Istria (Latin Histria) is the largest peninsula in the northern Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner before Rijeka (Croatia).The name Istria comes from the name of the Histri, a tribe of Illyrians who lived in this region during the antiquity.

 

The vast majority of Istria belongs to Croatia. The Istrian peninsula consists mostly of limestone. The coast is highly convoluted; some estuaries such as the Lim Channel or Plomin Bay stretch deep into the mainland and have a fjord-like character.

The geology of Istria is divided into a white, a gray, and a red region. These three regions are also the three landscape zones of the Istrian peninsula. The white color corresponds to the highest parts of the east of the peninsula, caused by the almost unvegetated bright limestone rock. The central part of Istria has many clay soils and is known as Gray Istria because of its color.



Between the central part and the western coastal zone extends a limestone plateau with resting  terra rossa  soils. These red soils gave this part of the country the name Red Istria. In this zone there are very dense limestone deposits that were used at least since Roman times for blocks and sculpting purposes. The vast terra rossa deposits have been the basis of brick production since Roman times.



The rare terra rossa soil type on the Croatian peninsula of Istria, which is characterized by the bright red color and earthy clay structure, gives the TERRA ROSSA Extra Virgin Olive Oil its unique taste and aromatic intensity. The unique water storage capacity of terra rossa soil keeps the olives from drying out during summer droughts.