Vodnjan is a town in Istria, Croatia, about ten kilometers north of Pula. In the church of St. Blaž has a world-famous collection of relics in Vodnjan as well as the Vodnjan mummies of saints.
Vodnjan is located in southwestern Istria, 10 kilometers north of
Pula and 5 kilometers from the seaside town of Fažana.
The
city is located on the road connecting Pula with Rijeka, Trieste and
the Slovenian coast.
The city, like the rest of Croatian
Istria, is multinational and traditionally very tolerant of
different cultures. There are two official languages in Vodnjan
district, Italian is equal in rights with Croatian. According to the
2001 census, 56% of the city's population were Croats, 20% Italians,
3.5% Roma, and 3% Serbs and Bosnians each.
Vodnjan is one of
two Istrian cities (along with Rovinj) where speakers of the
endangered Istro-Romanesque or Istriotic language, which was once
spoken in almost the entire south-west of the peninsula, are still
alive. The dialect of the Romanesque language, common in Vodnjan, is
called Dignan after the Italian name of the city. The self-name of
the Istriotic language in Vodnjan is Bumbaro.
Tourism
generates most of the city's income. In addition to tourist
services, the population is employed in agriculture (viticulture and
olive growing) and food processing.
In Roman
times, the settlement of Vicus Attinianum was located on the site of
Vodnian. The first written mention of Vodnjan dates back to 932, it
is mentioned in the list of Istrian cities that paid tribute with
wine to the Venetian doge Pietro II Candiano.
During the
medieval period, the Old Town was formed with architecture and
layout typical of Istria.
It is necessary to state what makes Vodnjan stand out, and that
is the collection of relics in Vodnjan as well as the mummies of
saints in Vodnjan. They are located behind the main altar - in the
sacristy. Scientists consider them a miracle because they have been
intact and undecomposed for centuries even though they have not been
hermetically treated.
Another well-known feature is the
Vodnjan bell tower, which is the highest in Istria (60 m). In
Vodnjan are the churches of St. Blaise, st. Our Lady of Carmine, St.
Martin, st. Of the Cross, st. Our Lady of the Traverse, St.
Catherine, St. Roka, st. Sunday and St. Margaret. The surroundings
of Vodnjan are rich in sights.