?treasure hunt? in the riviera of umag

Welcome to the trail that will reveal to you the treasure of the Umag Riviera! You can begin your ride in Savudrija, a place situated at the northeast of the Istrian peninsula where you can find evidences of human existence from even 11000 years ago. Except for the fact that thanks to its geographic position Savudrija has become one of the most important ancient harbours in the northern Adriatic, it is also known for a glorious naval battle between the Venetians and the fleet lead by Oton, son of the glorious king Frederich Barbarossa that took place there in the year 1177. The battle has been immortalized by the brush of the famous Tintoretto. Walk along the streets of Savudrija and visit the Parish church of St John from the 11th century, restored in the 19th century, where you can admire beautiful canvas above the baroque altar depicting St Mary with St John and St Peter. Continuing along the trail you will reach the oldest lighthouse on both coastlines of the Adriatic Sea still in use.

Built in 1818, apart for being the first lighthouse in Europe which has adopted gas-based illumination obtained by pit coal, the lighthouse of Savudrija is also known for Count Metternich?s sad love story. Although married, he fell madly in love with a local brunette and had their love nest built there. As it happens in many sad love stories, although the lighthouse was built in less than a year, the two lovers couldn?t move in because a few days before it was built the beautiful and mysterious brunette had died. Leaving behind you the lighthouse and its sad love story you can ride along three headlands, Sipar, Tiola and Katoro, each one an important archaeological site, towards Umag, one of the most important tourist destinations in Istria. The city was founded in a transitional period between late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, but almost nothing has been preserved from the architecture of that period in Umag. Nowadays, the old city centre shows evidences of Venitian influence. Continuing your ride in the city you can visit the most beautifully preserved building of the old city centre, the westernmost city tower, which is also the oldest building in Umag and nowadays hosts a museum.

If you are a lover of archaeology you can visit the exhibition on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the museum where you can find many interesting exponents of the ancient Sepomaja (Sipar) and information about the hydro-archaeology of the Umag area. Continuing your ride along the city walls you will come in front of the Parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Pelegrin with unfinished façade built in 1760. Some documents testify to the existence of another older church from the 14th century with the lateral chapel consecrated to St Hermagor and St Fortunate. Enter the church and visit a baroque altar, the Venetian triptych by a Friulan master from the 14th century, the canvas from a Venetian monastery from the mid-16th century with the motif of the resurrection of Christ and the vault with the representation of the Father God by another Venetian master from the second half of the 16th century. Pay special attention to the marvellous organ constructed by Francesco Dazzi in the year 1776, which beside being used for ecclesiastic purposes, is also used at concerts during the traditional musical manifestation ?Days of the Organ?.

If you search for new attractions, near the Parish church you will find a cistern from the 17th century and continuing towards east you will pass through the main town gate. Very close to it there is also the church of St Roch from the 16th century built due to a vote made after the plague in the year 1507. The church of St Roch has a very precious painted wooden ceiling (the so-called Tabulat) with the titular saint in the central part. Continuing towards south you will reach the church of St Pelegrin situated at the waterfront where, as the legend tells, this saint suffered his martyrdom at the beginning of the 4th century. You can continue towards Sv. Ivan (St John), a village that has been continuously inhabited since prehistory (the Bronze Age). After you have widened your knowledge about the cultural treasure of the Umag Riviera continue towards Lovrečica, a picturesque village inhabited since the ancient period, named after St Lawrence where you can visit the homonymous church that proudly boasts the oldest preserved organ in Istria. Built in the year 1733 by Gaetano Amigazzi from Verona for the Venetian church of St Giorgio Maggiore it was first transferred to Dajla in 1867 and then in the year 1910 to this place where it has been carefully preserved and treasured.