istria. I will show you Istria my way — through stories, customs, and hidden corners, familiar only to those who call this magical place their home.

I have observed Istria through a reporting eye for many years — through its people, day-to-day life, and trails less known. Let me take you into my world of Istria, where you are immersed and become part of the story.

Inside Istria Tales & Walks — local heritage walks in Istria with Ana.

• A walk amidst hidden villages and pristine nature
• Storytelling which wakes up the past and livens up ordinary life
• An encounter with the genuine Istrian way of life

From childhood games and shortcuts to school, passing by bubbling water springs, old corner shops and olive mills, all the way up to the church and the cemetery — you come upon Istria from within.

• The Butoniga Lake and historic mills
• The underground world of truffles and local stories
• The Motovun Forest
• Motovun and its panoramas
• The Minjera site — Europe’s first bauxite pit
• Petrapilosa Castle
• Hidden Buzet: from the old prison to the narrowest street
• The locomotive in the ravine — a forgotten story from 1902
• Buzet Edition: wine & dine experience

I walk you through real Istrian villages, down the winding paths once taken to school, the shop or the church.

You are immersed in the stories, encounter the people, and step by step become part of this way of life.

The walk closes in an olive grove, with tales of the olives, olive oil, and traditions passed down to younger generations.

And then — the grand finale: the stunning sunset behind Motovun, a glass of wine in your hand, and the tastes of Istria on the table.

This is not merely a day trip. This is the Istria you truly feel.