• located 10 kilometres from Smrikve
• dominant is Venetian architecture
• it was the most important Roman agricultural site in Istria for the olive oil production and after the decadence of Pula was for centuries the most important town in the southern part of Istria. Few plague years did not hit the population of the town
• not to be missed: Bradamante palace, Municipal palace, the Betica palace, the Church of Our Carnelian Lady, the Church of Our Lady della Traversa, the Church of St. Jacob and the Holy Trinity, the sacral art collection of the Parish Church of St. Blaise, the Church of St. Fosca, the visit of the family Belci  MELOTO olive oil tasting hall.
• events not to be missed: “Bumbarska festa”, town’s party in August and "ceramica in situ" art exhibition organized every summer by Solidea Guerra
• Istria from Smrikve aims to promote Istrian cultural heritage... Slow Travel, Slow Food and Sustainable Living... and in this section dedicated to Vodnjan-Dignano’s heritage you may note the permament virtual “Slow Travel Exhibition” of selected families and events worth visiting... you will find recommended accommodations, restaurants, wine and olive oil to taste, event to attend... :)

If you are on the seaside of Puntizela nearby Smrikve you will see the 63 meters high bell tower that is the tallest bell tower in Istria and during the night you will see the lights on it. Local people named it the cake. You will also see its Parish Church of St. Blaise that is the largest church in Istria.

Vodnjan is a typical medieval town. It is characterized by its in the rows and closely built stone houses of irregular shape and the narrow streets. Only two centuries ago, as I wrote at the beginning, it was the most important city of the southern Istria. It was bigger and more important than Pula.

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VODNJAN – VIRTUAL TOUR

If you drive by car from Vodnjan towards Fazana you will enjoy in a beautiful view of the Brioni islands.

During the Roman period this area was one of the most important areas for olive oil production.

Dado Belci told me the story that his gradfather told him that the older people used to say that a squirrel was able to jump from one olive tree to the other, without touching the ground, from Vodnjan to Fazana.

During the Roman period in Istria there were about three times more olive trees from what we have today and the olive oil was considered among the best olive oils in the whole Empire.

Even today there are several top olive oil producers in Vodnjan like Belci family and Chiavalon family that helps to return this natural product to its antique glory.