Groznjan

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Groznjan is a 14th-century Venetian town , known nowadays as Town of Artists – an arts colony, where, since 1965, painters, sculptors and musicians comes to live and work. Groznjan is one in the row of pretty Istrian hill top medieval towns,architecturally similar to Motovun or Pazin. This small town in the central part of Istria, located 8 km southeast of Buje, 26 kilometers north east of Porec, situated on the plateau above the River Mirna valley at elevation of 260 meters.

Groznjan location provides breathtaking views over Adriatic Sea as well as over River Mirna Valley too. Some of Groznjan monuments are still preserved until today and Groznjan’s medieval urban core has remained untouched for the most part. : the main town gate on the eastern side of the tow, as well as a part of the ramparts.Next to the gate is the Renaissance loggia from the end of 16th century. On the main square is the Baroque parish church Crkva Svete Marije. At the foot of the hill, just under the town itself, on the Mirna river, in the place called Bastia, lays a small Baroque church of Our Lady of Grace.

Groznjan is located 15km away from the seaside and represents an ideal day trip destination for Istrian visitors. The surrounding area offers good opportunities for walking and cycling to other picturesque old towns: Završje, Kostanjica or Šterna. During summers, from July to early September, concerts and music events are held almost every day, like concerts of classical music, a jazz festival etc. Among twenty private art galleries and studios, one can enjoy visual stimulation too 🙂 Groznjan is the meeting point of young musicians from all over the world through it’s International Cultural Centre of Young Musicians that works from Groznjan.

Beside Croatian and Italian, which are the official languages, and Slovenian, which many speak, on the streets of Groznjan many other languages can be heard too.

There are no hotels in Groznjan, but there are private apartments, rooms and b&b’s that offer accommodation. Numerous small and larges restaurants dotted along Groznjan’s main square, offer traditional Istrian food. At the present, there is no direct public transport to Groznjan. The best bet is to take bus Buzet-Buje and ask to be dropped at Bijele Zemlje, the point from which one have to walk about 3 km to reach Groznjan (btw – lovely walk, highly recommended )

• For more info on Groznjan check Groznjan Tourist Board website : http://www.tz-groznjan.hr/
• Swap Chianti for Istria: Vinophiles who shudder at the price of accommodation in the Italian wine region should look further afield; Istria, Croatia’s northernmost province, has rolling hills scored with vines. In autumn the woods are filled with truffles, and villages are home to cheese and olive-oil makers, whose produce is a fraction of the price of their Tuscan equivalents. Hilltop towns such as Groznjan and Motovun have all the charm and none of the crowds, while a long lunch in the square in medieval Svetvincenat will deliver home-made pizza with wine for around £15…read more