The best traffic-free bike rides around Općina Sveti Petar u Šumi

This is the final stop

There are always some small shops in the center.

The Church of St. Michael in Žminj was built in the 16th century and has been one of the most important religious buildings in the area ever since. It boasts exquisite craftsmanship, with colored stones sourced from a mine in nearby Gradišće.

Outside the cemetery walls, ancient tombs dating back several centuries are visible.

just after the current Kanfanar station it is possible to retrace the ancient route of this disused railway

Today surrounded by a small cemetery, it is located a few hundred meters from the ruins of Duecastelli on the climb to Kanfanar

The old residents of Žminj call it "Krvarija." It is located near Žminj, near the Pazin-Pula road. It was built of stone in 1728 and consists of three crosses placed on a small hill, surrounded by a wall and further secured by an iron gate. Near the central cross, on which Christ stands, are statues of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. On the feast of St. Mark, April 25th, until the middle of the last century, a procession would go from the parish church to Calvary early in the morning, where the priest blessed the fields and pastures. The parishioners then returned to the church for Holy Mass.

A village that for centuries has been a crossroads of cultures, trade, and power. Today it appears as a quiet village surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, but its stones tell a thousand-year history. Traces of prehistoric and Roman settlements testify to the strategic importance of the place. The first official mention of Žminj dates back to 1177, when Pope Alexander III confirmed the existence of the parish of St. Michael, linking it to the diocese of Poreč. By the 13th century, the village was already fortified, and in 1368 it became part of the County of Pazin, under Austrian influence, becoming one of the most important strongholds in the Istrian hinterland. Its central location made Žminj a point of contact—and often of conflict—between the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg Empire. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the village experienced sieges, wars, and destruction, but also phases of reconstruction that shaped its urban layout. Of the ancient defenses, a circular tower, sections of walls, and the medieval layout that surrounded the town remain today. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel, rebuilt in 1625, still dominates the historic center and preserves an artistic heritage that combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Around the village are numerous country churches with medieval frescoes, such as the Holy Trinity, the Holy Cross, and the Church of St. Anthony the Abbot, true treasure troves of Istrian sacred art. After centuries of various rulers—from the bishops of Poreč to the feudal lords of Pazin, from the Habsburgs to the Republic of Venice, up to the Italian and Yugoslav periods—Žminj has retained its identity as an authentic Istrian village. Today, it is a center that celebrates its roots with events such as Bartulja, the great late-August festival dedicated to St. Bartholomew, which attracts visitors from all over the peninsula. Strolling through Žminj means experiencing a history spanning the Middle Ages, border wars, and popular devotion. Every stone, from the walls to the frescoed churches, speaks of the crucial role this village has played in shaping Istria. A place where time seems to have stood still, and where tradition coexists with the daily lives of its inhabitants.