Žikovići: Cycling Routes and Local Character

Get to know Žikovići through its cycling routes, green surroundings and connection to the Parenzana. When planning your rides, the different distance figures are important: they range from a short connecting section between two places to longer routes with different surfaces. The routes in the wider destination of the Municipality of Višnjan also offer other themes, such as astronomy and historic village settings.

Cycling Routes and Route Characteristics

A 2017 report on cycling infrastructure mentions a 4.1-kilometre section connecting Kosinožići and Žikovići. This distance refers to the connecting section, not a complete loop. So when comparing routes, it is worth distinguishing this figure from the distances given for longer routes.

The Zvjezdana cycling route is considered a family-friendly loop that starts and ends in Višnjan. It passes through forests and vineyards, by the Dubrava bauxite excavations and the Tičan Observatory, and past lavender fields near Deklevi. With its combination of landscapes and named stops, this loop is easy to distinguish from a connection between individual places.

Staza sv. Maura, also called the St Mauro Trail, leads to Višnjan via Bačva, Žikovići, Vežnaveri and Kosinožići before heading back towards Poreč. The route is considered easy; it is listed as 38 kilometres of asphalt and 3 kilometres of macadam. These figures describe a different scale from the 4.1-kilometre connecting section. As route conditions can change, check the current situation before setting off.

The Parenzana is also connected with Žikovići. During an organised ride in 2023, a 48-kilometre paved section of the Parenzana passed through the village. Yellow signs along the route explain historic viaducts, tunnels and railway stations. The wider Istrian Parenzana corridor is also characterised by vineyards and olive groves. This description of the landscape reflects the character of the broader corridor.

Village Character and Regional Cuisine

The stone houses of Žikovići are surrounded by greenery. Local households grow olives, and the Malvazija grape is also associated with Žikovići and the wider Višnjan area. Fish is a defining feature of the cuisine associated with the village, and homemade pljukanci are also a local culinary tradition. Špaleta is considered a traditional speciality of the Višnjan area, including Žikovići. The village setting and cuisine thus bring together aspects of rural life and the routes that pass through the area.

Themes in the Wider Destination of the Municipality of Višnjan

In the wider destination of the Municipality of Višnjan, the Tičan complex is a destination for people interested in stars and science. At Astrofesta, held around the summer solstice, stargazing is part of the programme. Višnjan Observatory is a public observatory registered in 1992; its scientific focus is on small bodies in the Solar System and their interactions with Earth.

Group visits to Višnjan Observatory are available year-round by prior arrangement. The group programme includes an introductory lecture on a scientific or astronomical topic and a guided tour of the observatory, the telescope dome and the Stone Circle. Telescope viewing outdoors takes place in suitable weather conditions. If you are planning a group visit, note that advance booking is required and that viewing is weather-dependent.

For a walk, the Venetian Lion Trail passes through historic Višnjan: from Antun Korlević Square, under the arch bearing the Venetian lion, to the old village of Barat and back. The route is 4.5 kilometres long and takes about 2.5 hours. This gives you a specific walking time to compare with the cycling routes, for which different distances and surfaces are listed here.

The historic village setting is also one of the themes in the Municipality of Višnjan. The old part of Višnjan lies on a hill and is characterised by closely spaced stone houses and narrow lanes; a Baroque loggia stands in the main square. The Church of St Anthony the Abbot is known for its 14th-century frescoes and graffiti, including Glagolitic inscriptions.

Discover more destinations: Vranići kod Višnjana, Majkusi, Bačva, Smolici, Strpačići, Gambetići, Benčani, Fabci.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Municipality of Višnjan.