© Dea Dragosavac / Tourism Office Vodnjan
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In the town of kažuns and olives
Text: Željka Kunštek
© Loris Zupanc / Tourism Office Vodnjan
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Experience Croatia
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© Tourism Office Vodnjan
VODNJAN
While in Vodnjan, head out to search for murals, kažuns, and longevity. 1 Taking photos next to a mural; 2 Kažun Park; 3 Olives; 4 Olive groves; 5 The ruins of the church of St. Simon; 6 Vodnjan is a pet-friendly destination.
Tourism Office Vodnjan
vodnjandignano.com --------------------------
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© SRK Puls / Tourism Office Vodnjan
© Ana Lorencin / Tourism Office Vodnjan
UNESCO recognized the art of dry stone wall construction and inscribed it on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
© SRK Puls / Tourism Office Vodnjan
that divided and marked territory appear to be simple in design but actually require construction by a skilled artisan. Kažuns, traditional Istrian dry stone wall shelters for shepherds and farmers during storms or heat waves, can be found scattered throughout Vodnjan's fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Although they no longer serve their original purpose, the people of Vodnjan are very fond of them so they keep them regularly maintained and protect them from falling into oblivion, and they have also made a Kažun Park. In that outdoor museum, which is a perfect place to spend a weekend getaway, find out how those cute stone houses are made. Tour Vodnjan's kažuns and dry stone walls by bike or on foot, following one of the cycling or walking trails. Those who love trekking, water and equestrian sports, as well as those who love to lounge on beautiful beaches, will all enjoy their time in Vodnjan. The 8 kilometers of sunny coastline that stretches alongside the crystal clear sea is the perfect invitation for that.
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n southern Istria, where history, art, and nature meet, you will find Vodnjan. It is a city where at one moment you will be walking along its stone streets and squares lined with palaces and churches that whisper stories of its rich past, while the next moment you will be walking through centuries-old olive groves with unique dry stone walls and kažuns that the skilled hands of the people of Vodnjan built there for centuries. Take the time to explore Vodnjan slowly, and in comfortable shoes. While walking through the town, search for murals, the urban street art treasure, and try to find the creatively painted building walls. There are about forty of them. Don't even try to count the olive trees, but make sure to taste the liquid gold from their fruits. In the shade of olive trees discover the secret to Mediterranean longevity and find out how Vodnjan became the Istrian center of extra virgin olive oils. The Vodnjan area is also unique for the largest concentration of dry stone walls and kažuns in Istria. The dry stone walls
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June 2023 - May 2024
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