Garica offers a clearly defined hiking route and its own church history. The Kolmanica Trail starts in the village and follows an easy 7.2-kilometre circular route with 151 metres of elevation gain. Ancient dry-stone walls and olive groves line the route; it is suitable for easy hiking and trekking. The distance, circular format and ascent can help you match the scope of the hike to your own pace.
The Kolmanica Trail: Hiking and History
Along the way, the trail passes the remains of the medieval Church of Saint Chrysogonus. Romanesque features suggest it dates to the 12th or 13th century. The route then leads to Gradec Castle, which is associated with the Counts of Frankopan. The circuit thus combines landscape features with two distinct historical points of interest: a church ruin and a castle associated with the Frankopans.
The Church and Petrovo in Garica
The Church of Saint Peter the Apostle stands in the centre of Garica. It was built in 1793 using material from an earlier church in Kampelje, which dated from the 12th century. The 1793 church and the medieval church in Kampelje thus represent two distinct building phases. The Petrovo festival is celebrated every year on 29 June in honour of Saint Peter. The church in the village centre and the church ruin along the trail offer different ways to explore the history of the area.
Beyond Garica: Općina Vrbnik
The wider destination of Općina Vrbnik offers a broader geographical and historical context. Vrbnik stands on a steep, 49-metre-high rocky cliff above the sea. Its history stretches back more than 900 years; Vrbnik was an important Frankopan fortress and a Glagolitic and religious centre. To the northwest of Vrbnik, Vrbničko polje extends across 211 hectares in a depression.
Vrbnik’s hiking trails are part of the marked hiking network on the island of Krk. They lead through hills and rocky landscapes with dry-stone walls and the remains of small churches. In this wider setting, a bridge from the period of French rule also crosses the valley of a small river below Garica.
Vrbnik’s buildings and cultural institutions also offer their own historical highlights. The 30-metre-high Renaissance bell tower was built in 1527; its interior was converted into the Museum of Visual Identity in 2000. Founded in 1898, the Vitezić family library preserves the legacy of brothers Ivan Josip and Dinko Vitezić, who came from Vrbnik. The library opened to the public in 1910. The Blaž Baromić and Dragutin Parčić Memorial Print House, opened in 2003, contains a replica of the printing presses used in the 16th century, complete with equipment.
The “Baćin dvor” visitor centre in Vrbnik preserves and presents the history, traditions and cultural heritage of the region, and offers permanent exhibitions. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening hours.
Discover more destinations: Vrbnik, Risika.
Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Vrbnik.
