Valamar Blog

The town of artists. That is the name this small, tame town erected on one of the picturesque hills of the north-east Istria carries with good reason. To illustrate the fact that Grožnjan is beloved among artists, and as if made for cultural events, it suffices to say that in that small area as much as thirty galleries and studios have found their home. Besides that, more and more things related to cultural life happens in Grožnjan each year, from numerous exhibits, “Ex tempore” painting manifestation, through concerts of classical music, jazz festival to actors’ performances…

Grožnjan is mentioned for the first time at the beginning of the 12th century (in 1102), when Istrian marquis Ulrich II and his wife Adelaide gave away their estates to the Aquileian church, and it went through various changes of government in its history, as did all Istrian area, by the way. Still, for the atmosphere tangible while walking through this jewel of green Istria, the biggest “culprits” are buildings, walls and alleys from medieval times. The town walls were rebuilt in the 14th century and most of the buildings date from the 15th to 18th ct, while the town gates are from the 15th and 16th century. An interesting fact should be noted – the gate, in its original version, used to have a drawbridge.

Besides the abovementioned, one should see the Town loggia (1587), as well as preserved sacral buildings of Grožnjan. They are the churches of St. Vitus, St. Modest and St Krescencia (originally from the 14th ct. but renovated in the 18th ct. in the baroque style), church of St. Cosimo and Damian situated in front of the very town gates (from the 16th ct., renovated in the 19th ct. and illustrated by fresco in 1989).