Vodnjan (Italian: Dignano) is a town in southern Istria, ten kilometers north of Pula (Istrian County, western Croatia). Vodnjan is one of the centers of the Istrian language. In the church of St. Blaža is home to the world-famous collection of relics in Vodnjan, as well as the Vodnjan mummies of saints.
It is necessary to mention what makes Vodnjan stand out, which is the
collection of relics in Vodnjan as well as the Vodnjan mummies of
saints. They are located behind the main altar - in the sacristy.
Scientists consider them a miracle because they have been untouched and
undecayed for centuries, even though they were not hermetically treated.
Another well-known feature is the Vodnjan bell tower, which is the
highest in Istria (60 m).·
Bettica Palace (Betika),
Romanesque
chapel of St. Cross (Santa Croce),
Renaissance Palace (Kaštel)
In
Vodnjan, there are also churches of Our Lady of Karmin, St. Martin,
Madonna Traverse, St. Catherine, St. Roka, St. Sundays and St. Margaret.
The surroundings of Vodnjan are rich in sights such as Kažun
Certainly the greatest specialty of this region is the Istrio
language of the autochthonous population since Roman times (remaining in
the triangle Rovinj - Bale - Vodnjan).
The most important event
is the Bumblebee Festival, which takes place in August
Every May
since 1997, the Children's Festival of Spiritual Music Iskrica has been
held in Vodnjan.
The famous Vodnjan summer begins with the St.
John's fire, which is celebrated on June 23, with numerous concerts,
plays, exhibitions and other entertainment programs.
Another
important date is February 3, when the patron of the town of Vodnjan -
St. Blaž - is celebrated. In the church of St. In Blaža, the largest and
most famous church in Istria, a solemn mass is held where you can touch
the relics of the famous saint.
The area of the town of Vodnjan is located on a fertile lowland area in the south of Istria, which opens to the sea in the west near Peroj. It is about 10 km north of Pula at coordinates 44°57′40″ N and 13°51′10″ E, and the highest point is 147 m.a.s.l. It covers an area of 102 km2.
According to legend, Vodnjan was created by joining 7 Roman villas
rustica within the ager of Colonia Julia Pola. In Roman times, it was
called Praedium Athenianum, but later it changed to Vicus Attinianum or
Adinianum, and in the Middle Ages it changed to Diniano - Dignano
(Dignano). It is not known what phonetic changes caused Dinjan to become
Vodnjan among the Slavs.
In the Middle Ages, a castle was built
that was located on the People's Square (Piaza del Popolo), an irregular
shape with 3 gates: one led to the Mercerie (small goods shops), the
second to the Contrada del Forno Grande (Big Bakeries), and the third to
connection of 2 contradas, Portarol and for the cathedral.
In
1806, that castle was demolished, and the surrounding streets were paved
with stones carved from the castle.
According to the AU population census from 1910, the municipality of
Vodnjan (the same area as today's City) had 6,087 inhabitants, of which
5,801 were Italians. After the great Istrian exodus in 1951, 1,041
inhabitants remained. The indigenous population of Vodnjan, the Bumbari,
today make up a smaller percentage (20% in 2001, 15% in 2011) compared
to the immigrant population, which is very diverse. The majority are
Croats, and the other nationalities are Roma, Bosniaks and Slovenes. In
total, the Gradač area had 6,119 inhabitants (2011), while Vodnjan
itself had 1,501 inhabitants compared to 2,514 in 1931.
The
Italian community is most represented in Vodnjan (1/4 of the population)
and in Galežana (around 50%).
The Roma in Vodnjan are the largest
Roma community in Istria with their Association of Roma Istria (Cidinipè
Romano anne Istria) and they also have their representative in the City
Council.
Montenegrins in Peroj are also a historical community
that has managed to preserve their Orthodox faith and customs for
centuries in their association "Peroj 1657".
Otherwise, despite
the mechanical influx, demographic decline prevails, i.e. there are more
deaths than births, although there are exceptions.
Vodnjan recently became a city, and it is managed by the mayor, Edi Pastrovicchio.
The most important economic branch is traditional olive growing,
production of extra virgin olive oil. There are several oil mills.
Apart from that, the population is engaged in viticulture, animal
husbandry, trade, mainly domestic production.
Venerio Trevisan, painter
Fran Dominko (1903 – 1987), one of the
most famous Slovenian astronomers.
Luigi Donora (b. 1935), composer
Giuseppe del Ton (1900 – 1997), philologist, priest and writer
Bartolomeo Biasoletto, pharmacist, botanist and naturalist
Loredana
Bogliun, writer, writes in Istrian
Marija Mikelić (Kuftići, January
1, 1914 – Stara Barbariga, March 3, 2020), the oldest Istrian woman,
buried in Vodnjan
Bartolomeo Biasoletto, pharmacist, botanist
Livio Morosin, musician.
A little further from the city center is Vodnjan Elementary School,
which is the only one in Croatia divided into two departments - Croatian
(a, b) and Italian (t). Although there are only about 350 students, the
school has two libraries, a large hall with an auditorium, a football
and basketball court, and a running and long jump track.
Near the
school there is a kindergarten "Petar Pan" with a crèche and a suitable
playground outside the building.
In the very heart, there is a
richly equipped city library.