Porat: Monastic History and Olive Trails

Porat combines a rich monastic heritage with two routes that start here. At its heart is the Franciscan Monastery of St Mary Magdalene; a circular walking trail and an MTB route also offer specific route details to help you plan your trip. This allows you to focus on cultural history or the landscape as different aspects of your stay.

Cultural Heritage at the Monastery

The Franciscan Monastery of St Mary Magdalene is a registered cultural monument. Its church was built in the mid-16th century. The museum in the basement preserves art and household objects that showcase the historical life of the Franciscan Third Order. The building’s history and everyday life are presented side by side: the church reflects the period in which it was built, while the collection focuses on the life of the order.

The monastery courtyard features a lapidarium of Croatian Glagolitic stone monuments, including the Baška Tablet and the Valun Tablet. The layout of the outdoor area also has a history of its own: the current arrangement, with a cloister and central fountain, dates from the 17th century. The stone monuments highlight the Glagolitic script, while the monastery complex adds its own architectural history.

Porat’s history is also linked to specific places beyond the monastery. A protected harbour provided shelter for ships. In the wider Dubašnica area, a preserved Liburnian hillfort lies near Porat. The harbour and hillfort complement the monastic history with maritime and archaeological connections.

Routes from Porat: Cycling and Walking

The B413 – Srce Dubašnice MTB route starts and ends in Porat. It is 18 kilometres long, with 240 metres of elevation gain. The route passes through oak forests and alongside dry-stone walls enclosing olive groves. Its distance and elevation gain, as well as the landscape along the way, provide concrete reference points for planning.

The 3-kilometre H114 – Cesta maslina circular walking trail also starts in Porat. It passes through dense oak forests and alongside dry-stone walls bordering olive groves. The route is connected to Dubašnica’s centuries-old olive-growing tradition. It thus links the trail with a defining feature of the surrounding landscape.

For a direct comparison, the key factors are route type and length: H114 is a 3-kilometre circular walking trail, while B413 is an 18-kilometre MTB route with 240 metres of elevation gain. Both start in Porat; B413 also ends there. This information can help you weigh up the planned route distance and mode of travel for your stay.

The Wider Area: Općina Malinska-Dubašnica

The wider destination of Općina Malinska-Dubašnica offers a total of 50 kilometres of walking and running trails. The Mihojski puti walking trail connects history, natural landscapes and the cultural heritage of the island of Krk. Dubašnica’s cycling routes lead inland from the coast through centuries-old oak forests and olive groves. This regional information adds further trip-planning options to the two routes that start in Porat.

The history of Općina Malinska-Dubašnica also includes significant cultural heritage sites: the bell tower at the Old Cemetery of St Apollinar was built in 1618 and remains a symbol of Dubašnica. The cemetery marks the site of Dubašnica’s original parish church. Alongside Porat’s monastic heritage, the region therefore offers another historical point of interest.

Discover more destinations: Ljutići, Malinska-Dubašnica, Radići, Vantacici, Kremenići, Sveti Vid-Miholjice, Milovcici, Sveti Anton

For the wider travel overview: Općina Malinska-Dubašnica.