by croatiaweek
September 14, 2025
in
Istria has been recognised by The New York Times as one of the top European destinations for autumn harvest festivals, with a special focus on the peninsula’s renowned white truffle season.
In a feature by travel writer Alex Crevar, a long-time connoisseur of Croatia and Istria, the American daily highlights the region’s rich agricultural and culinary traditions.
According to The New York Times, Istria is home to a variety of food festivals running from late August through December, celebrating extra virgin olive oil, cheese, pršut, wine and seafood.
At the heart of the coverage, however, are the rare and highly prized white truffles found in the forests along the Mirna River valley – delicacies that fetch exceptional prices on the market.
The article draws attention to several signature events in the truffle season, including:
• NOVA Eroica Istria Truffle Tour – a cycling event on 21 September in north-western Istria
• Festival of Teran and Truffles – held in Motovun on 18–19 October
• Buzet Truffle Festival – taking place on 8–9 November
• Zigante Truffle Days – a flagship event in Livade lasting five weekends, featuring tastings, auctions, workshops and guided truffle-hunting tours
Adrian Zigante, son of legendary truffle hunter Giancarlo Zigante, is quoted emphasising how deeply truffles are rooted in Istrian culture and identity, saying that “through the taste of truffles, one tastes Istria”.
Denis Ivošević, Director of the Istria County Tourist Board, welcomed the feature as a valuable promotion for the region:
“Articles of this kind in such influential media are extremely important, especially as the Tourist Board, together with local partners and hoteliers, invests significant effort in promoting Istria on the US market, one of the most prosperous in the world,” he said.
(Photo: Istria County Tourist Board)
Ivošević added that Istria is a “preferred partner” of prestigious associations such as Virtuoso, Maritz and SITE, all key players in premium tourism and the MICE sector.
Exposure in outlets such as The New York Times, he noted, only strengthens Istria’s image as an authentic, high-end gastronomic destination for international visitors.