Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Now walk a few more steps toward town and past the playground, stopping to explore the
covered...
Market
The front part of the market, near the water, is for souvenirs. But natives delve deeper in,
to the produce stands. Separating the gifty stuff from the nitty-gritty produce is a line of
merchants aggressively pushing free samples. Everything is local and mostly homemade.
Consider this snack-time tactic: Loiter around, joking with the farmers while sampling their
various tasty walnuts, figs,cherries, grapes, olive oils, honey,
rakija
(the powerful schnapps
popular throughout the Balkans), and more. If the sample is good, buy some more for a pic-
nic. In the center of the market, a delightful and practical fountain from 1908 reminds loc-
als of the infrastructure brought in by their Habsburg rulers a century ago. The hall labeled
Ribarnica/Pescheria
at the back of the market is where you'll find fresh, practically wrig-
gling fish. This is where locals gather ingredients for their favorite dish,
brodet
—a stew of
various kinds of seafood mixed with olive oil and wine...all of Istria's best bits rolled into
one dish. It's slowly simmered and generally served with polenta (unfortunately, it's rare in
restaurants).
