Mr. Klein wanted to open a representative hotel in Porec, which at the time was the political centre of Istria where sessions of the Istrian Parliament were held, but could not obtain the construction permit and building site so he bought part of the sea in the harbour from the insurance company Lloyd, filled it up and built the Hotel Riviera, which later became one of the symbols of Porec tourism. 

Not far a way from Marafor there is the Istrian Parliament Building. To visit this building you have to go back into the Marafor square, look towards Basilica, and take the narrow street that goes towards left.

At the end of the street if you look towards right you will note the façade of this old Franciscan church.

This building was once a Franciscan church erected in the 13th century in the Gothic style. According to the tradition it was St. Anthony from Padua the founder of this monastery in 1226 and the church was erected later on a place of an older basilica from the 4th century that was dedicated to St. Thomas.

Parts of the floor mosaics of this old basilica from 4th and 6th century are preserved and housed in Euphrasius’ Basilica. In the 18th century Baroque stucco works by Mr. Montevintia and illusionist paintings by Mr. Venturinia were added to it and also the bell tower was rebuilt in 1708.

During the Napoleon period, the church was closed down and the Monastery was turned into school. In 1844, Marquis Polesini built an additional floor inside the church and used the lower part as a wine cellar.

From 1861 to 1918 the upper floor, the most representative one, was the seat of the Istrian Parliament. After the first World War, Marquis Polesini bought the entire building and donated it to the town of Porec with a wish to create another museum.

Now if you go to the opposite site of the peninsula, where Hotel Riviera is located, there are several other attractive buildings that are worth to be seen.

The first beautiful building is former Perusino palace that is a three floors building with balconies on the first and the third floors and a big loggia with vaults on the second Noble floor.

If you take the street that goes under the trees near the coast line on your left side there are the remains of the old town walls and few other buildings. There is also another round defence tower of the old town. This is Serenissima round tower that dates back into 1475.

The coat of arms placed on it belongs to Pietro de Mula who was Podesta’ of Porec at the time Serenissima tower was built.

If you look carefully, on your left side looking towards Serenissima tower, you will note a building with loggia formed with four vaults on the last floor of the building. This was the house that hosted former hospital and was a poor people house.

Not far away from the former hospital, in the direction of Serenissima tower, you will note another building that have a similar last floor characterized with seven vaults.

This building is from 1718 and it was the former Travan family house.

On the right side of Serenissima tower you will note theatre building from 1886 with three vaults on the ground floor, two Porec’s coat of arms on the façade and three sculptures on the roof.