Vižinada sits on a hill on the southern edge of the Mirna Valley. From here, you can enjoy wide views of the surrounding countryside, vineyards and olive groves. In the town, stone landmarks lead visitors through different chapters of history; outside it, walking and cycling trails reveal the landscape and its settlements. Istrian poetry and sweet treats are also among the discoveries that can make a visit memorable.
Stone, Frescoes and Stories
A stone relief of the Lion of Saint Mark, dating from the 15th century, has been preserved in the central square. The square is also home to a cistern, completed in 1782 to a design by Simone Battistella, an architect from Rovinj. Made of local limestone, it is a local landmark and a venue for several cultural events. The lapidarium beside the bell tower preserves five Roman inscriptions. The bell tower beside the old Church of St Jerome existed by the 16th century at the latest; it is considered one of the oldest towers in Istria and is known for its vedute.
The Old Fontik, also known as the “Lav” House, was built in the 15th century and is the oldest surviving public secular building in the municipal area. Above the historic town centre stands the 13th-century Church of St John the Baptist. It is one of around ten double-apsed churches in Istria—a term for churches with two apses.
The frescoes at St Barnabas also tell an unusual story: they were discovered when the church was used to store props during the filming of the war film “Kelly’s Heroes”. The frescoes depict a Christological cycle. The scenes include the Nativity of Christ, the Adoration of the Magi, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Vižinada is also the birthplace of ballet dancer Carlotta Grisi: she was born here in 1819 and was the first Giselle in ballet history.
At Božje Polje, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a single-nave late Gothic building dating from the 15th century. Its star-shaped ribbed vault is adorned with frescoes. On the feast of Vela Gospa, the church remains a place of pilgrimage for worshippers from all over Istria.
Trails Through Vineyards and Hill Country
The “Trail of Scenic Views” starts at the southern entrance to the town, near the Church of St John the Baptist. It passes through fertile fields, vineyards and olive groves near Crklada and Grubići, and after 3.7 kilometres reaches the small 12th-century church of St Vital, by its cemetery. The “PRSTEN SVETOG TOME 503” circular route offers a different perspective: it climbs to the 299-metre-high Sv. Tome and opens up views of hills, hamlets, chapels, the Mirna Valley and the sea.
The 6.9-kilometre “SRCE VIŽINADE 504” walking trail passes through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada in the southwest of the municipal area. Along the way, visitors can visit local winegrowers and olive growers and sample their produce. “Viva Vino” also combines walking with good food: this 10-kilometre wine and food walk passes through vineyards, olive groves, fields and wooded areas, with five refreshment stations along the way. Check the latest route details before taking part.
Cycling routes also vary considerably in length. A 123-kilometre cycling route runs through Vižinada along the renovated Parenzana railway line. The “Vižinada family (103)” tour is 13 kilometres long: it starts in Vižinada on the former railway line and returns to Vižinada via the Parenzana.
Poetry and Istrian Sweet Treats
Since 1993, the festival of Čakavian poetry “Verši na šterni” has regularly been held at the Battistella Cistern on the second Saturday in June. New, previously unpublished Čakavian poems are recited there and permanently recorded in a collection of the same name. Another tradition takes centre stage at the “Slatka Istra” festival. Held every year on 14 August, the eve of the feast of Vela Gospa, in the centre of Vižinada, it showcases traditional Istrian sweets: fritula, kroštula, cukerančići, pandešpanj, povetica and pinca, as well as various kinds of dry biscuits.
Sporting events add to the annual calendar. The Parenzana Recreational Cycling Marathon takes place in Vižinada every year in mid-September. It is 46.7 kilometres long, with its race section running between Ponte Porton and Vižinada. A walk of around ten kilometres is organised alongside it. Check event dates and programme details before travelling.
Discover other places: Vizinada, Crklada, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Bajkini, Staniši, Filipi, Baldaši, Vrbani, Ferenci, Žudetići, Jadruhi, Lašići, Markovići.
For the broader travel overview: Istria County.
