Cultural & historical sights
In the northwestern part of Istria, above the valley of the river Mirna, is located the most famous and most attractive Istrian medieval town Motovun - Montona, whose view is one of the famous symbols of the Istrian interior. Motovun is dominated by a Romanesque Gothic bell tower with a jagged crown from the 13th century located next to the parish church of Sv. Stephen from the 17th century. On the central town square there is also a Romanesque communal palace, the largest profane building in Istria from that period. In total, there are 26 protected cultural monuments in the old town, which is why Motovun is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
Sights & Monuments
Tower „New Gate”
The Tower „New Gate” in Motovun is a 17th-century fortification featuring historical defensive architecture and a lapidary collection of Roman tombstones and coats of arms.
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Servite
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Servite in Motovun is a 16th-century church and former monastery site featuring a historic bell tower and 18th-century organ.
Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr
The Parish Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr in Motovun is a historic 16th-century church designed by Andrea Palladio, known for its rich sacral inventory including the Altariolo Colleoni and a relic of the Holy Thorn.
Loggia
The 17th-century Motovun Loggia is a historic town square landmark that once served as a center for legal and civic life and is now a popular viewpoint overlooking the Mirna river valley.
Municipal palace
The Municipal Palace in Motovun is the best-preserved Romanesque public building in Istria and Croatia, dating back to 1248 and serving both as a town hall and a defensive structure.
Church of the Holy Trinity
The Church of the Holy Trinity in Kaldir is a historic site renovated in 1909, featuring a 19th-century painting and a 1594 Glagolitic stone vessel.
Parish Church of St. John the Baptist
The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Kaldir was built in 1873 and blessed by Bishop Juraj Dobrila in 1875, featuring a 25-meter bell tower added in 1915.
Church of St. John the Baptist and Blessed Virgin Mary 'of the Gate'
The Church of St. John the Baptist and Blessed Virgin Mary 'of the Gate' in Motovun was built in 1521 and features a 15-meter bell tower added in 1898.
Motovun City Walls
Motovun City Walls are the best-preserved fortification system in Istria, offering a unique promenade with stunning views of the surrounding green landscapes and the Mirna River.
Bell tower
The 13th-century Romanesque Gothic bell tower in Motovun stands 27 meters tall and served as a vital observation point for the Mirna river valley.
Main City Gate
The Main City Gate in Motovun is a 14th-century structure featuring Gothic and Romanesque elements that served as the primary defensive entrance to the city.
Hill Šublenta
Hill Šublenta is a 351-meter high site featuring the 17th-century Church of the Nativity of Mary, built upon the remains of a former Benedictine abbey, an Illyrian fortified borough, and an ancient pagan shrine.
Polesini Palace
Polesini Palace is a historic 17th-century Renaissance building in Motovun, once owned by the powerful Polesini patrician family and now serving as the boutique hotel Kaštel.
Gradiziol
Gradiziol is a historic suburb of Motovun that developed during the 14th and 15th centuries, featuring the church of St. Margaret and 18th-century architecture.
Borgo
Borgo is a historic suburb of Motovun that developed in the 14th century, featuring traditional residential architecture and remnants of medieval fortifications.
Church of St. Anthony of Padua and St. Cyprian
The Church of St. Anthony of Padua and St. Cyprian in Motovun is a 15th-century structure originally dedicated to St. Cyprian, a protector against the plague, and later reconstructed in the 19th century.
Church of St. Margaret at the upper cemetery
The Church of St. Margaret is a 19th-century church located at the historic upper cemetery in Motovun, which was formed by merging three older cemeteries in 1818.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Šublenta
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a 17th-century church located on the 351-meter high Šublenta hill near Motovun, built on the site of a former Benedictine abbey and an ancient Illyrian fortified borough.
Church of St. Pancratius
The Church of St. Pancratius in Brkač was built in 1942 on the site of a 15th-century church and features a 1602 Glagolitic inscription.
The City Printing House Antico
The City Printing House Antico offers unique, hand-printed Motovun souvenirs created on a medieval Gutenberg press replica using artisanal paper.
Church of St. Bartol
The Church of St. Bartol is a historic church built in 1651 and renovated in 2000, which gives its name to the surrounding area near Motovun.
Andrea Antico Square - Upper Square
Andrea Antico Square is the main square of Motovun, named after the famous 15th-century music publisher and composer born in the town. It features historic well shafts, including one with the oldest Venetian lion in Motovun, and serves as the primary venue for public events.
Birthplace of Mario Andretti
The birthplace of legendary race car driver Mario Andretti is located on Borgo street in Motovun, Croatia, where he was born in 1940.
Art Gallery “Pet kula”
Art Gallery “Pet kula” is a modern exhibition space located in the communal palace of Motovun, offering a unique blend of wood and stone architecture with scenic views of the Mirna valley.
Josef Ressel Square - Lower square
Josef Ressel Square is a scenic lower square in Motovun, named after the inventor of the ship's propeller, offering restaurant terraces with panoramic views of the Mirna river valley and Motovun forest.