Unique Play of Nature
Apart from the Brijuni Islands, the only national park in Istria, there are six different categories of natural heritage under protection.
The mountain massif of Ucka, also the highest peak in Istria, was proclaimed a nature park, since it is the natural environment of several protected plant and animal species.
Special reserves of botanical-forest vegetation are Motovun Forest and Kontija Forest, a special marine reserve is the sea and sea bed of Lim Bay, whereas Datule near Barbariga is a special paleontological sight.
Istria also has six forest parks - Zlatni rt, Sijana, Skaraba, Busoler, Kasteja Peninsula and Soline Hill near Vinkuran, and nine protected landscapes - surroundings of Istarske toplice near Buzet, Lim Bay, Pazin abyss, Rovinj archipelago and coastal area, area of Gracisce - Pican, area around Labin, Rabac and Prklog Cove, upper and lower Kamenjak with Medulin archipelago and area of Ucka.
There are five botanical nature sights, mostly centuries-old trees, one zoological nature sight - Pincinova Cave, three geomorphologic - Markova Cave, Podbaredine Cave and Vela Draga below Ucka, and one geological nature sight - Fantazija Quarry. Along with the line of cypresses at the Rovinj cemetery, the park in Nedescina is also considered a monument of park architecture.
