BRIONI, a group of islands north-west of Pola, separated from the west coast of Istria by the Strait of Fasana. The largest island, Brioni Maggiore, previously barren, has been converted into a favourite resort with large hotels, being supplied with water by an underground channel from the mainland. The vegetation is now almost tropical. A fine and very large Roman villa has been found on the beautiful bay of Val Catena, on the south of the island.