Tar: Church Art, Fishing and Cycling Routes

Tar offers a range of ways to shape your stay: church art and music, archaeological traces, fishing in Santa Marina and cycling routes through the olive-growing area of the Lanterna Peninsula. The following places and routes each have their own focus. When planning, you can choose according to whether you are particularly interested in religious art, historical production, fishing culture or cycling.

Church and Local History

The parish church of St Martin in Tar contains religious artworks and sculptures. Classical music concerts are held there in summer. A stone inscription commemorates Pope Pius VII’s visit to Tarska Vala on 13 and 14 August 1800. Tar itself also offers a glimpse into trade and the economy, alongside the church’s history: in the 18th and 19th centuries, the town prospered through oil and wine exports linked to the port in Tarska Bay.

Stancija Blek: Architecture and Production

Near Tar lies the archaeological zone of Stancija Blek-Sv. Križ, classified as a settlement and fortification from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Parts of a Roman villa rustica survive in tower walls built in opus quadratum. The term describes a construction method using regularly dressed stone blocks, making the masonry technique easy to understand. Presses and oil mills also provide evidence of wine and oil production. Architectural remains and traces of economic activity can thus be seen side by side. Oil and wine connect these traces of production with another aspect of local history: the exports through which Tar prospered in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Fishing Culture in Santa Marina

In Santa Marina, the Fisherman's House is an interpretation centre where visitors can learn about the lives of local fishermen. The exhibition uses fishing equipment and other objects to present fishing as an important activity in Tar and Vabriga. This offers a different perspective on local history from the walls and production traces of Stancija Blek: the everyday lives and work of local fishermen. For choosing cultural topics, this focus is clearly distinct from church art and archaeology.

Cycling and Other Options Along the Routes

The official 14.9-kilometre cycling route 121 Staza Maslina, rated easy, runs from Tar/Vabriga via Santa Marina and Stancija Blek to Vabriga. It passes through the olive-growing area of the Lanterna Peninsula in a Mediterranean setting. Route details may change, so check the information before setting out. The Od ulike do ulja route is also suitable for cycling. Horse riding is also possible on its first section, and horses can be hired at the starting point. Before travelling, check whether this option is available on your dates. The routes therefore differ in their practical planning details too: the length and route sequence are given for route 121, while Od ulike do ulja also allows horse riding on its first section. A bus return from Tar to Lanterna is possible in connection with Od ulike do ulja; check the timetable and availability in advance.

A Possible View as Far as Venice

In clear weather, Venice can sometimes be seen from Tar’s bell tower. The view depends on clear conditions and the occasional long-distance visibility; it is a possible extra perspective on Tar, not a panorama that can be reliably planned.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Musalež, Mihelići, Rošini, Kadumi, Porec, Ruzici, Kukci, Radoši Kod Žbandaja.

For the main travel overview: Općina Poreč.