On Vižinada cycling route (101), the route heads from Vižinada towards Vrbani and Narduči after about five kilometres. It continues to the Vrbanovica viewpoint. This gives a stay in Vrbani a direct connection to cycling; for other highlights, add hiking and cultural destinations in nearby Vižinada.
Cycling: Vižinada (101) and other routes
Vižinada (101) is 24 kilometres long. Around a dozen historic churches and chapels lie along the route, and five photo stops are marked. The route connects with several other cycling routes. A paved section runs through Bajkini, Vranje Selo, Markovići, Ćuki and Brdo. If you would like to ride with a guide, one can be arranged through the tourist information centre.
Other routes in the wider destination of Općina Vižinada also offer a point of comparison for distance: Vižinada family (103) is 13 kilometres long. The tour begins in Vižinada on the former Parenzana railway track and returns to Vižinada via the Parenzana. The 30-kilometre Staza dobrih okusa i doživljaja (102) starts at a viewpoint at the entrance to the former railway line.
Hiking and scenery near Vižinada
Near Vižinada, Staza Pogleda 501 crosses the former Parenzana track and runs through fields, vineyards and olive groves. The trail’s highest point is 353 metres above sea level. In the wider destination of Općina Vižinada, Staza Pogleda 501 leads to the Sabadin Viaduct, also known as Veli most or St. Vital; it is 64 metres long and 20 metres high.
Another option is Srce Vižinade 504. The 6.9-kilometre trail runs through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada. Visits to local winemakers and olive growers, with tastings of their products, are also planned. You can choose between a route featuring scenery and a viaduct, and a trail with tasting stops.
Lavender fields and cultural heritage
Lavanda Oklen is associated with lavender fields at Vrbani 3. Check whether a visit is currently possible before you go.
In nearby Vižinada is Fontik, also known as Kuća Lav. The 15th-century building is the oldest surviving public secular building in the municipality. The Church of St. Barnabas is a Romanesque double-apse church dating from the 12th or 13th century and is considered the largest of its kind in Istria. The church contains around thirty graffiti inscriptions in Glagolitic and Latin scripts.
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Božje Polje is another destination for those interested in culture and history. It has been an important pilgrimage site since at least the Middle Ages. On the feast of Vela Gospa, it remains a pilgrimage destination for worshippers from all over Istria.
Seasonal events
Vižinada’s calendar features literature, regional sweets and outdoor activities. The čakavian poetry festival Verši na šterni has been held regularly since 1993 on the second Saturday in June at the Baroque Battistella cistern. New, previously unpublished poems in čakavian are presented there and preserved in a collection.
Slatka Istra takes place every year on 14 August in the town centre. It focuses on traditional Istrian cakes made from old recipes, with tastings of local wines. The Parenzana Marathon is held annually in mid-September: the course is 46.7 kilometres long and also includes a hike of around ten kilometres. This gives you a range of activities and dates to consider over several months when planning your trip. Check the current events programme before choosing your travel dates.
Regional overview and accommodation
In the wider destination of Općina Vižinada, Vižinada itself sits on a hill on the southern edge of the Mirna Valley. From there, views extend across the surrounding nature, vineyards and olive groves. If you are looking for an apartment in Vrbani, you can plan your travel dates around whether cycling, hiking, or a cultural event or festival in nearby Vižinada is your priority.
Discover more destinations: Lašići, Ferenci, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Baldaši, Jadruhi, Markovići, Crklada, Filipi.
Back to the wider travel overview: Općina Vižinada.
