Stella Maris Resort & ATP Stadium

Stella Maris is a large holiday resort on the coast just outside Umag, the town in the far north-west of Istria close to the Slovenian border, and it is best known for the tennis stadium at its edge, which has been the home of the Croatia Open Umag, an ATP Tour tournament, since the early 1990s. The resort lies about two kilometres from the old town, set among pines on a stretch of shoreline, and it combines hotels, apartments and sports facilities with beaches and swimming areas. For visitors, the main reasons to come are the tennis and the chance to stay in a well-equipped resort near the sea.

The stadium opened at the start of the 1990s, when the tournament was first played, and it was one of the first large tennis venues in newly independent Croatia. It is named after Goran Ivanišević, the Croatian player who won Wimbledon in 2001 and who is one of the best-loved sportsmen in the country. The arena has a distinctive architecture, with a shell-like profile that echoes the nearby sea, and it holds a few thousand spectators around the central court, with clay courts for the tournament in the surrounding complex. Over the years, the tournament has drawn many leading players, and in July, the town fills with fans, players and officials, and the atmosphere in the evenings is festive. Whether or not the tournament is held in a given year, and the dates and format, depend on the ATP calendar, so check current information before you plan a visit around it.

Outside the tournament period, the complex is used for training, regional competitions and recreational tennis. Many guests of the resort play on the courts, and there are lessons and tennis camps for children and adults, with the facilities being a major part of the resort's appeal. Beyond tennis, the resort offers pools, beaches, restaurants and other sports such as cycling and water sports, and it is a popular choice for families, since the coast has gentle pebble and rocky shores with shallow water.

Umag's old town and harbour are close enough to reach by bicycle or a short drive, and the municipal museum, the main square, Freedom Square, and the marina are listed in this guide. The coast around Umag has a long walking and cycling path, and the Savudrija peninsula, with one of the oldest working lighthouses on the Adriatic, lies just to the north. The Slovenian border is close, and Piran and Trieste are easy day trips.

If you want to watch tennis, buy tickets early for the finals, and bring a hat and water, as the stands can be hot. The stadium suits tennis fans, sports families and anyone who likes a resort holiday with a sporting edge. Allow an afternoon for a match, or a week for a holiday.