Sheltered from strong bura winds by Mt. Učka, the highest mountain in Istria, close to what was the first coastal spa resort in the Adriatic and the cradle of elite tourism in the region since the time of Austria-Hungary, ACI Marina Opatija is situated in the town of Ičići. This is the best anchorage for yachts under 40 meters in the entire northern Adriatic, and its nautical tradition is three millennia old. In the 9th century BC it was home to Liburnians, skilful builders of fast ships made of wooden planks and rope that took them as far afield as North Africa and Asia Minor.