The Vodnjan Tourist Board proudly announces the return of one of its most popular summer initiatives – a series of free guided city tours, starting on July 1st. In collaboration with experienced local tourist guides, this commendable initiative once again opens the doors to the rich history and culture of Vodnjan, offering all visitors, both local and foreign, a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the heart of this Istrian gem. During July and August, every Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 10:00 AM, curious visitors can gather in front of the Tourist Board office at Narodni trg 10 and embark on an unforgettable adventure to discover the secrets that Vodnjan so carefully preserves. The tours are organized in as many as four languages – Croatian, English, Italian, and German, ensuring that the story of Vodnjan reaches the widest possible circle of travel and culture enthusiasts.

Traces of the past through stone streets

A walk through Vodnjan is a journey through time. Every stone, every alley, every palace tells its own story, and the expert guides are there to bring these stories to life. Tour participants will have the opportunity to discover why the proud people of Vodnjan are called "Bumbari". Although there are several anecdotes about the origin of this nickname, one of the most popular is related to the visit of Emperor Franz Joseph. The story goes that the locals greeted him in silence, somewhat stiffly, to which the emperor allegedly commented: "Ma che gente burbera!" ("What boorish people!"), and the local podestà heard it as "bumbara". Another theory mentions the "boom, boom" sounds of the city band that welcomed the emperor, while a third tells of a German soldier's exclamation "Buona bumba!" ("Good drink!") after tasting the local wine. Regardless of the truth, the nickname has become an inseparable part of this city's identity. A special attraction is the passage through what is probably the narrowest and shortest street in all of Istria, which today bears the name Stari grad. Legend has it that on one occasion, a gendarme was chasing a nimble thief who escaped right through this alley, because the larger representative of the law simply got stuck in it.

Besides narrow passages, Vodnjan also boasts the longest street in Istria, Trgovačka ulica, over a kilometer long, which was once the city's lifeline, full of craft shops and stores. A walk along it leads to Narodni trg, the heart of public life, where the Bradamante palace stands out, as well as numerous other Gothic-Venetian, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings. One of them is the palace of the Bettica family, a former castle built in 1300, which today houses an interesting museum. These tours are not just a mere listing of historical facts, but an interactive experience that encourages visitors to explore every corner and feel the spirit of past times that still lives in this city, an ideal place for a vacation and exploration.

The secret of the Vodnjan mummies and the largest church in Istria

One of the central points of every tour of Vodnjan is inevitably the Parish Church of St. Blaise, a monumental building that dominates the city's panorama with its size. Built from 1760 to 1800 on the remains of an early Romanesque church, it is today the largest parish church on the Istrian peninsula, and its bell tower, 62 meters high, is the tallest in Istria. But what makes this church world-famous is not just its impressive architecture, but also the treasure it holds within its walls. This is the Collection of Sacral Art, which contains an incredible 370 relics from as many as 250 different Christian saints, along with 730 other sacral objects created from the 4th to the 19th century. Among the relics are a thorn from Jesus' crown, a particle of Christ's cross, and a piece of the Virgin's veil.

However, the greatest attention and curiosity are drawn to the undecomposed bodies of saints, better known as the "Vodnjan mummies". The bodies of St. Leon Bembo, St. Ivan Olini, and St. Nikoloza Bursa, along with the preserved remains of other saints such as St. Sebastian and St. Barbara, have been lying for centuries in glass sarcophagi without ever having been embalmed or hermetically sealed. This phenomenon represents a real puzzle for scientists who, even today, cannot explain with certainty what prevented their decomposition. This unique blend of faith, history, and mystery attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year, and guided tours provide a deeper insight into the story of how this priceless treasure, thanks to the painter Gaetano Gessler, arrived in Vodnjan from Venice in 1818, fleeing the destruction of the Napoleonic Wars. Visitors will also learn where exactly in Vodnjan the court of the infamous Inquisition was located, whose headquarters for Istria were right here, in the church of St. Martin, adding another layer of intriguing history to this incredible place.

The Gold of Istria: The Story of Vodnjan's Olive Oil

The tour would not be complete without the story of the "liquid gold" of this region. The Vodnjan area has been synonymous with top-quality olive oil since time immemorial, and the tradition of olive growing dates back to the Roman Empire. Evidence of this is still visible today, especially in the remains of ancient oil mills at the nearby site of Barbariga. Guides will reveal the secrets of Vodnjan's olive growing to visitors, explain why this particular climate is ideal for growing indigenous varieties like Buža, and why oils from this area regularly win the most prestigious world awards. The story of olive oil is not just a story about agriculture; it is a story of passion, effort, and generations of families who have dedicated their lives to cultivating olives. After the formal part of the tour, which lasts about an hour and a half, visitors are encouraged to continue exploring on their own and indulge in gastronomic delights, visit one of the local oil mills, taste different varieties of oil, and see for themselves why it is the foundation of Istrian cuisine. The possibilities are numerous: from wine, cheese, and prosciutto tastings to visits to agritourisms that offer authentic local specialties.

From Kažuni to a Digital Leap into the Past

The landscape around Vodnjan is unimaginable without the unique stone structures – the kažuni. These dry-stone shelters, which served shepherds and farmers as a refuge from storms, are today a protected cultural monument and a symbol of the Istrian village. The Vodnjan area has the highest concentration of kažuni in Istria, and during the tour, visitors will learn all about their construction. Particularly interesting is the Kažun Park, an open-air museum at the entrance to the city, which shows the construction of a kažun in four phases, from the foundation to the placement of the last stone on top of the dome. For those eager for adventure, there is also a search for the "twin kažuni" near the village of Batvači.

To make the experience of Vodnjan complete and adapted to the modern age, the Tourist Board has also introduced elements of augmented reality (AR). Using a smartphone or tablet, visitors can virtually bring to life the former monumental castle that stood on the main square until 1808. AR technology also allows for a "meeting" with famous people from Vodnjan, an insight into the appearance of the original kažuni, and a view of valuable objects found at the Dragonera archaeological site. This innovative approach combines rich tangible heritage with digital technology, making history more accessible and interesting to all generations and providing an additional reason to visit and stay longer in this fascinating destination. The tours are an ideal starting point for further exploration not only of the city but also of the surrounding places such as medieval Guran, the sanctuary of St. Foška, and the picturesque settlements of Galižana, Peroj, and Barbariga, each with its own peculiarities and stories.