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Brtonigla – Verteneglio: “Istrian wine makers and olive growers“
Brtonigla is located in the north western
part of Istria between Buje and Novigrad. It is an old village that have preserved only a part of its old architecture. This
area is very well known in Istria for its wine makers, olive growers and good Istrian food. Hotel San Rocco is a charming
family owned hotel with excellent food.
- located 76 kilometres from Smrikve
- not to be missed: visit of San Rocco, one of the most beautiful Istrian family hotels and restaurants
BRTONIGLA – VIRTUAL TOUR AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
In the area of Brtonigla there are several top quality Istrian wine and olive oil producers. The most important top quality wine producers are: Otium, Lupi – Ivan Vuk and Nerino Visintin. Top quality wine producers from the area nearby Brtonigla are: Ravalico & Figli and Franco Cattunar from Nova Vas, Veralda of Luciano Visintin from Krsin and Bruno Fernetic from Fernetici.
There are also several top quality olive oil producers. In Brtonigla village the most important is Nerino Visintin. Nearby Brtonigla there are: F&F Ravalico and Franco Cattunar from Nova Vas, Valter Smilovic from Baredine, Clai - Bijele Zemlje from Brajki, Nino Cinic from Krasica, Veralda from Krsin and Franko Fernetic from Lukoni.
In the centre of the village on the main square you will find the Parish Church of St. Zeno from 1861. The project was made by architect Filippo Dongetti in 1776. The bell tower of the same is built in the middle of the façade and dates back into 1491.
The other smaller church is dedicated to St. Rock and dates back into the 17th century. The church was built on a place where another church existed in the 14th century. The older church was dedicated to St. John.
The feast of St. Rock is celebrated on 16th of August and is one of the greatest folk festivals in this part of Istria. It is also known as “Rokova”. A part from being known for its excellent wine and olive oil in Brtonigla you can taste also a very good Istrian food in a very nice Istrian family owned hotel and restaurant San Rocco. The family of Tullio Fernetich is an example to all the other family entrepreneurs of how small and rural hotels should be run in Istria.
Brtonigla also has the Aleksandar Rukavina Memorial Gallery that became a cultural centre and venue of numerous exhibitions. It is worth to mention that in Brtonigla are also organized the summer art school Hortus Niger with the sponsorship of the Local democracy agency of the Council of Europe and the classical music festival.
Brtonigla is like many other Istrian towns and villages inhabited since prehistoric times. It was a prehistoric hill fort settlement and in the Roman period was a Roman settlement known as Hortus Niger. The colour of the soil in Brtonigla is almost black and probably this was the reason why Romans named it Hortus Niger.
In 1234 Brtonigla was mentioned for the first time in a written document as Ortoneglo. The other names that we find in later documents are: Villa Hortonilii, Ortoneggia and Vardaneggia, Berto-Negra and Orteneglio.
