Filipi – Cultural Heritage and Wine Tradition

Further hiking, cycling and cultural themes broaden the view to the wider destination of Općina Vižinada. When planning, you can distinguish between interests in Filipi and themes at the municipal level.

Local History and Wine Tradition in Filipi

The Old School (Stara škola) in Filipi is listed in an overview of significant cultural assets in the municipality of Vižinada as a historic building with protection status ZPP 3. It is a tangible point of reference for local history. If the school is part of your plans, check in advance whether a visit is possible and under what conditions.

Another connection to the village is the Bruno Ferenac family winery, located in Filipi. The family’s tradition of growing grapes and making wine dates back around a hundred years. In Filipi, a named historic building and a specific local family wine tradition thus sit side by side—two distinct themes that give your travel plans a local context.

Hiking and Cycling in Općina Vižinada

At the level of Općina Vižinada, hiking and cycling routes pass through the natural landscape. The “The Trail of Scenic Views” scenic trail starts at the southern entrance to Vižinada, near the 13th-century Church of St. John the Baptist. After 3.7 kilometres, the trail reaches the small 12th-century Church of St. Vital, near its cemetery. Along the way, it passes through fields, vineyards and olive groves near Crklada and Grubići.

Another hiking option is the 6.9-kilometre “SRCE VIŽINADE 504” trail. It passes through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada in the southwestern part of the municipality. Along this trail, visitors can visit local winegrowers and olive growers and sample their products. This makes it possible to combine a hiking route with insights into local wine and olive production.

For a cycling trip, “Vižinada family (103)” offers a different option: the route is 13 kilometres long, starts in Vižinada on the former Parenzana railway line and returns there via the Parenzana. The route details therefore differ both by activity and by length: the scenic trail reaches St. Vital after 3.7 kilometres, while the named hiking route is 6.9 kilometres and the cycling route is 13 kilometres.

Culture and Events in the Wider Destination

Vižinada itself also offers points of interest related to cultural history. A stone relief of the Lion of St. Mark, dating from the 15th century, is preserved in the central square; the lapidarium beside the bell tower contains five Roman inscriptions. The Church of St. Barnabas is in the village centre. Its frescoes were discovered when the church was used to store props during filming of the war film “Kelley’s Heroes.”

The Church of St. John the Baptist, above the historic centre of Vižinada, is also worth noting for a stay focused on architecture. It was built in the 13th century as one of around ten double-apsed churches in Istria. Details about the church complement the historical themes already associated with the Old School in Filipi, without conflating the two places.

A seasonal highlight is “Slatka Istra”: the festival takes place every year on 14 August in the centre of Vižinada, on the eve of the Vela Gospa festival. It preserves the tradition of making nine kinds of authentic regional cakes. These include Fritula, Kroštula, Cukerančići, Pandešpanj, Povetica and Pinca, as well as various kinds of dry biscuits. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the programme for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Staniši, Žudetići, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Lašići, Vrbani, Baldaši, Markovići, Vizinada.

Go to the broader travel overview: Općina Vižinada.