On May 1, the traditional Trka na tovari is part of the celebrations in Orbanići; at the same time, Vrčin’s history reaches back to the Neolithic period. If you would like to combine festival culture and archaeology during your stay, you will find two distinct points of interest here: a recurring event and a long history.

On May 1: the Trka na tovari

The traditional gathering on May 1 is associated with the feast of Saints Philip and James. At its heart is the Trka na tovari, the donkey race; local music and dance are also part of the celebration.

The race takes place with donkeys around the village. It is considered Istria’s longest-running pack-animal race; the first race was held in 1968. The event thus combines a recurring festival date with a tradition whose beginnings can be traced back to the second half of the 20th century.

The traditional musical setting includes cantadurs and Istrian instruments such as the accordion, mih and horns. The “razbijanje pijadine” competition is also part of the festival tradition: participants of different ages wear a blindfold on their heads and try to smash a deep salad plate with a stick.

Vrčin and the cultural history of the place

Vrčin, near Orbanići in the municipality of Marčana, is a Bronze Age hillfort site. Life at Vrčin dates back to the Neolithic period. The two time periods mark different chapters in the site’s history: early settlement, followed later by the hillfort.

A find from Vrčin is on display outside Orbanići: a reconstructed cist grave stands beside the entrance to the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula. It provides another link to Vrčin’s history beyond the village.

The local way of speaking is also part of Orbanići’s cultural identity. It is classified as a southwestern Istrian, or Štakavian–Čakavian, dialect. Archaeological history and dialect thus offer different perspectives on the place.

In the municipality of Marčana

You can include the municipality of Marčana as a regional setting for further discoveries. Its indented coastline is 36 kilometres long and stretches in the north from Raša Bay to Budava Bay in the south. At Školjić Beach, two underwater arches lie at a depth of three metres and are suitable for swimming through.

The culinary offerings of the municipality of Marčana include restaurants and taverns serving traditional local dishes, as well as tasting rooms run by wine, cheese, olive oil and honey producers.

Other cultural destinations are also located in the municipality of Marčana. The birthplace of Mijo Mirković in Rakalj houses a memorial collection about his life, literary work and legacy, as well as Rakalj’s local pottery tradition. In Stari Rakalj are the ruins of a former medieval castle and the Church of St Agnes. The path from Rakalj to the St Agnes of Rakalj viewpoint is about two kilometres long and passes through Mediterranean maquis and by old dry-stone walls.

Churches also offer insight into regional history: the main altar of the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Mutvoran was created in 1533; the parish church of St Peter and Paul in Marčana dates from the 15th century. Another recurring event in the municipality of Marčana is the annual pilgrimage to Our Lady of Good Health at the church of the same name in Hreljići, held on the second Sunday in October.

Discover more destinations: Filipana, Cokuni, Bratulići, Loborika, Kavran, Peruski, Hreljići, Veliki Vareški

For the broader travel overview: Općina Marčana.