st peregrine trail

Welcome to the Peregrinian track which, from the archaeological sites and the sound of ancient organs will lead you until the incandescent Riviera of Umag and the fashionable ATP tennis tournament. Seems pretentious? Ride along the Peregrinian track through Umag and its surrounding and you?ll find out that it isn?t such unusual combination.

So continue further until the Katoro foreland. Just like the nearby capes Sipar and Tiola, Katoro once probably belonged to the ancient Sepomaja ? today an important archaeological site on which the increasingly popular Archaeology summer school takes place. The precious archaeological discoveries and the findings about this ancient port, settlement and the remains of the roman villa rusticae, are possible to be found and visited at the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Umag city museum, reachable if continuing along the track over the picturesque Juricani, Radini and Lovrečica.

Although the Italian name Punta Saltarella is linked with the fishing technique based on the adoption of webs called ?Saltarelli?, Lovrečica has been named during the middle age after St. Lawrence who is also the titular of its parish church. Right into this church are preserved the oldest organs in Istria. Originally built in the year 1733 by Gaetano Amigazzi from Verona for the Venetian church of S. Giorgio Maggiore, these organs have been moved in the year 1876 in the nearby Dajla, and from there in 1910 finally arrived in the modest Lovrečica that jealously preserves them and is particularly proud of them until today. Situated on a peninsula, founded in the transitional period from late antiquity into the early middle age, with the historic centre that loudly speaks with the spirit of the ancient Venice, Umag today is the most important touristic resort of the north-western Istria which name has been particularly promoted across Europe and the entire world thanks to a top-level sports event ? the international ATP tennis tournament ?Croatia Open?.

Ride across the centre and visit the westernmost city tower, at the same time the oldest building which hosts the city museum. If you continue further along the city walls, you?ll find yourself in front of the undone façade of the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that of St. Peregrine from the year 1760, built on the fundaments of a pre-existing one from the XIV century. Obligatory enter inside and visit the statues of the baroque altar, amongst which there is that of St. Peregrine ? the patron saint of Umag. Built according to a project of Filippo Donighetti, an architect from Piran, this church preserves precious altarpieces and fragments of a wooden polyptich from the XV century, and is especially proud for the marvellous organs dating from the year 1776 ? piece of art of the Venetian master Francesco Dazzi. If you find yourself here in September, do not miss to hear its divine sound during the traditional concerts held as part of the event ?Organum Histriae?, which aims to renovate the organs and to promote the organic music in Istria.

Continue further and nearby the parish church you?ll find the public city cistern from the XVII century and somewhat further towards east you?ll pass through the main town gate close to which there is the church of St. Roch from the XVI century built as a vote after the ending of the plague in the year 1507. The church of St. Roch has a precious painted wooden ceiling ? the so called Tabulat in which central part you won?t have difficulties to recognize the titular saint. If you continue towards south you'll get to the church of St. Peregrine (beginning of XV century) at the sole seafront where, according to a tradition, at the beginning of the IV century this saint has experienced his martyrdom. Tired by so many sensations, refresh yourself along the way in one of the nearby typical konobas and restaurants, and then continue slowly back towards Katoro ? the starting point of this Peregrinian adventure of the Umag area.