Marafor Square

Marafor Square is a small open space in the old town of Poreč, on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia, close to the sea at the western end of the historic centre. It is a place where several layers of the town’s past meet, and where visitors can combine a coffee stop with some of the oldest stones in Istria.

The name is the key to the square’s story. Marafor comes from Mars Forum, the Latin name of the forum of the Roman colony here, which was called Colonia Iulia Parentium. A Roman town of this kind was laid out on a grid, with a main street running through it and a public square at its centre, and Poreč’s old town still follows that plan. The long street known as Decumanus, the Roman decumanus maximus, still serves as the main pedestrian street, and Marafor sits at its western end, where the forum once stood. Ruins of Roman temples remain on the edge of the square, among them the remains of a temple associated with Neptune, whose massive columns and stone blocks show how monumental the buildings once were. Walking among them is a reminder that Poreč has been a significant town for about two thousand years.

While the Roman remains are the oldest layer, the square has a thoroughly modern life. Restaurants, bars and shops occupy old houses and passages around the edges, and in summer terraces spill into the open space, so that the area feels animated from morning until late evening. Whether you are in need of coffee, a seafood lunch or an evening drink, the choice is wide, and the surroundings give a better atmosphere than most seaside strips. In the early morning the square is quiet, and it is easiest to see the details of the ancient masonry.

The location is practical as well. A short walk east along Decumanus leads to the Euphrasian Basilica, the city’s UNESCO-listed church, with its famous mosaics, and the harbour and waterfront promenade lie just beyond Marafor on the other side. Poreč Marina and the beaches and water parks on the edge of town are easily reached on foot or by a short ride. This makes Marafor a convenient meeting point and an orientation spot for a day in Poreč.

The square is open to everyone at all hours and has no admission fee. It suits people interested in Roman history who like to see it in an everyday setting, and anyone who simply wants a pleasant place to sit and watch the town go by.