Orbanići – Donkey Races and History near Vrčin

Orbanići is shaped by a recurring festival tradition; the archaeological history of nearby Vrčin dates back to the Neolithic period. These different points of interest offer practical guidance when looking for a hotel in Orbanići: those focusing on the donkey race can plan their trip around May 1. Those interested in the history of earlier settlements can consider Vrčin as a separate archaeological point of interest.

The Donkey Race on May 1

A traditional gathering is held in Orbanići every year on May 1. The main event is the Trka na tovari, the donkey race, which is held in connection with the feast of Saints Philip and James. Local music and dance are also part of the celebration. The race takes place around the village with donkeys. It is considered the longest-running pack-animal race in Istria; the first race was held in 1968.

The traditional gathering also includes the “razbijanje pijadine” competition. Participants of different ages wear a blindfold and try to smash a deep salad plate with a stick. The 2026 festival program also featured Cantadurs and traditional Istrian instruments such as the accordion, mih and horns.

Vrčin and Cultural Heritage

Vrčin, near Orbanići in the Municipality of Marčana, is a Bronze Age hillfort. The history of the site dates back to the Neolithic period. In Pula, outside Orbanići, a reconstructed masonry tomb from Vrčin is on display beside the entrance to the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum of Istria. The local way of speaking in Orbanići, in the Municipality of Marčana, is also part of the southwestern Istrian, or štakavian-čakavian, dialect.

In the wider destination of Općina Marčana

The wider destination of Općina Marčana offers additional nature and culture experiences. The coastline of Općina Marčana is 36 kilometers long and varied, stretching from Raša Bay in the north to Budava Bay in the south. Its landscape includes coastal stretches dropping steeply into the deep waters of the Adriatic, green peninsulas and hidden coves.

The 193-kilometer Camino South Istria pilgrimage route passes through Općina Marčana. At Školjić Beach in Općina Marčana, two underwater arches lie at a depth of three meters and are suitable for swimming through. The path to the St. Agnes viewpoint in Rakalj also runs for about two kilometers through Mediterranean maquis and past old dry-stone walls in Općina Marčana.

The culinary offerings of Općina Marčana include restaurants and taverns serving traditional local dishes, as well as tasting rooms run by wine, cheese, olive oil and honey producers. The birthplace of Mijo Mirković in Rakalj houses a memorial collection about his life, literary work and legacy, as well as Rakalj’s local pottery tradition. Churches in the wider destination of Općina Marčana include the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Mutvoran, whose main altar dates from 1533, and the 15th-century parish church of St. Peter and Paul in Marčana.

Discover more destinations: Divšići, Šarići, Pavicini, Veliki Vareški, Bratulići, Kavran, Pinezići, Kujici

See the wider travel guide: Općina Marčana.