Istria

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: o Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

After Forum Iulium followeth Istria, well knowne to Latine and Greeke writers, which still retaineth that name, the Germanes call it Hister-reich, as it were the Kingdome of stria. Plin•• sheweth that it was heretofore called Iapydia. It resembleth a Peninsula and lyeth for the most part betweene the two Bayes •ergestinum and Car∣na•ium, it is encompassed with the Hadriatick Sea, on the North it is bounderd with the Carnician and Norician Alpes: on the West before it runneth forth into the Sea, it hath the River Formio, and the River Arsia on the East. The breadth of it is eleven Miles, the compasse of it 122. Miles, from Formio aforesaid, even to the Fanatick Promonto∣rie, or the innermost corner of the Carnarian Bay. The whole Coun∣try is rugged, yet more hilly then Mountaines, which hills doe yee•• great store of wine, oyle, and other fruites, but little wheate or other grain•, 〈◊〉 the fields P•s•in and Humagio. There is a Mountaine commonlye calld Maj••, which is full of wholesome drugs and hearbes, and P••sitia is doe resort hither to gather them. Istria doth yeeld a∣bunda•ce of Salt. There are also stone Quarries. Marble is cut forth of the Rovinian fields, which is calld Istrian Marble, which is of greate esteeme through all Italy. Moreover part of Istria belongeth to the Venetians, and part to the Austrians. Let us come to particulars. The first Citty that wee meete withall is Iustinopolis, which is a chiefe Cit∣ty of hersonesus. For so the learned call it, which is commonly call'd Cab• a' •st•ia. It was so named at first from the Emperour Iustine. Af∣terward it was called by a latter name, because it lyeth in the entrance of the Country as you come from Forum Iulium. It possesseth a small Iland, which is a Mile long, and of a little breadth being divided from the Continent unto which it is joyned by Bridges, which may bee drawen up. It hath a Castle in the midst fortified with foure Towers: It belongeth now to the Venetians. Five Miles off, there is another Castle, which is joyned to the continent with a stone Bridge. After∣ward there followeth Vranum, which the Italians call Castellatium, and Castellerium, commonly call'd Castelier. Fiftie paces hence is S. Simon and Piranum is 5. Miles distant from thence: and Salvorum as many: and Vina•um. From Vinacum it is two Miles to S. Peregrine: and a Mile from thence to S. Iohn della Corne; and as many to S. Laurence common∣ly calld de Daila: a Mile off is Daila it selfe, and three Miles off is the new Citty, commonly called Aemonia. From the River Quietius it is three Miles to Port Cerverius. Foure Miles from thence is the Citty Par•nti•m, which is now called Parenzo. The Towne Orser followeth, which in Latine is called Vrserium. Lemus being passed by, we come to Rovinium: and afterward to that Towne which is commonly call'd Le Colorne, also to Portesuol, and Mutazzo: and from thence it is three Miles to the Promontorie Cisanum, Muratio, and Phasiana, and from thence it is two Miles to the Bandonian Valley, and as many to Marco∣dainum: and it is three Miles from thence to Port Pola. Afterward there is the Episcopall Citty Pola seated on a high Mountaine, which still retaineth his ancient name, a hundred Miles from Tergeste: and 220. Miles from Ancona being divided from it by the Hadriatick Sea. The Rivers of Istria are Risanus, Draconia, Quietus, Lemus, and Arsia. There are also woods which afforde very good Ship timber. The In∣habitants are poore in regard the Venetians doe engrosse all traffique to themselves. We will speake hereafter concerning the Marquiship of the Vindorians, and therefore I will here omit it. I have scarce a∣ny thing to write concerning Karstia, and the County of Cilia: but I will adde something concerning Carniola.