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Vrsar-Orsera -Umago DREAMS IN . IN DREAMS UNFOLD YOUR YOUR UNFOLD - Vižinada-Visinada you must see the 14th Vižinada, When in century frescoes in the Romanesque painted in the style Barnaby, Church of St. cen- as well as the 15th pupils, of Giotto’s the In summer, tury frescoes in Božje Polje. old water well is a meeting place for poets. Near the well stand a Neo-classical church, and a granary with a several mansions, price-list carved in stone (1726). Vodnjan will thrill you with the mummified kept in bodies of its saints and celestials, Built from 1760 Blaise. the Church of St. the church has a rich interior and to 1850, Vod- the highest bell tower in Istria (63 m). njan has preserved its medieval town ap- pearance and its Istrian-Romanic . houses and manors with Renais- Churches, sance and Gothic details encircle the main square. visited the great lover, Giacomo Casanova, The town cel- in the 18th century. ebrates this event with a festival of love. The historical centre consists of the Church The Martin and of a restored castle. of St. Romanesque Basilica of Mary of the Sea, hosts summer located on the edge of town, the Vrsar, The islands of guitar concerts. and the old stone blue of the sea and sky, quarry have all inspired the abstract expres- Outside the town sionist painter Edo Murtić. we find the well-known park of sculptures by Dušan Džamonja. The environs of Umag are teeming with the In the 9th century remains of Roman villas. rule and was de- Umag fell under Frankish On stroyed by the Croatian prince Domagoj. alongside the monu- the main town square, mental church (1760) with its unfinished we also see the bell tower and the façade, In public waterworks from the 17th century. Town we find many Gothic houses, the Old the southern distyles and coats of arms, part of the fortress wall and the 14th cen- which today houses tury defensive tower, the town museum. Pazinska Jama - Abyss - Pazin Jama Pazinska Špilja Mramornica Špilja - Mramornica Cave Kraljevstvo Feštinsko Cave Cave - Romualdo’s Špilja Romualdova 7 8 9 10 11 Palud Toplice 12 Istarske Sv. Lovreč has managed to preserve its long Sv. including several towers and fortifications, The oldest part of the walls dates town gates. The three-nave from the 11th or 12th century. Martin is the largest church from Basilica of St. The the first half of the 11th century in . a stone- town centre consists of a bell tower, as well as a a pillar of shame, paved square, beautiful town loggia. -Salvore Savudrija is a small fishing village with the built in oldest lighthouse on the Adriatic, It was already densely populated in 1818. Roman times when its harbour was pro- It provided shelter tected by a breakwater. for ships and supplied them with drinking Venetian has it that the Tradition water. Bar- navy defeated the forces of Friedrich barossa and Pope Alexander III at Savudrija by This event was immortalized in 1117. Palace. Tintoretto in the Dodge’s Domenico RakaljStari the Old As its name Arcellae says, Rakalj is a small 11th century built castle. In 16th century it was attacked and pillaged by the pirate Zuan Marija de Soldatis by first Agnes church bells and then taking the St. Agnes St. destroying the castle completely. which layout shows (1495) and castle ruins, the elements of defensive walls and sentry while its 93-m- remain visible today, boxes, high location ensures a magnificent view of Rakalj has been known as a pottery the sea. hub for ages. Svetvinčenat Svetvinčenat is best known for its enor- mous castle that already existed in the In 1485 it was 13th century as a fortress. The renovated in the Renaissance style. main square is encircled by a single nave A well and other buildings. a loggia, church, The is located in the centre of the square. first Vincent at the cemetery, Church of St. In is rich in frescoes. mentioned in 1178, the town hosts an international summer, festival of dance and non-verbal theatre. Town Statute from Very old books and the 1520 are on display in the parish church. The Mramornica Cave, one of the largest subterranean chambers in Istria is situated south The Mramornica Cave, described first It presents us with a richness of cave life, in untouched nature. of , opening leads into a 100-m-long The steep by the Italian travel writer Alberto Fortis in 1770. yellow stalagmites in various shades of red, and 50-m-high treasure chest of stalactites and reaches a height of 13 m. The highest stalagmite and brown. The paradise in the heart of Istria. The Kingdom of Feštini Cave is a small subterranean it WWII, During the not far from Žminj. cave was discovered in 1930 in the village of Feštini, Walking The interior of the cave is 80 m long. sheltered the landowner from raging armies. and Tower of Babel, the the Magician’s Hat, through it we find several natural sculptures: with grape vines. Wings the enormous Bat’s It is located alongside the Cave is one of the oldest habitats of early man in Istria. Romualdo’s The meandering cave is 120 m above sea-level. Martin, Channel on the steep slope of Mount St. it According to legend, once used by Stone Age hunters. 150 m long and consists of 7 chambers, the After his departure, Romualdo of in the early 11th century. became the home of St. The entrance to the cave is only 47 cm high. it houses a colony of bats. Today, faithful visited the site. The 500-m-long The Pazin Abyss is one of the most striking examples of karst pits in Istria. entrance that dominates the landscape of the old town of Pazin inspired world famous writers the Pazinčica River sinks into subterranean At a depth of 100 m, Yriarte). Dante, Verne, (Jules It is the largest Istrian underground stream that flows towards the Raša River valley. passages. the largest medieval The , Over the abyss we find a bridge with a vantage point. also affords a great view. fortress in Istria, Close to the Adriatic situated only 8 km south of . Palud is ornithological jewel of Istria, It is the temporary a natural depression and marshy habitat was formed (210 hectares). sea, A canal dating from the Austro-Hungarian period or permanent home to 219 bird species. turtles and eels. The brackish water is rich in mullets, connects the swamp with the sea. and luxurious willows flourish in the humid micro climate. oak trees Swamp plants, Stephen source of sulphurous wa- Thermal Springs originated on the site of the St. Istria’s quality of the water The medicinal Valley. ters located in the untouched nature of the with its consistent com- The warm source water, was already known in times of antiquity. A steep cliff (85 m) with position and natural radioactivity consists of 13 kinds of minerals. Stephen emerges above the thermal springs. the remains of the Church of St. Sv. LovrečSv. Poreč Parenzo Natural Wonders Natural From the 13th c. on, Roč was the centre of on, the 13th c. From written in the old Slavic Glagolitic literature, Many Glagolitic books and docu- alphabet. The towers and ments originated in Roč. the town fortifications date from the 15th c., The medieval Church loggia from the 18th. Bartholomew has been renovated of St. The Romanesque Church of St. many times. Rocco (12th c.) has many valuable frescoes. a collection of Roman stone The town gates, Venetian cannon are only a few tablets and a parts of the town’s rich heritage. Rovinj is a magical town with traditional fishing boats called batana and distinctive The Ba- type of folk singing called bitinada. with a statue Euphemia, roque Church of St. has been cel- of the saint on the bell tower, can see strong We ebrated in many a song. Venetian influence in many other churches, in the Renaissance and Baroque houses, town gates and fortifications. Poreč, along with , was the first Roman along with Pula, Poreč, To this day it still preserves colony in Istria. Town as the same street layout of the Old as well as the ruins of its Ro- in antiquity, The Com- man temple. with World Heritage site, plex is a UNESCO its worldknown Byzantine and remains of an older Early Christian church. The town centre consists of a Romanesque several Gothic mansions and the house, the seat of the Istrian Parliament Building, provincial assembly in the 19th century. Pula- Pula has become a synonym for the gladi- the great 1st century Roman Arena, ators’ The temple of lo- . and several town gates, cated in the Forum, the remains of a theatre also date from Ro- The 19th century fortifications man times. bear witness to the significance of Pula as the most important port of the Austrian- underground Fortresses, Hungarian Navy. officers’ a hospital, army barracks, , a military cemetery and many more villas, structures are preserved. overlooking the Located at the foot of the hill, Rabac today is considered the Kvarner Bay, largest tourist resort of Istria’s eastern coast. Voga teleferika takes place in its bay, The which is a boat race with paddles that took its name from the cable that once transferred bauxite from the mine to the port in Rabac. Roč Rovinj-Rovigno

Pićan

Driving Pleasure Driving Sheer Sheer Jama - Baredine Cave Jama 1 National Park National 1 Brijuni Park Nature 2 Učka - Cape Kamenjak Kamenjak 3 Rt 4 Limski kanal - Lim Channel 5 Mirna 6 From antiquity up to the 18th century, Pićan antiquity up to the 18th century, From During the Byz- was the seat of the diocese. antine Empire it was the seat of government The for a significant part of central Istria. a part of the medieval walls, Palace, Bishop’s and the 14th century town gate are pre- As a centre of non-material heritage served. myths it hosts the festival of Istrian legends, The Romanesque church by the and stories. The graveyard is decorated with frescoes. Rocco is from the 17th century. Church of St. The Pietrapelosa Fortress was first mentioned It was restored in the 10th century as a ruin. in 1285 and in the early 15th century fell under Although destroyed in a fire 200 Venetian rule. life in the fortress continued until years later, It was mostly inhabited the late 18th century. by soldiers and sometimes by the aristocracy. Mary Magda- The Romanesque Church of St. lene is situated within the walls. Novigrad-Cittanova Novigrad was the centre of Carolingian rule the 6th to From in Istria in the 8th century. Parts the 18th century it had its own diocese. Venetian wall have survived as have of the several churches and Gothic the town loggia, The Lapidarium Museum is a modern houses. Town, glass structure in the heart of the Old Pelagius and the next to the Cathedral of St. The stone exhibits span eight- main square. een centuries of history. -Portole 15th cen- Today a peaceful and quiet place, tury Oprtalj was a fortress that defended the The town gates and Venetian border in Istria. while the loggia date from the 18th century, older houses were probably built in the Mid- dle Ages although their appearance today is The lavish church on mostly Renaissance. The church of St. the hilltop is late Gothic. Mary is decorated with valuable frescoes. Pazin It Pazin fosters SF and adventure literature. novel Mathias Verne’s all started with Jules 1885) in which the hero man- Sandorf (Paris, ages to escape from the castle located over This castle already existed the Pazin Abyss. appearance its today’s in the 10th century; Town Museum and the The dates from 1540. Ethnographic Museum of Istria are located Nicholas was The parish Church of St. in it. In 1765 it was mentioned as early as 1266. renovated in the Baroque style. Brijuni National Park is one of the most beautiful of Mediterranean archipelagos. Deer, ze- Deer, of Mediterranean archipelagos. Brijuni National Park is one of the most beautiful an elephant and other exotic animals live in the safari park on the largest of the 14 is- bras, Its mild micro climate favours the growth of native vegetation and the dense Mediter- lands. the only national Brijuni, area of 7 km2. ranean underbrush that covers a third of the island’s Tito. residence of President and the summer was once a jet-set meeting place, park in Istria, the remains of antique rustic villas. we find Veriga, In the Bay of separates Istria from a mountain excursion centre covering 160 km2, Nature Park Učka, Vojak (1401 m) provides a fantastic the highest peak On a clear day, the Kvarner . Here we can see the griffon and the Adriatic islands. panorama of the Alps, or walk along the educational pick asparagus or chestnuts, vulture and the golden eagle, Vela Draga Canyon with its limestone towers is an The impressive trails of Slap and Plas. exceptional experience. Nature lovers will find this peninsula Cape Kamenjak is the most southern part of Istria. valleys and beaches full of small coves, indented coastline, It has a 30-km-long irresistible. It is a well-known habitat of orchids (33 varieties) and has surrounded by crystal clear sea. The Cape itself tracks. there are dinosaur a nearby islet, On Fenoliga, over 500 plant species. offers a unique view from all its vantage points. The Vrsar and Rovinj. The Lim Channel is a flooded canyon in the karst located between in some places over 200 forested hills, elongated sea bay (12 km) is encircled by steep, Lim is a part of the 35-km-long Limska giving the impression of a Nordic . m high, The old fashioned in the centre of Istria. a valley that stretches almost to Pazin, Draga, Mussels and oysters piers in the bay lead to beautiful vantage points and ancient caves. are cultivated here. It is the longest river (53 km) The Mirna River has its source in the mountains of Ćićarija. Venetian Navigable in flowing slowly towards its picturesque delta near Novigrad. in Istria, Some lead into the protected its water level is steady and it has many tributaries. times, the expensive subter- the habitat of oak trees and truffles, Forest (275 hectares), The white Istrian truffle is highly valued. ranean mushroom praised as an aphrodisiac. into the limestone karst sinks deep not far from Poreč, Vas, The Baredine Cave near Nova The subterranean trail (300 m) leads through 5 chambers with stalagmites and (132 m). lakes dropping to the underground we find a 66 m deep pit, In one chamber stalactites. resemble a statue of The pit has several natural works of art that where the Proteus lives. and mag- a snowman, Tower of Pisa, the Leaning the shepherdess Milka, Virgin Mary, the nificent drapes. Stone Huts and Huts Stone Drystone Walls Archaeological Parks An Istrian kažun (stone hut) is made of lo- cal stone without the use of any binding An average sized kažun requires material. weighing up to 30 cubic metres of stone, The roof is constructed in the about 70 tons. method and covered in stone ‘false dome’ Similar structures but called by dif- slates. ferent names can also be found in , as well as in other Mediterranean countries. Most were built in the 19th century by farm- ers and shepherds as protection from bad weather and as a place to keep farm tools People who lived and small farm animals. in these areas some hundred or more years Very often they had ago cultivated land daily. which they to take it away from the stone, afterwards collected and used for enclos- On the solid rock base larger ing their plots. stones were laid down and then smaller This ones were arranged towards the top. explains the origin of kilometres of drystone walls which are a unique sight today. In open-air archaeological parks the visitor the will find remains of ancient civilizations: walls and ar- foundations of their lodgings, tefacts that could not be placed in a muse- bearing um but remain at the original site, their witness to the ancient people of Istria, We learn of the Bronze customs and lives. Age tribes through their hill-fort villages in over three hundred locations in Istria, graves through their thick fortified walls, known hill-fort These little and gravestones. inhabitants were succeeded by the - Lavish rustic villas and an Iron Age people. outbuildings along the west coast tell the story of Roman culture that blossomed in Istria after the Roman conquest of the His- Among the better known parks tri people. where in the 2nd is by Pula, century BC the pivotal battle between the Romans and the Histri people took place. it is a treasure chest of findings from Today, different epochs. Motovun-Montona Magical Motovun is the best preserved me- It is home to dieval urban complex in Istria. The town centre a world-class film festival. encircled with mas- is situated on a hilltop, sive walls from the 13th and 14th centuries, The town centre con- fortified with towers. a sists of Renaissance and Gothic houses, Renaissance mansion-castle and a church The bell tower from the late Renaissance. Town Hall is the largest The is 13th century. Romanesque building of its kind in Croatia. Legend has it that in ancient past Motovun was inhabited by giants. Momjan-Momiano The centre of Momjan consists of fine bour- geois houses built between the 17th and while the Church of St. the 19th century, with its five altars is a reconstructed Martin, We also find several single Gothic church. nave churches from the 18th and 19th cen- The ruined cas- tury hidden within the town. tle on the cliff existed as a small fortress as It was damaged early as the 13th century. but was restored. Venetian attack, during a In the 16th century it became a castle with living quarters and a chapel. a tower, Medulin is teeming with the spirit of antiq- There is an archaeological park on the uity. where once a rich Roman Vižula Peninsula, the Today, village and necropolis existed. It was play Crispo is performed in the park. inspired by the story of the first-born son of who alleg- Emperor Constantine the Great, edly was incarcerated and murdered in a neces- Stone blocks, Vižula. country villa in sary for building the were hauled Vižula. from the stone quarry in nearby Labin is a hometown of reformer philosopher the closest colleague of Vlačić Ilirik, Marija A picturesque core of the old Martin Luther. town is characterized by the Renaissance and preserved walls, Baroque patrician palaces, a loggia and the town gate in front of which the battle with the took place in 1599. the miners pro- During the 1921 big strike, claimed a one-month administration - the Al- The mining history of the town bona Republic. Museum while is preserved by the People’s the park of the artists are praised in Dubrova, sculptures made by leading world sculptors.

Cultural, Monuments and Historical Cultural Historical and Natural Attractions of Istria Heritage www.istra.com The Path of Dinosaurs of The Path Venetian Architectural Architectural Venetian The first dinosaur footprints in Istria were The first dinosaur footprints in Istria were Veli Brijun island, found in 1925 on the and later on the islet of Fenoliga by Cape The bones of these great rep- Kamenjak. tiles that ruled the planet in the Mesozoic when the north Adriatic was land Era, with only areas of very shallow sea wa- Both were found off the coast of Bale. ter, herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs They grew to a length of eight lived there. metres and walked on two or four legs. Based on petrified imprints in the ground, scientists have calculated their height, Apart speed and other characteristics. the educational and from the footprints, recreational trail on the Kamenjak Cape The nearby has life-size dinosaur replicas. National Park Brijuni with over two hun- dred petrified footprints invites you to walk through the magical world of ancient creatures that disappeared from the face of the earth over 65 million years ago. ’s long rule on the west coast (13th long rule on the west coast (13th Venice’s -18th century) and in Istria’s interior (15th -18th century) has left a trail of architec- In the 15th century ture and monuments. many streets and squares already had Even in smaller towns, look. Venetian a houses were built with large windows and Venetian Floral in the style of Internal courtyards were intro- Gothic. In and houses had several stories. duced, the the late Middle Ages and the Baroque, aristocracy and wealthy bourgeois families Venetian influence We find built palaces. but also in not only in residential buildings, Other public buildings such as town halls. kinds of public architecture such as defen- fortifications or town loggias, sive towers, as well as many abundant in Istrian towns, carry the of Serenissima. churches, Kršan The town of Kršan has preserved the main while other tower of its medieval castle, In the parts have been significantly altered. castle yard is the neck of an old well (1616) Outside and a valuable Gothic portal frame. Stairs town is another castle called Kožljak. leading to it are carved in live stone. Kotli the village of Kotli has Due to its isolation, It also man- kept its rural 19th century look. aged to preserve its mills that were in use till The stone houses have many wooden 1964. a material much used in the old elements, When com- architecture of northern Istria. these houses pared to the surrounding area, Thanks to the are more complex and lavish. life in Kotli development of trades and crafts, Its inhabitants were known to be was good. excellent players of the traditional musical vijulina and klarinet. instruments bajs, Hum Hum is reputed to be the smallest town in Its struc- the world with just 20 inhabitants. with fortifications, ture is essentially urban, town gates and numerous Glagolitic inscrip- where The old 16th century custom, tions. inhabitants choose a prefect among them- selves for a period of one year was reintro- The parish church with its duced in 1977. Classicist façade was built in 1802 on the The Church of St. site of an older church. is decorated with in the graveyard, Jerome, 12th century frescoes. Grožnjan- situated high Grožnjan is a centre of culture, positive vi- It is a town of artists, on a hilltop. In numerous galleries and studios. brations, Venetian the mid-14th century it fell under Venice fortified the town walls and made rule. A part of the for- Grožnjan a defence centre. as have tifications has survived to this day, the town gates from the late 15th century, the Renaissance loggia and the Chapel of St. The somewhat Cosmo and Damian (1554). younger parish church has a lavish Baroque interior. Draguć Castles Istria of Cultural Itineraries Cultural , Route of of Route Parenzana, Health and Friendship Health Istrian medieval architecture is marked by Istrian medieval architecture is marked by stone fortresses in which feudal castles: lords resided and controlled their lands. Castles were situated at strategic posi- were made of stone and usually had tions; living quar- fortifying walls, a main tower, outhouses and an open courtyard. ters, burnt down and Castles were attacked, Many legends of kidnapping, then rebuilt. deception and rewards are tied to them. The first written document concerning The one writ- Istrian castles is from 983. ten in 1102 is very important because it granted most of them to the Patriarch of most intensive castle build- The . ing took place in the late Middle Ages, Venice and when Istria was controlled by Their decline began in the the Habsburgs. 16th century with the advent of the can- Some Castles were then abandoned. non. were later restored in the new Renais- and to this day kindle the im- sance style, agination of many curious visitors. Parenzana holds a place of honour among Parenzana holds a place of honour among It fol- pedestrian and cycling trails in Istria. lows the same route as did the Parenzana and Poreč, railway that once joined The trail winds through from 1902 till 1935. alongside old viaducts green landscapes, slow lo- where once a small, and tunnels, The train stations and comotive chugged. But little houses bring to mind old times. The where did the railway tracks go to? Italian authorities dismantled them and Legend has it loaded them unto a ship. so that the ship sank on the way to , parts of Istrian history lie hidden in the sea. Paren- Bringing together three countries, a zana is a symbolic road of friendship, great venture in revitalising historical her- itage and an ode to healthy living and the preservation of scenic beauty. Gračišće Gračišće is one of the centres of green Istria. In the 16th century it was larger and stronger but was badly damaged during than Pazin, The medieval the wars and peasant uprisings. the round tower (1500), the town gates, walls, the magnificent Salo- the town loggia (1549), mon Palace with Renaissance and Gothic ele- Several old churches ments are all preserved. trades and crafts hous- as well as residential, es are also parts of the heritage of Gračišće. -Fontane Funtana owes its name to the springs of fresh water located close to the sea that One of the were used from ancient times. springs is called Perila (from the Croatian word for washing) because it was here where local women once washed their A number of excellent houses laundry. give special charm to this little town. Fažana-Fasana Fažana is a small fishing village with cheer- colourful facades that has been inhab- ful, Its true connec- ited since ancient times. tion with the sea is reflected in a number amongst of events dedicated to sardines, which we can find the School of salting that teaches students the art of this traditional skill and is probably the most important. In Dvigrad we find the impressive remains of a town that spread over two hilltops and Due had a population of 2000 inhabitants. to plague and war only three families lived when the In 1714, there in the 17th century. the town finally parish moved to , It is the largest complex of me- died out. It consists of dou- dieval remains in Istria. a old streets, three gates, ble fortifications, 14th century tower and the remains of over The town centre two hundred buildings. a bell tower and the Church had a square, Sofia which was located on the hilltop. of St. From Draguć we have a beautiful view of LakeFrom Venetian This little hilltop town has Butoniga. fortifications and lavish Baroque and Classicist The 15th century houses lining its main street. a well and a granary are in the parish church, The older church in the grave- town square. Its interior walls yard has an unusual façade. are decorated with Romanesque paintings. Rocco (16th century) at The little Church of St. the foot of town was decorated with frescoes by the master painter Antun of Padua.

Glagolitic Alley Frescoes of Istria of Frescoes

language. tion for the development of their standard tion for the development of their standard in the 9th century, thus laying a founda- in the 9th century, ies who created the alphabet for the ies who created the alphabet for the Slavs Cyril and Methodius, Byzantine missionar- Cyril and Methodius, monuments, and the Table of the Brothers Table of the Brothers and the monuments, nine signs include replicas of Glagolitic nine signs include replicas of Glagolitic doors at the entrance to Hum. The other The other doors at the entrance to Hum. (mind, reason) and ends with the bronze reason) and ends with the bronze (mind, of Roč with the Glagolitic letter S for logos of Roč with the Glagolitic letter S for logos inscriptions. The path begins at the foot The path begins at the foot inscriptions. tion of many important documents and tion of many important documents and many Glagolitic writers, and with the crea- many Glagolitic writers, their environments through the work of their environments through the work of eracy blossomed in these two towns and eracy blossomed in these two towns and that marked Glagolitic literacy in Istria. Lit- that marked Glagolitic literacy in Istria. and Hum honour the people and events and Hum honour the people and events 11 statues along a 7 km road between Roč 11 statues along a 7 km road between Roč 13th, 14th and 15th century. A series of A series of 14th and 15th century. 13th, of was written in the of Croatian literature was written in the in which an important part Glagolitic Script in which an important part ouring the first Slavic alphabet called the ouring the first Slavic alphabet called the The is a monument hon- originals are kept in the Museum. 7th and 8th century in northern Istria. The 7th and 8th century in northern Istria. replica of earrings found in graves from the houses were built. A souvenir of Buzet is the houses were built. ish church (1784) and several manors and and large town gates (16th century), the par- and large town gates (16th century), and crafts flourished. A reservoir, the small A reservoir, and crafts flourished. Istria. The town walls were restored, trades The town walls were restored, Istria. became the seat of Venetian military rule in became the seat of Buzet did not blossom until 1554 when it Although inhabited since ancient times, Although inhabited since ancient times, Buzet own bell tower and lavish interior. Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has its Church of the Blessed the threestorey Ethnographic Museum. The the threestorey Ethnographic Museum. buildings, remains of Venetian towers, and Venetian towers, remains of buildings, we find rows of Renaissance and Baroque a 15th century patrician house. Not far off a 15th century patrician house. The old square on top of the hill harbours bell tower also serves as a vantage point. bell tower also serves as a vantage point. gan is the work of a master craftsman. The gan is the work of a master craftsman. with statues, altars and paintings, and its or- altars and paintings, with statues, of St. Servulus. It is magnificently decorated Servulus. of St. is very proud of its late Baroque Church Buje-Buie the face of death. Dead, reminds us that we are all equal in Dead, tiny. The famous painting, The Dance of the The famous painting, tiny. Eve, and the unpredictability of human des- Eve, wall deal with the cycle of life: Adam and wall deal with the cycle of life: is 8-m-long. The wall paintings on the west is 8-m-long. position, The Adoration of the Three Kings, Kings, Three The Adoration of the position, work of Vincent of Kastav. The largest com- Vincent of Kastav. work of It has exceptional frescoes from 1474, the It has exceptional frescoes from 1474, Mary na Škrilinah, located in the graveyard. located in the graveyard. Mary na Škrilinah, Beram is known for its Gothic Church of St. Beram is known for its Gothic Church of St. Beram

the coast, not far from Bale. the coast, mains of dinosaurs have been found along The parish church was built in 1880. The re- The parish church was built in 1880. and gates all date from the Middle Ages. and gates all date from the Middle Ages. manor, the remains of towers, fortifications the remains of towers, manor, two towers. The town loggia, the Pretorian The town loggia, two towers. Castle, built as living quarters, between built as living quarters, Castle, dominant structure is the Soardo-Bembo inhabitants from the south of Istria. The inhabitants from the south of Istria. spoken by the descendants of its Romanic picturesque streets, churches and picturesque streets, Bale will fascinate you with its architecture, Bale will fascinate you with its architecture, Bale-Valle bring them back to their original glory. are still waiting for the hand of the expert to treasures have been found. Some frescoes treasures have been found. under way in abandoned churches and many plastered with mortar. Today, restoration is Today, plastered with mortar. and many walls containing frescoes were duced. In the 16th century the fashion faded duced. examples of wall paintings in Istria were pro- tury) when some of the most magnificent golden period is the Gothic Age (15th cen- appeared during the Carolingian rule. Their appeared during the Carolingian rule. medieval peasant. The first frescoes in Istria medieval peasant. and brought enlightenment to the illiterate destiny, they released suppressed emotions destiny, but also universal issues regarding human than just décor. Depicting Biblical scenes than just décor. in churches where they were much more ers just scenes or fragments, mostly found ers just scenes or fragments, sula. Some are elaborate compositions, oth- are elaborate compositions, Some sula. 140 localities with frescoes all over the penin- and exiting cultural journey. We find about and exiting cultural journey. In search of Istrian frescoes is an exquisite