A Rainy Day in Lovran: Tracing History and Finding Hidden Gems

Hello everyone!

I’m happy my first post in this community about my travel :)!

@ssekulji and I took a day trip to Lovran yesterday, and despite the rain, it was a memorable experience. We left Zagreb at around 9:40 am and made our way to Ičići, arriving by 11:30. The weather wasn’t on our side—it rained all day, but we didn’t let that dampen our spirits :).

Our first stop was the house of the legendary Ivo Robić, a pioneer of Croatian popular music and a composer who achieved international fame. Robić earned the nickname “Mister Morgen” after his record Morgen (

) sold over a million copies, making him the first Croatian artist to reach such heights. The house he shared with his wife Marta in Ičići has been by their wish transformed into a then church, the first in Croatia dedicated to St. John of God. This transformation holds special significance for the local community since there is no parish church in Ičići. Now, the house stands as the chapel of St. John of God.

After paying a visit to this historical site, we decided to walk from Ičići to Lovran. The path was stunning, despite the wet weather—so many peaceful & beautiful beaches and breathtaking views along the way. What surprised me most was how quick the walk felt. It took about 30-40 minutes, but the serene atmosphere made time fly. We took a short break in the local cafe by having coffee :).

Wet but still full of energy we made our way back to the car, and it was time for a well-deserved meal. Slaven found an amazing place so we headed there!
Burra, a restaurant and pizzeria located about half an hour away from Lovran in the small town of Plomin. Burra is a hidden gem, offering a charming, old-world Italian ambiance and some of the best pizza in Istria. It’s an unusual spot, tucked away in a quiet town that sits just minutes from the much larger and better-known Labin. If you’re ever nearby, Burra is a must-visit!

With full stomachs, we began our journey back to Zagreb. We were slightly concerned about running into traffic from the Cro Race, as the stage finish was in Opatija that day. For those unfamiliar, Cro Race is an international cycling event hosted by Croatia, featuring over 140 cyclists from around 30 countries. It’s part of the UCI World Calendar and includes top athletes from the World Tour, Pro Continental, and Continental divisions. The race takes cyclists through six stages across some of Croatia’s most beautiful regions, and it runs from October 1st to the 6th this year.

Though we encountered a bit of traffic, it cleared quickly. To avoid more congestion, we decided to take a detour through Rijeka and get a quick look at the city before finally making our way home. We reached Zagreb around 7:30 pm, tired but satisfied after a full day of history, beautiful scenery, and amazing food.

Can’t wait to go again :)!