In the last two centuries the Istrian Italians , who were the majority of the population of Istria under Napoleon , have been in continuous ethnic fighting with the Slavs of Istria . As a consequence now they are reduced to a small minority , who has survived the Istrian exodus and the Foibe massacres during and after WWII . Today , as a result of the Istrian exodus , the majority of Istrian Italians live outside of the Istrian peninsula ; however , a significant Italian minority still lives in the Croatian County of Istria and in Slovenian Istria , where they are granted minority rights .