Page 15 - Dark Shades of Istria
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1.1 Background and Rationale for the Study
Figure 1.1 A Symbolic Ideological and National Coexistence at the Monument
to Combatants and Anti-Fascists in the Pula Cemetery Monte Giro
this context, this research focuses on the Croatian and Slovenian parts,
which represent the vast majority of the territory of the peninsula. Raos
(2014) identified many features which significantly separate the region
from the continental sides of Croatia, e.g. traffic remoteness, national
structure, and the specific regional identity – see also the first paragraph
of this sub-chapter. Its hybridity, multicultural orientation and tolerance
make the (autochthonous) residents of Istria unique in relation to Italians,
Slovenians and Croats from outside the region. In addition, according to
Urošević’s (2012) qualitative research carried out in Istria, 22 of the re-
spondents (mostly from Istria County) were of the opinion that foreign-
ers connect the word ‘Croatia’ with the Homeland War, the Balkans and
Yugoslavia, while associating the word ‘Istria’ with gastronomy, nature
and culture (heritage, history). Since the ethnographic aspect has already
been excluded in this respect, the link with tourism⁶ is the one that re-
mains relevant. Historically speaking, besides some Western researchers
and travellers who visited Istria in the 19th century and earlier, e.g. Rieger
⁶ The case of the u n es c o World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Toolkit (u n es c o World
Heritage Centre, n.d.) shows that tourism and heritage in fact coexist.
15
Figure 1.1 A Symbolic Ideological and National Coexistence at the Monument
to Combatants and Anti-Fascists in the Pula Cemetery Monte Giro
this context, this research focuses on the Croatian and Slovenian parts,
which represent the vast majority of the territory of the peninsula. Raos
(2014) identified many features which significantly separate the region
from the continental sides of Croatia, e.g. traffic remoteness, national
structure, and the specific regional identity – see also the first paragraph
of this sub-chapter. Its hybridity, multicultural orientation and tolerance
make the (autochthonous) residents of Istria unique in relation to Italians,
Slovenians and Croats from outside the region. In addition, according to
Urošević’s (2012) qualitative research carried out in Istria, 22 of the re-
spondents (mostly from Istria County) were of the opinion that foreign-
ers connect the word ‘Croatia’ with the Homeland War, the Balkans and
Yugoslavia, while associating the word ‘Istria’ with gastronomy, nature
and culture (heritage, history). Since the ethnographic aspect has already
been excluded in this respect, the link with tourism⁶ is the one that re-
mains relevant. Historically speaking, besides some Western researchers
and travellers who visited Istria in the 19th century and earlier, e.g. Rieger
⁶ The case of the u n es c o World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Toolkit (u n es c o World
Heritage Centre, n.d.) shows that tourism and heritage in fact coexist.
15
