The best walks and hikes around Općina Kanfanar

There is a small supermarket here.

Great trail through the valley.

What remains of an ancient manor. Very beautiful and interesting, but some local information would be helpful.

The Church of Saint Catherine is a simple building dating back to the 15th century. It features a bell gable and a loggia, which was added in the 18th century. In the Church of Saint Catherine, the frescoes are arranged along the north, south, and west walls of the chapel and depict the cycle of legends related to the life of the saint. The central space is occupied by the image of the Madonna and Child, while below, Saint Catherine, with her hand outstretched and Jesus grasping her fingers, symbolizes the act of the mystical marriage. The frescoes were created under the influence of 15th-century Italian painting, more specifically Venetian.

The ruins of the medieval town of Dvigrad represent the most important and best-known cultural heritage site in the Municipality of Kanfanar. The name "Dvigrad" (Duo Castra, Two Castles, Dvegrad) indicates the existence of two distinct parts of the town (Moncastello and Castello Parentino), which were mentioned as a single town as early as the 9th and 10th centuries. The common name persisted even after the fall of Castello Parentino, with only Moncastello surviving. Thanks to its extraordinary strategic position, proximity to water, and abundant fertile soil, the area was inhabited as early as prehistoric times, while the first Slavic populations began to settle in the area towards the end of the 6th century.

The Morosini-Grimani Castle is the symbol of Svetvinčenat (Sanvincenti) and one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Istria. Its origins date back to the 13th century, when the De Castro Pola family built their first fortified residence there. Passed to the Morosini family in the 15th century, it was transformed into a true fortress and, after a devastating fire in 1586, rebuilt in Renaissance style by the Grimani family with the help of Venetian architects. The quadrangular structure with three towers and an elegant noble palace combined defensive, administrative, and economic functions: grain storage, armory, and the captain's residence. Topped by the Grimani coat of arms, which later became the emblem of the city, the castle endured centuries of wars, fires, and dominations, until it was once again destroyed in the Second World War. Today, after careful restoration, the castle has come back to life: it hosts exhibitions, events, and multimedia tours that allow visitors to discover the history of Svetvinčenat and one of the most fascinating Istrian fortresses.

Small bar with a great view of the castle, where you can taste the Kampanjola beer produced in Sventvincenat 😋

Dvigrad was once one of the most important trading centers in northern Istria. All that remains of the town, which flourished in the Middle Ages, are ivy-covered walls. Dvigrad was first mentioned in the 9th century AD. The boom came to an abrupt end when Dvigrad was ravaged by war and disease over the centuries. When malaria broke out in the 17th century, only about 10 percent of the approximately 700 inhabitants survived the epidemic and subsequently left the town. All that remains of the town are the ruins of approximately 200 houses and the ruins of the Basilica of St. Sophia.