LOCATION - The Region of Istria includes a large part of Istria - the largest Adriatic peninsula. Situated in the north-west of the Adriatic Sea, Istria is surrounded by the sea from three sides, while the northern border towards the continent is made up by a line between the Miljski Bay (Muggia) in the direct vicinity of Trieste and the Preluk Bay, right next to Rijeka. Such favourable geographic position, almost at the heart of Europe, Istria has always represented a bridge connecting the Middle European continental area with the Mediterranean.

SURFACE - The Istria County covers the surface of 2.820 square kilometres, which is 4,98 per cent of the entire surface of the Republic of Croatia, and the length of the Istria coast, along with islands and islets is 539 kilometres.

CLIMATE - The basic characteristic of the climate of the Istria peninsula is given by the Mediterranean climate. Along the coast, it gradually changes towards the continent and it passes into continental, due to cold air circulating from the mountains and due to the vicinity of the Alps. The main characteristics of the Mediterranean climate are dry and warm summers, with the average number of approximately 2.400 sunny hours a year. Winters are mild and pleasant, while it snows very rarely. The annual average of air temperatures along the northern part of the coast is about 14 °C, while it is 16 °C in the southern area and the islands.

History and culture

HISTORY - Through the peninsula, since the ancient times, roads went from the Mediterranean to mid-Europe, or the area of Pannonia and the other way round. Through the tumultuous Istrian history, we mark frequent changes of rulers - from the Roman Empire and Byzantium, through the Frank State, the Aquileian Patriarchy, Venetian Republic, the Pazin County, Illyric Provinces, Austria, Italy, to Yugoslavia. On this turbulent area, historic events were caused by frequent migrations and refugees, which also cause the changes of population, traditions, and cultures. Numerous nations left their traces in this area: the Lilburn, the Histri (after whom the peninsula was named), the Greeks, the Celts, the Romans, the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines, the Langobards, the Croats, the Franks, the Venetians, the Austrians, the Italians... 

CULTURE - Throughout its extremely rich history, Istria has been the meeting place of many nations and their culture, so that they left the traces that today's inhabitants of Istria try to preserve, ennoble, and update. There are rich ancient historic sites (Šandalja, Romuald's cave...) witnessing the colonization of the first inhabitants, Histri's hill-forts from the Bronze Age (Nesactium, Monkodonja...); ancient Roman monuments (the Amphitheatre Arena, the Sergi Arch, the Augustus' Temple, remnants of numerous Roman villas...); the complex of the Euphrasiana Basilica in Poreč from the 6th century listed on the UNESCO's list of protected cultural heritage.

Istria is the host of two most significant film festivals in the country, Motovun Film Festival held on Motovun's squares and streets, medieval fortified little town on the hill near the River Mirna, and Pula Film Festival at the Roman Amphitheatre (Arena), the largest stage in the open air. Arena is also the site of numerous concerts of the most popular world classic and pop music stars such as Sting, Zucchero, James Brown, Placido Domingo, Elton John, Joe Cocker and others.

Economy

Istria is traditionally one of the most visited tourist region in the Republic of Croatia, so that it realized 25 % (3,24 mil.) of all arrivals and 33 % (22,27 mil.) of all nights in 2014. Furthermore, there have been a well-developed processing industry, construction industry, trade, sea fishing and fish growing, agriculture and transportation there. According to the number of economic subjects and according to financial indicators, the leading activities are processing industry, tourism, and trade. In the field of industry, the most developed branches are shipbuilding, production of construction material (lime, cement, brick and stone), tobacco products, furniture, electric machines and appliances, parts for the automobile industry, glass, processing metals, plastic, wood, textile, and the production of food. GDP per capita according Croatian Bureau of Statistics in 2012 was 12.990 €. Unemployment rate in the last decade in Istria has been moving between 10 and 14 %.

Regarding with a traffic infrastructure there are for mode: road, maritime, rail and air.

Tourism

World-renowned tourist guides recommend Istria as the undiscovered haven of Mediterranean and the future hit destination. Istria is a land whose diversity is almost unique in the Mediterranean. This heart-shaped piece of land deeply immersed into the blue waters of the Adriatic, is a secluded garden of nature and extraordinary beauty. Istria can be divided in coastal (“blue”) and inland (“green”). Blue Istria is the area with the accommodation capacities hotels to 5-stars, apartments and campsites with a rich offer of sport, recreation, catering and entertaining facilities. Istria is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the summer season. Green Istria is the right place for all those who have enough of the city life, crowds, who wish to return to nature, to its peacefulness and tranquillity with traditional cuisine and scented wine cellars. The inland Istria is showing a growing number of country tourism points in small family-run rural hotels and homesteads (www.istra.hr; Istria Tourist Board, T. +385 (0)52 452 797 | F. +385 (0)52 452 796 | Pionirska 1, HR-52440 Poreč-Parenzo, Hrvatska-Croatia).

Region of Istria has a role in capacity building and asisting local municipalities in the adoption of local adaptations and strategies. Region of Istria participates in all of the project's activities both on those aiming at informing the key stakeholders, ensuring their future engagement and involving policy makers, and those with aim of drafting local strategies and commitment to Mayor Adapt initiative. Our role is to put emphasis on the exchange of best practices to finding common solutions to local problems.
Region of Istria is responsible for the C.3 Action, „Adoption of Local Climate adaptation strategy and plans through SEAP integration“. This action is composed of 5 - sub actions and is implemented from month 16 to month 32.

The Region of Istria, as responsible for the action, defines the common methodology and tools of the climate adaptation strategy adoption that is composed of 4 phases: 1) definition of a political vision; 2) identification of potential adaptation options; 3) prioritization and selection of best options; 4) drafting and adopting the municipal climate adaptation strategy and plan.

This action answers to the requirement of the Mayor Adapt initiative to submit a local adaptation strategy within two years from the adhesion to the initiative; moreover it is in line with the indication of the EU Adaptation strategy that highlights the lack of concrete actions plans in the climate change adaptation strategies adopted, mainly dealing with awareness raising or preparing activities for the adaptation.