Photo: Matea Chiara Ormus / inlandia.com

Mountian Učka is the highest Istrian mountain located along the northern Adriatic in one of the northernmost spots of the Mediterran. It dominates the Istrian peninsula and the Kvarner Bay and binds Istria and the continental part of Croatia.

The Nature Park covers an area of 160 km2, including a part of the Ćićarija Mountain. The highest peak is Vojak (1401 m). The mountains of Učka and Ćićarija are different in terms of relief, but they form an integral mountain chain, separated by the key mountain pass of the region called 'Poklon'. While Učka has a form of pronounced mountain ridge, the Ćićarija mountain’s relief resembles a mountain plateau.

The panorama view on the top is breathtaking. You can see whole Istrian peninsula, northern Adriatic islands, mountains in the Gorski kotar region, and all the way to Venice and the Alps.

The park has been changing its faces over time, but its biodiversity remains preserved. The man changed the landscape only when was necessary for survival in nature.

There are 167 species of birds. Park is one of the last European sites where you can watch Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), golden eagles (Aquilla chrysaetos) or peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). These endangered bird species are nesting on inaccessible rocks of the park and are outstanding representatives of the ornithological life in the Učka Nature Park. The area is also a habitat of the Eurasian eagle-owl, the biggest owl species of Europe.

The endemic Učka (Tommasini) bellflower (Campanula tommasiniana or common name Croatian bellflower) is a rare flower which can be found only on Mt Učka.

The flora of the park includes approx. 1.300 species. Research of the flora has a long tradition in this area, since botanists (domestic and foreign) were the first scientists who visited Učka. Forests cover seventy percent of the park’s surface. Beech forests are predominantly. Učka's preserved forests and wide grasslands are home to many animals, and the presence of large carnivores such as bear, wolf and lynx has been recorded.

In several restaurants inside the park you can taste specialities of the Istrian traditional cuisine.

 If you are interested in exploring Učka with a proffesional guide, please send us your inquiry to info@inlandia.com