the trail of the fairies

If you would like to enjoy in the fairy landscape and to discover the magic fount of art, welcome to The track of the fairies! We start from Grožnjan – a typical istrian medieval town sprout high on top of the hill along the right coast of the river Mirna, vaunting its centenary walls, its renaissance loggia dating from 1585 and the beautiful St. Vid and Modesto’s baroque church. If you just occasionally ride along its streets in which almost every door leads to art studios or galleries, and which windows from every direction echoes the sounds of different music genres, from classical to jazz, you’ll understand why Grožnjan is known as The city of artists.

Although some 50 years ago it was almost completely abandoned, thanks to the revitalization programme, Grožnjan has turned into an authentic pearl of art in which are held several international art workshops and programmes. Amongst those are enclosed the International cultural centre of the Croatian musical youth and the International summer film academy. If you glimpse into one of about twenty galleries and studios situated in centenary stone houses and palaces, you’ll understand that this is the town in which mere art is at home. If you continue further along the track, you’ll reach Triban with its typical ashy stone houses adorning the green surrounding of the upper Buje area, and then the road will lead you to Marušići – the most musical village of Istria. Marušići are made of some thirty houses and, like Grožnjan, emanate musical sensibility.

If you pass by the House of the culture in Marušići, you’ll find a special park – “Forma Viva”, originated in 1980 thanks to the International summer sculptor’s school “Kornarija”, which operates in the nearby quarry (stone pit). The initiative that started from the coastal gallery in Piran, and in particular continued by the students of St. Martin’s school of Art from London, has turned Marušići into an artistic colony with a park of some forty sculptures of artists from all over the world. Over Dugo Brdo the path leads further to Šterna – a village named after a big local cistern (on local dialect – Šterna) situated on the large plateau intersected by water flows.

To Šterna, actually named after the unfailing water source which charges six ditches in the valley northern from the St. Michael church, is related a legend which tells that the top of its hill deeply in it already hides the buried ‘‘golden veal’’. If you ride further across Šaini and the St. George castle on the Mirna river, the track leads back to Grožnjan. And do not miss to admire unforgettable sunsets from its magnificent view point.