The best road cycling routes around Općina Svetvinčenat

Attention: There is about 800 m of gravel track included, where you have to push your bike as a road cyclist...

Grandiose descent with not too much traffic.

There are always some small shops in the center.

Pizzeria Grimani next to the church two long-established businesses and with a connection all the way to the top

1. "Zaljev" (bay) is WRONG! Geologicaly it is the CHANNEL and they corrected it = it's called Limski kanal or Lim channel. 2. The channel was the border line (limit) between two counties: Ager Polensis (Pula County) on the south and Ager Parentinus (Poreč county) situated between Lim channel on the south and the river Mirna on the north, Also untill the year 1830. it was the border line (limes) between the diocese of Pula and the diocese of Poreč. Since 1830. it is the 1 diocese = Diocese of Poreč (bishop's seat) and Pula. 3. "Border line"/Limes between the PROVINCES of Istra ("Histria" and Dalmatia was originaly the river Raša on the eastern part of penninsula. By the time Dalmatia was "reduced" and became smaller. Btw, I am the tourist guide and tour leader with almost 50 years of expirience.

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.

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.

Svetvincenat, Savicenta, or Sanvincenti, is a charming village in central Istria steeped in centuries of history and culture. Its origins date back to the Roman period, but the core of the town developed in the Middle Ages around a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Vincent, mentioned in documents from the 12th century. In 1211, the fiefdom passed to the Castropola nobles of Pula, and in the 14th century, it was recorded in the famous deed demarcating the Istrian borders. It later came under the control of the Republic of Venice: first the Morosini, then the Grimani, who profoundly influenced the development of the village. Thanks to them, Svetvincenat acquired its unmistakable Renaissance character: the central square (Placa), among the most harmonious in Istria, surrounded by stately buildings, the loggia, and the parish church. Watching over the village stands the Morosini-Grimani Castle, dating back to the 13th century and rebuilt in 1589 by the Grimani family with the help of Venetian architects. In addition to the castle, the village holds true treasures of sacred art: the church of Santa Caterina, with splendid medieval frescoes, and the church of San Vincenzo, linked to its Benedictine origins. Svetvinčenat has endured dominations and wars, fires and reconstructions, until the present day, when—restored and enhanced—it has once again become one of the most vibrant centers of Istrian culture, hosting festivals, historical events, and food and wine events.