The best road cycling routes around Općina Kanfanar

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

There are also many restaurants.

There are always some small shops in the center.

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.

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

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.

the port of Porec and plenty of choice for a day trip by boat along the coast and dolphin tours