Kanfanar’s bell tower was built in 1732, stands 25 metres tall and houses three bells. The Church of St Sylvester also dates back to the 17th century. Its pulpit originally stood in the Basilica of St Sophia in Dvigrad—a tangible link between Kanfanar’s church history and the nearby site.
Churches and archaeological traces
The surviving remains of Dvigrad are enclosed by two rings of city walls, a town gate and three defensive towers. Dvigrad was first mentioned in 879. The Church of St Sophia stands on its central and highest plateau, in the main square. Its present appearance is probably dated to the 13th century. The Church of St Agatha is an early Romanesque building; its wall paintings date from the second half of the 11th century.
The dates refer to different historical details: 879 is the first mention of Dvigrad, while the dates for Agatha and Sophia refer to their wall paintings and the probable age of the churches’ present appearance, respectively. This helps place the sites in context without conflating the first mention with the history of the buildings.
Another archaeological point of interest in the area is Kašteljir, a prehistoric site below a former fortified hilltop settlement. A climbing crag nearby features rock shelters and offers views of medieval Dvigrad and the Limska draga area. Alongside churches and city walls, the area therefore offers prehistoric traces and a striking landscape.
Cycling routes with different characteristics
The Štrika-Ferata is a cycling and walking trail along the former Kanfanar–Rovinj railway branch line. Three bridges, four railway stations and 14 railway workers’ houses are among the route’s features. Its railway remnants give the trail its own historical character, setting it apart from the cycling routes also described for the wider destination of Općina Kanfanar.
The Journey to Central Istria trail begins and ends in the centre of the Općina Kanfanar municipality. In the wider destination of Općina Kanfanar, the “Captain Morgan and the Ghost Town” cycling route passes through the Limska Draga valley and on to Dvigrad; it is 23.8 kilometres long and rated moderate. Check route conditions before setting off. The information offers different points of reference when choosing: railway remnants define the Štrika-Ferata, the starting and finishing point defines Journey to Central Istria, and the stated distance and rating define Captain Morgan.
Istrian oxen and Fuži
The Park istarskog vola is a themed visitor complex in Kanfanar dedicated to the Istrian ox. Its features include multimedia exhibits, children’s games and information boards about the Istrian ox. It also displays life-size depictions of the growth stages of Istrian cattle. This makes the subject both visually engaging and informative.
Fuži, an Istrian pasta, takes centre stage at Fužijada, a gastro show. Women from Kanfanar demonstrate how it is traditionally made by hand, and visitors can learn about the process. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the specific dates.
In the wider destination of Općina Kanfanar
Općina Kanfanar lies in the heart of the Istrian peninsula, where green and blue Istria meet. Visitors can explore the area’s natural and cultural heritage along its cycling routes. Jakovlja is another point of reference for the region: this traditional festival in Kanfanar takes place on the last weekend of July. Visitors can watch the public weighing of Istrian oxen and traditional ploughing with oxen. Check the programme for the relevant edition if these demonstrations are important to your trip.
Kanfanar railway station is in the village of Kanfanar, within the municipality of Općina Kanfanar. If you are considering travelling by train, check the timetable and services for your travel dates. The area’s history, routes and events offer different starting points for planning; which ones suit your trip depends on whether you want to focus on churches and archaeology, cycling, or culinary and traditional themes.
Discover more destinations: Burići, Matohanci, Okreti, Sosici, Barat, Marići, Mrgani, Putini.
Back to the wider travel overview: Općina Kanfanar.
