motovun south

Our starting point is Motovun – a unique magical little town-monument, especially renowned recently for its International Film Festival held every summer during the last week of July. Arising on the 227 metres high hilltop, it represents an incomparable scene of a typical small medieval town of Istria made of stone and surrounded by annular walls that offer a stunning view on the surrounding vineyards and on the famous park-forest of Motovun rich in truffles.

After descending, the trail takes you through the river Mirna valley and across the bridge Ponte Porton to Vižinada, once a Venetian property of the Grimani family, but also the birthplace of a world famous ballet dancer Carlotta Grisi, whose gracious ballet performances conquered most important stages of 19th century Europe.

Riding further on, we reach Tićan and then, passing by Žbandaj, we arrive in Lovreč,a small town made of stone, once a military stronghold walled by a zone of walls with as many as 9 watch-towers, which is quite understandable given that Lovreč once used to be headquarters of the supreme military and judicial authorities of the Venetian Istria. We recommend you enter into the city through a large Gothic gate built in 15th century and take a stroll around, beginning from its marvellous houses and a 14th century Municipal Loggia, then St.Martin's parish church preserving some 9th century frescos..

Let's make ti to Kringa – a thrilling place for all horror and SF lovers where even today the locals preserve a tradition about the vampires and witches. Ask the locals what it is all about; still, they won't love to tell the story about Jure Grando, the local vampire who used to wander here by night.

Tinjan hides its attractive 18th century parish church of St. Simon and Judas, not far from the 'District-Perfect's Table' – a stone table where city councillors deliberated on some important issues. If you meet anyone in the vicinity, you must ask him about a tale of the flea electing a village head. Elderly people from Tinjan will be glad to tell you a tradition according to which a village head was elected at this stone-table by a leap of a common flea. Rested, we had backwards through Muntrilj and through Tićan and Karojba, all the way to Motovun.