The inscription “SIVATI – ISTRIA” on the relocated Chapel of St. Michael is a striking detail from Šivati. The named hiking route “Hike from Šivati via Haluzi and Kosići” is also clearly associated with the area. For travel planning, it helps to distinguish these local features from the cultural and landscape offerings of the wider destination of Općina Žminj.
Chapel, Local History and Playground in Šivati
The Chapel of St. Michael was relocated in 2008 and bears the inscription “SIVATI – ISTRIA”. Four chapels were recorded in Šivati in 2016. The village is also part of a dictionary project on place names and family nicknames in the south of Žminj: Šivati is one of the villages included in the study. A public playground in Šivati is listed in the municipal green infrastructure strategy for 2025–2030. From a local perspective, religious buildings and traditional place names therefore sit alongside a public facility.
Hiking Route and Access
A route description available in August 2026 features the hike “Hike from Šivati via Haluzi and Kosići”. On this route, 4.9 kilometres are classified as forest or wilderness trail. The description lists train, car, bicycle and walking as ways to reach the route. As trail conditions can change, check the conditions before setting out and confirm which connection is suitable for your trip.
In the Wider Destination of Općina Žminj
The municipality of Žminj is characterized by karst relief, hilly topography and distinctive soils. The landscape around Žminj is also described in terms of red earth and green vegetation, with agritourism, hiking and cycling cited as regional features. The Feštinsko kraljevstvo cave is near Feštini, southeast of Žminj; check access options separately before visiting. Route 761 Žminj–Feštini begins next to the tower of Žminj, passes through the square in front of the parish church of St. Michael and crosses the old town along the old stone street “Štradi”.
Historic Buildings in Žminj
Žminj Castle was probably built in the 15th century with a square floor plan. Next to the castle, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was decorated with works of art by an unknown artist in 1471. Today, a smaller part of the citadel is visible, including one of the four round towers, a section of the fortress, an outer fortification section and a well-preserved public water cistern dating from 1863. The Calvary of Žminj was built of stone in 1728. It consists of three crosses enclosed by a wall and secured by an iron gate. It lies in the western part of Žminj, near the road between Pazin and Pula.
Guided Tours, Exhibitions and Events
Various exhibitions are held in the tower of Žminj, including displays of handmade nativity scenes, a small tower market and exhibitions about Bartulja. Check opening hours and access before your visit. The one-hour guided tour “Žminjska štuorija” introduces visitors to the history and customs of Žminj’s residents, their language, and their sacred and secular architectural heritage. The tour includes tastings of specialties from local producers and a demonstration of how to prepare typical pasta such as Makaruni and Fuži. The offering is seasonal; check dates before travelling.
Bartulja is a folk festival in Žminj with a tradition spanning at least a hundred years, held on the last Saturday in August. A mass is still part of the festival and takes place at the Church of St. Bartholomew at the entrance to Žminj. Dates for future events may change. The Istrian Pasta Festival in Žminj is dedicated to preserving local traditions, promoting local pasta varieties and supporting their producers; its specific program may also vary.
Discover more destinations: Gržini, Žagrići, Tomisici, Krculi, Vidulini, Krizanci, Brkići, Pifari.
For the wider travel overview: Općina Žminj.
