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After departing from Trieste and driving for only 7,8 km you will come to Slovenia and then you will have to cover precisely another 32 km before you reach the Croatian border at Požane. At this point you will come to the entrance of our Istrian trail of the 14 th stage of the 87th Giro d’Italia. The first Croatian city you can visit along the trail is Buzet, known also as “the city of truffles”.
Buzet will fascinate you with its beautiful medieval city centre situated on the top of the hill which rises in the fertile valley of the longest Istrian river Mirna. If, by chance, you are here during the months of September and October do not miss ‘The days of truffles’ when the divine fragrance of this culinary black gold spreads all over the surrounding places. After this regal refreshment you will have to cover, according to many participants, the most difficult part of the stage which begins – 15 km uphill to Kovačići and ends in Svi Sveti. Afterwards you can again go downhill towards Cerovlje where you can visit the church of the Holy Trinity constructed in the 15th century and enjoy its astonishing frescoes.
Continuing along the trail in this beautiful area of untouched nature sprinkled with impressive remains of ancient medieval citadels located on top of the hills you will reach ‘the heart of Istria’ - Pazin. Walk along the streets of Pazin to its medieval citadel Kaštel (today an ethnographic museum) located above a 130 m deep abyss where the river Pazinčica flows into the Pazin pit. Find out why was Jules Verne so enchanted by this scenery and chose it as a setting for a part of his novel “Mathias Sandorf” published in 1885. If, by chance, you are here at the end of June you can take part in the ‘Days of Jules Verne’ and learn more about Pazin from ardent members of the Jules Verne society walking along the attractive 10 km long path of St Simon. Following the trail which leads from Pazin to Poreč you will reach Tinjan. At the top of the hill in the centre of Tinjan there is a magnificent view of Draga, a valley which extends from Beram to the Lim Fjord. Have a sit at the “Prefect’s table”, a stone table in the main square where meetings of the city council were held in the past. If you meet someone at the table ask him to tell you the story of the flea that elected the head of the village.
Continue to Baderna after which follows the second demanding trail of the 14th stage 2,5 km uphill towards the Lim Fjord where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view. Continuing along the trail you will reach Rovinj – called also the little Venice of the eastern Adriatic coast, a Mediterranean resort you will immediately fall in love with, especially if you continue along its narrow medieval streets to the church of St Eufemia located on the top of the hill. Continuing to Pula you will pass through Bale. Do not miss to visit Kaštel Bembo. Afterwards, passing through Vodnjan which will, apart for its wonderful gothic, renaissance and baroque buildings, impress you with the church of St Blaise you can visit the church and admire the phenomenon known all over the world as the mummies from Vodnjan (bodies of mummified saints). The last stop before your arrival in Pula is Fažana, a small fishermen’s village situated in front of the enchanting Brijuni archipelago in ancient times famous for the production of amphorae and for the processing of olives and grapes. Continuing along the road from Fažana you will finally arrive in Pula. Like Rome, the city lies on 7 hills and proudly boasts a magnificent Amphitheatre greeting you already from the waterfront. Welcome to the end of the 14th stage of the 87th Giro d’Italia! Welcome to Pula!
Highlights
- Buzet - The city of truffles?
- Pazin ? ?The heart of Istria?
- Rovinj ? ?The little Venice?
- The mummies of Vodnjan
- The Amphitheatre in Pula