Truffles in Croatia
The 15th annual World Truffles Festival is set for September 11 through November 30, 2014, in the self-proclaimed Truffle Capital of the World: Montovun, Croatia.
Needless to say, the dates coincide with the white truffles picking season.
There’ll be “numerous festivities, shows, concerts, truffle dishes competition, games and truffle hunting safaris” to tempt aficionados.
Motovun is a small town in Croatian province of Istria perched on the top of hill, surrounded by vineyards, orchards and olive groves. In the foothills of Montovun, about 15 years ago, the biggest white truffle was found. It weighed almost three pounds and is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Truffles are highly prized mushrooms with very distinctive taste that grow about 4-8 inches underground. Specially trained dogs or pigs are used to find them.
If you’d rather not plan your own trip to Montovun, you can join one of three tours scheduled during the festival by Mediterra.
Another option is Istriana Travel, which organizes truffle hunting in the Motovun forest between April and December.
(Photo courtesy of Mediterra)
