Fodor's Expert Review Labin

Perched in all its compact medieval redolence atop a hill a short drive or walk from the sea, Labin is Croatia's former coal-mining capital and the birthplace of Matthias Flacius Illyricus, a Reformation-era collaborator of Martin Luther. Its narrow historic streets are well deserving of a good walk—followed, if time allows, by a dip in the sea in Rabac. From Labin's endearing main square lined with cafés and boutiques to its 16th-century loggia and bastion, it's an easy stroll to Šetalište San Marco, a fountain-filled promenade with spectacular views of the sea. Walk to the end and take a sharp left up the steep cobblestone road to the onetime fortress, Fortica. At the top, you will enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Ucka Mountain, Cres and Losinj islands, Rabac, and the sea. As you go down the other side of the hill toward the main square, you will pass the Crkva Rođenja Blažene Djevice Marije (Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary). With a facade featuring a 14th-century rose window and a 17th-century Venetian lion you will encounter elsewhere in Istria, the church is a mix of architectural styles dating back to a late 16th-century renovation, though its foundations may date to the 11th century. Working art studios, souvenir shops, museums, and galleries are dotted throughout Old Town Labin. The Labin Art Republika hosts art openings, live musical concerts, and an outdoor documentary film festival in July and August.