Rich History and Tradition
A land of rich tempestuous past and noble interchange of civilizations. Unique combination of historical sites, local culture and traditional villages.
During its turbulent history many rules and governments changed – from the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Frankish Empire, Patriarchate of Aquileia, Venetian Republic, Dukedom of Pazin, Illyrian Provinces, Austria, Italy to Yugoslavia. The historical events in this restless area often caused people to migrate and flee which consequently resulted in changes in population, traditions and cultures. Numerous peoples left their traces here: Liburnians, Histris (after whom the peninsula was named), Greeks, Celts, Romans, Ostrogots, Byzantines, Langobards, Croats, Francs, Venetians, Austrians, Italians, etc.
A number of cultural and archaeological sites, museums and art collections evidence the rich history – rich prehistoric sites (Šandalja, Romualdo's Cave...); Histris' hill forts from the Bronze Age (Nesactium, Monkodonja...); Ancient Roman monuments (the sixth largest amphitheatre in the world popularly called the Arena of Pula, temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergi, ...); Euphrasian Basilica Complex from the 6th century listed in the UNESCO's list of protected cultural heritage; other valuable sacral heritage such as little medieval churches with fresco paintings (St. Barnabus in Vižinada, St. Foška in Batvaci, St. Martin in Lovrec, St. Margaret near Vodnjan), and an especially precious medieval mural painting, Dance Macabre, in a little church of St. Mary in Škrilinah near Beram, the largest Istrian church of St. Blaise in Vodnjan with the collection of sacral art containing 730 works and objects from the period between the 5th and the 19th century and preserved mummified bodies of several saints; remnants of Glagolitic influence in the medieval art and literacy; medieval castles and forts in Dvigrad, Svetvincenat, Pazin, Pula, Momjan, Pietrapelosa near Buzet; historic town nuclei of the little towns in the Istrian interior and on the coast; numerous Austrian fortifications from the 19th century in the Pula surroundings, Italian architecture between the two World Wars with the Raša mining settlement, recognizable traditional rural architecture with dry stone walls and "kažuni"- unique round stone houses built in the nature- are just some of the sites on a journey into a remarkable and glorious past of the Istrian peninsula.
Savudrija is well- known for its small church dedicated to St. Lawrence; which stands aloof in the nearby fields; and its ancient lighthouse.
The Savudrija lighthouse, still amazing for its beauty, was truly a curiosity at the time. 36 - metre high lighthouse was designed by the architect Pietro Nobile at the request of the Stock Exchange Deputation from Trieste. Its construction begun in March 1817 and was finished in 1818. The lighthouse was activated in the presence of Francis I, emperor of Austria, who financed its building.
Istria is dotted with numerous small villages with traditional stone houses, steeped in history and lore where Istrian hospitality, unaltered through the centuries, is wholeheartedly offered throughout the year, especially by local establishments such as picturesque old-style konobas.