At first impression, Istria’s rustic charm leads one to believe it is the quintessential diamond in the rough. A place where, after a few precise cuts are made and a healthy polish applied, the truly magnificent gem within will be realized. But first impressions invariably give way to the second, third, and fourth. When seen from the inside, one recognizes the Croation peninsula of Istria for what it truly is: a brilliant and sophisticated jewel hidden in plain sight on the Adriatic coast. It is an ancient land, rich in history, dotted with picturesque towns, and blessed with a verdant coastline bordered by the clear blue sea.