Sculptures in a karst landscape, medieval chapels and festivals celebrating regional food are among the things you can discover in Marušići. The village offers several starting points for a stay focused on culture and routes. To help plan your visit, consider a simple question: would you most like to learn about the village’s history and art, or focus on its designated routes and festival traditions?
Sculpture Park and the History of Marušići
Forma Viva is next to the cultural centre. Around forty sculptures stand there in a karst landscape; they were created as part of the international Kornarija Summer School of Sculpture. The park brings art and landscape together in one specific place. For culture enthusiasts, it is a good starting point before turning their attention to the chapels and the history of the settlement.
Marušići developed between the 16th and 18th centuries. An older medieval settlement lies further north. The religious buildings also reflect different historical layers: a Romanesque chapel dedicated to St. Lucia near Marušići was altered in 1781. From Forma Viva Park, a short road leads uphill towards Sorbar, where visitors can see two medieval chapels. One of them is the cemetery chapel of St. Lucia, which has an altarpiece signed by F. Quajati in 1872.
Festivals with Music and Regional Cuisine
Luganigada is a recurring festival in Marušići that celebrates local sausages. The 32nd edition took place in 2024. That year’s programme also included the 12th Kroštulada, a competition to make homemade kroštule. The two competitions give the festival different culinary focuses: sausages on the one hand and sweet pastries on the other.
Prvomajska Tripada also centres on food: the event is an international culinary competition for preparing tripice; its seventh edition took place in 2026. At the 2024 edition, visitors could sample tripice prepared in different ways after the cooking competition and judging. This describes one specific option from that festival year, not a fixed programme for other editions.
The 2026 edition of Pišćaci i gunjci combined traditional performances by music groups with Tavolac dancing, a folklore workshop and an exhibition. Those interested in music and dance will find a different cultural experience here than at the food competitions. The festival themes complement the architectural and artistic history, but do not require a particular itinerary for your stay.
Cycling Route, Parenzana and Choosing Where to Stay
Two routes also give Marušići a clear connection to regional trails. The village lies on the “Medieval Towns and Momjan Wine Roads” cycling route. A section of the Parenzana connects Buje, Kremenje, Momjan, Črnci, Marušići, Sv. Florijan and Triban. This route is historically known as the “Wine Railway.” This gives you two different points of reference for planning your trip: a route explicitly designated as a cycling route and another with a historical name.
A Luganigada programme in January 2024 also featured a recreational cycling tour and a walk, both starting in Marušići. For your stay, you can weigh up art and chapels, regional festival themes and an interest in routes, rather than trying to fit everything into a fixed day-by-day plan. If you are looking for hotels in Marušići, your personal priorities can guide your choice. If you plan to attend a festival, it is a good idea to check the date of that edition in advance.
Discover more destinations: Buje, Kaštel, Buroli, Baredine, Krasica, Gamboci, Kaldanija, Kanegra
Back to the regional travel overview: Općina Buje.
