Šajini – Memorial Park and Church History

Two themes are central to Šajini: remembrance of the attack on 9 January 1944 and the history of the Church of the Holy Apostle Peter. The “9 January” Memorial Park and the associated culture of remembrance are one focus; the church and the Majnica procession form a distinct religious and historical theme.

Memorial Sites and Remembrance in Šajini

The “9 January” Spomen Park opened on 31 May 2026. It is dedicated to the more than 50 civilians killed in the fascist attack of 9 January 1944. A monument to the victims stands in the middle of the park. Its inscription reads “Nepresušan izvor nade za budućnost”; the monument also incorporates water.

Remembrance is also part of a recurring commemorative practice: every year, descendants and local officials lay flowers and wreaths at the monument. The memorial park, its dedication and the annual laying of wreaths thus represent different aspects of remembrance.

The permanent memorial exhibition space in Šajini is listed as one of only two memorial exhibition or museum sites in southern Istria. A description from 2021 mentions visits to the memorial room by arrangement with the Šajini Local Committee. Please reconfirm the current arrangements before your visit.

Šajini is also part of the “Route of Mass Casualties of Civilians,” which includes sites in Pula and Gajana, as well as the village of Bokordići. The route’s monuments and stops are located along paved public roads and are well connected by local and regional bus services. For specific journeys, it is advisable to check the timetable in advance.

Church of Saint Peter and Majnica

The Church of the Holy Apostle Peter is traditionally dated to 1400. It was consecrated in 1688, extended with a side chapel in 1890, and completely renovated in 2002. As the church of the former chaplaincy of St. Peter in Šajini, it was associated with an institution that existed from 1750 to 1988. A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in Šajini to mark the restoration of the church.

The Majnica procession, held on the last Sunday in May, is associated with the church. A wooden statue of the Madonna is carried in procession around Šajini. The church thus brings together an architectural history developed over centuries and a religious tradition whose date is tied to a particular Sunday in May.

More to discover in the wider destination of Općina Barban

The wider destination of Općina Barban also has distinctive cultural themes. In Barban, the Church of the Holy Apostle James contains the only surviving fresco cycle in Istria depicting the legend of Saint James. The parish church of Saint Nicholas the Bishop in Barban was built in 1701 and fully completed in 1708. Over the course of its history, Barban developed into a fortified settlement with walls, round and square towers, bastions, large and small town gates, and a castle.

The cultural tradition of Općina Barban also includes the Trka na prstenac, which was added to Croatia’s Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 4 April 2016. Barbanski kolač is a local culinary specialty: the traditional cake of the Barban area is round, has a hole in the middle, and was historically associated with weddings. These themes add further cultural dimensions of the wider destination to Šajini’s church history.

There are also various options for activities in the wider destination of Općina Barban. Glavani Park offers activities for all age groups, including three elevated courses and a 113-metre-long zip line. As activities and operations may change, check what is currently available before your trip. Cycling route 631 starts and ends in Barban and is 33 kilometres long. The “Tepla stran–Puntera–Blaz” hiking trail is 7.25 kilometres one way and 14.5 kilometres round trip; check route conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Hrboki, Balići Ii, Rebići, Puntera, Prhati, Vadreš, Orihi, Bicici.

Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Barban.