Krbune has two religious buildings that reveal different historical traces: the parish church of St. John the Baptist is connected to an older church site, while the cemetery chapel of St. Martin tells its own building history through its furnishings and restoration. Together, the churches offer a tangible introduction to the history of the place.

The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist

The church was built in 1694 on the site of a 15th-century church. It was renovated and enlarged in 1906. Several building phases can therefore be distinguished at the same site: the history of the earlier church, the 17th-century building, and its later enlargement. A painting of St. John the Baptist is located on the main altar. The building history and altar painting give the church two distinct points of interest.

The Cemetery Chapel

The chapel of St. Martin has a marble altar and a stone statue of the saint dated 1739. It was restored in 1987. Compared with the parish church, the historical emphasis here is on the furnishings and restoration: the marble altar, statue, and year of restoration are tangible clues to its history.

Krbune comprises a rural settlement and a historic memorial area at the cemetery. The chapel of St. Martin is located in the cemetery. Anyone interested in local historical traces can explore both the parish church’s different building phases and the details of the cemetery chapel.

The Wider Travel Destination of Općina Pićan

The wider travel destination of Općina Pićan is in central Istria, in the Labinština area. The municipality covers 51 square kilometres and is surrounded by fields and vineyards. The historic town of Pićan is the seat of the municipality and sits on a prominent limestone hill west of Čepićko polje. Općina Pićan thus provides a broader landscape and historical context than the local history of Krbune.

Several buildings in the historic town of Pićan can be dated to different periods. The monumental town gate dates from the 14th century and was restored in 1613 for Bishop Antonio Zara. The white limestone bell tower was built in 1872 and is 48 metres high. At its foot, a historic stone measure used to measure the dues paid by subjects still stands. The parish church of the Annunciation acquired its present exterior form through the renovation of 1753; its interior was given a Baroque style under Bishop Piccardia.

Cultural figures and places also shape Pićan’s history. A statue of St. John of Nepomuk, erected in 1714, stands in the park in front of the entrance to Pićan. Opposite the parish church of Pićan is the birthplace of Matko Brajša Rašan. In 1912, he composed the present official Istrian anthem, “Krasna zemljo,” to a text by Ivan Cukon.

Viewpoints and Trails in Općina Pićan

The viewpoints in the wider travel destination of Općina Pićan each offer something different. The Franz Ferdinand viewpoint overlooks the hilly landscape of central Istria. St. Helena lies at the other end of the historic settlement of Pićan and is named after a church that once stood there. At the natural viewpoint by the Church of St. Michael, the stone sculpture “The Family,” created by Nane Zavagno in 1999, adds to the setting. The single-nave Romanesque church dates from the 13th century and sits on a neighbouring hill north of the centre of Pićan.

For a nature-focused addition to your trip, the Trail of St. Roch, route 702, starts in Pićan. It leads through the forest to the spring of St. Nicephorus and also to the Sopot Waterfall. The waterfall is 24.5 metres high, with a turquoise lake at its base. Conditions at the waterfall vary seasonally, so it is advisable to check its current status before your visit.

PetiVina takes place in Pićan on the first weekend in June and brings together winemakers, wine lovers, local products, and handmade crafts. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the dates and programme in advance, as both may vary.

Discover more destinations: Pican, Sveta Katarina, Zajci, Grobnik.

Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Pićan.