If Pula is Istria's economic centre, then Medulin is its playground. With 70km of indented coastline and the region's one and only sandy beach, the southern tip of the peninsula is Istria's most heavily developed tourist destination. Much of it was developed for the mass tourism markets of the 1960s and 70s but if watersports and family-based beach activities are what you're after, then head out 7km (four miles) from Pula.
Medulin, the main town and administrative centre, combines with nearby Pomer, Premantura, Liznjan and Banjole to comprise the Medulin riviera.
Still a working fishing port, the old centre of Medulin remains quaint and picturesque with alleyways winding between fall, Venetian-style buildings and a central piazza housing the tourist Information office, post office and the church of St Agnes. There's a slightly hair-raising one-way System to help negotiate traffic through the maze of impossibly narrow streets.
Medulin prides itself on its sports facilities. There are eight tennis courts right on the shore, three Volleyball courts, half-a-dozen grass football pitches, track and field facilities, and mapped-out cycling routes. Add to this six diving schools, two equestrian centres and a sports centre for parasailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, beach canoeing and .sea kayaking, and you see why Medulin is a populär training destination for European athletes. Sailing and Windsurfing are populär pastimes. There are Windsurfing schools and equipment rental is also available.
After dark, the harbourfront promenade buzzes with activity in summer. Medulin is a clubbing destination, albeit a mainstream one - bright nightspots such as the Disco Club Imperial and Dali in Medulin, and Joy in Premantura teem with windsurfers and out-of-towners from June on.
If you're here in July, look out for Medulin Night on the last Sunday, celebrating St Jacob, the town's patron saint. The annual traditional highlight is always the Brodetto Cup, awarded for publicly cooking up the best fish stew in town. Contestants are all local politicians and celebrities and the results of their labours are then served round to the crowd.