Does Istria speak Italian?

Since there are two official languages in Istria – Croatian and Italian – Istria is a bilingual community. Italian is the second official language in Istria since 1994, and the Constitution guarantees the rights to bilingualism in Croatia.

How many Italians speak in Croatia?

The Italian language is the third most spoken language (after Croatian and Serbian) in the Republic of Croatia today. It is an officially recognized minority language in Istria County (where it is spoken by 7.69\% of the population).

What country did Croatia belong to?

Yugoslavia
Finally, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991, a day that is now celebrated as “Statehood Day.” At that same time, Serbs living in the Croatian territory of Krajina proclaimed their independence from Croatia. Civil war was imminent.

When did Italy control Croatia?

In April 1941 Germans and Italians set up the Independent State of Croatia, which also embraced Bosnia and Herzegovina and those parts of Dalmatia that had not been ceded to Italy.

When did Pula become part of Croatia?

In 1947 Pula became a part of Jugoslavia, and from 1991 until today it is a part of the Republic of Croatia. At the end of the Second World War, most of the Italians fled to Italy (this is called the “Istrian exodus”).

When did the Venetians take over Pula?

The Venetians took over Pula in 1331 and would rule the city until 1797. During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, Pula was attacked and occupied by the Genoese, the Hungarian army and the Habsburgs; several outlying medieval settlements and towns were destroyed.

What happened to Istria after WW1?

The end of WWI, 1918, marked the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Istria was handed to Italy. The times were hard, economically and politically. Workers in the Arsenal in Pula were laid off, giving rise to explosive situations.

When was the first settlement in Istria?

Pottery from the Neolithic period (6000–2000 BC), indicating human settlement, has been found around Pula. In the Bronze Age (1800–1000 BC), a new type of settlement appeared in Istria, called ‘gradine’, or Hill-top fortifications.