Municipality of Vižinada

Vižinada lies on a hill at the southern edge of the Mirna River valley. From here, you can enjoy wide views across nature, vineyards and olive groves. The town brings together architectural history and cultural traditions, while hiking and cycling trails lead through the landscape around Vižinada. You can tailor your stay to suit different interests: explore historic buildings in the town, take an outdoor excursion, or discover local festivals and food.

Architectural history in town and at Božje Polje

A stone relief of the Lion of St. Mark, dating from the 15th century, is preserved in Vižinada’s central square. Also on the square is a cistern made of local limestone, completed in 1782 and built to a design by the Rovinj-born architect Simone Battistella. Beside the bell tower is a lapidarium containing five Roman inscriptions. The tower next to the old Church of St. Jerome existed by the 16th century at the latest, is considered one of the oldest towers in Istria, and is known for its vedute.

Above the historic town centre stands the Church of St. John the Baptist. It was built in the 13th century as one of around ten double-apsed churches in Istria. In the town centre, the Church of St. Barnabas tells a different story: its frescoes were discovered when the building was used to store props during the filming of the war movie “Kelley’s Heroes.” The Christological cycle of images includes, among other scenes, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Massacre of the Innocents, the Disputation in the Temple, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

The Old Fontik, also known as the “Lav” House, is another part of the municipality’s architectural history: it is the oldest surviving public secular building in the Municipality of Vižinada and dates from the 15th century. The ballet dancer Carlotta Grisi was born in 1819 in the Istrian village of Vižinada and was the first Giselle in ballet history.

At Božje Polje stands the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a single-nave late Gothic building from the 15th century. Its star-shaped ribbed vault is decorated with frescoes. On the feast of Vela Gospa, the church remains a place of pilgrimage for believers from all over Istria. Vižinada thus offers both historic landmarks in the town centre and a religious building with a living pilgrimage tradition.

Poetry, sweets and local experiences

Since 1993, the Festival of Čakavian Poetry “Verši na šterni” has been held regularly at the Baroque Battistella cistern on the second Saturday in June. New, previously unpublished Čakavian poems are recited there and permanently recorded in a collection of the same name. Another cultural highlight is “Slatka Istra”: the festival takes place every year on 14 August, the eve of Vela Gospa, in the centre of Vižinada. It showcases traditional Istrian sweets such as fritule, kroštule, cukerančići, pandešpanj, povetica and pinca, as well as various kinds of dry pastries.

The two events have different focuses: poetry takes centre stage in June, while August celebrates the tradition of sweets. If you would like to plan your trip around a festival, check the event dates and the programme for that year in advance.

“Viva Vino” also connects the surrounding countryside with regional delicacies. This 10 km wine and food walk takes you through the vineyards, olive groves, fields and woodlands of Vižinada, with five refreshment stops along the way. Visitors can also visit local winemakers and olive growers and sample their products on the “SRCE VIŽINADE 504” hiking trail.

Hiking: trails with different destinations

The “Trail of Scenic Views” begins at the southern entrance to the town, near the Church of St. John the Baptist. After 3.7 km, it reaches the small religious building of St. Vital, dating from the 12th century, near its cemetery. The trail passes through fertile fields, vineyards and olive groves near Crklada and Grubići. Another option is “SRCE VIŽINADE 504”: this 6.9 km hiking trail passes through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada in the southwestern part of the municipality. The trails’ lengths and named destinations offer practical guidance when choosing between them; the second also passes through three named settlements and allows visits to winemakers and olive growers.

If you’re interested in another viewpoint, the circular “PRSTEN SVETOG TOME 503” trail takes you to Sv. Tome, at 299 m. The route offers views of hills, hamlets, chapels, the Mirna Valley and the sea. The “Staza Pogleda 501” trail leads to the Sabadin Viaduct, also known as Veli most or St. Vital; the structure is 64 m long and 20 m high. After 7.8 km, the same trail reaches a junction with the state road between Vižinada and Pula.

Cycling routes and the Parenzana

The 123 km Parenzana cycling route passes through Vižinada along the renovated railway line. The “Vižinada family (103)” cycling route is 13 km long. It starts in Vižinada on the former Parenzana railway line and returns to town via the Parenzana. A longer alternative is the 30 km cycling route “Staza dobrih okusa i doživljaja (102),” which starts at a viewpoint at the entrance to the former Parenzana railway line.

The Parenzana Marathon takes place every year in Vižinada in mid-September. It is 46.7 km long, with the race section running between Ponte Porton and Vižinada. An approximately 10 km walk is organised alongside it. Before travelling, check the annual dates and the route and participation details for the marathon and “Viva Vino.”

Discover more destinations: Vizinada, Crklada, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Bajkini, Staniši, Filipi, Baldaši, Ferenci, Vrbani, Žudetići, Jadruhi, Lašići, Markovići.

For the wider travel overview: Istria County.