Filipi can be understood through two specific local features: the Old School (Stara škola) and the Bruno Ferenac family winery. Architectural heritage and a long winemaking tradition stand side by side here, offering two distinct points of interest to help you choose where to stay.
Culture and wine in Filipi
The Old School (Stara škola) in Filipi is listed as a historic building with protected status ZPP 3. For travellers interested in local and architectural history, it is a specific cultural and historical landmark. The name Stara škola and its classification as a historic building give this local feature a distinct identity.
The Bruno Ferenac family winery is also located in the village of Filipi. The family’s tradition of grape growing and winemaking dates back about a hundred years. This gives wine enthusiasts a second, different connection to the area: rather than a single historic building, it is a family tradition in viticulture that has developed over generations. Together, these two features make Filipi’s appeal as a travel destination especially tangible.
The wider setting: Općina Vižinada
For more on culture, landscapes and events, it is worth looking at Općina Vižinada as a wider travel destination. The municipality offers stays, visits to cultural heritage sites and local attractions, as well as events with a traditional character. Vižinada is situated on a hill on the southern edge of the Mirna Valley; from there, views extend across the surrounding countryside, vineyards and olive groves.
The different periods of construction in Vižinada offer a vivid perspective on its history. The Church of St John the Baptist, above the historic centre, was built in the 13th century and is one of around ten double-apsed churches in Istria. The Old Fontik, also known as the “Lav” House, is the oldest surviving public secular building in the municipality and dates from the 15th century. A cistern made of local limestone stands in the central square; it was completed in 1782 to a design by Simone Battistella, an architect from Rovinj. The Church of St Barnabas in the town centre also has a remarkable history: its frescoes were discovered when the church was used to store props during the filming of the war film “Kelly’s Heroes”.
Trails and landscapes in the municipality
Walking and cycling routes in Općina Vižinada pass through natural landscapes. The “Trail of Scenic Views” starts at the southern entrance to Vižinada, near the Church of St John the Baptist. It passes through fields, vineyards and olive groves near Crklada and Grubići, and after 3.7 kilometres reaches the small 12th-century religious building of St Vital by its cemetery. Another walking option is the 6.9-kilometre “SRCE VIŽINADE 504” trail, which passes through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada in the southwestern part of the municipality.
The cycling routes also vary in length. The “Vižinada family (103)” cycling route is 13 kilometres long. It starts on the former Parenzana railway line and returns to Vižinada via the Parenzana. “Staza dobrih okusa i doživljaja (102)” covers 30 kilometres; its starting point is at a viewpoint at the entrance to the former Parenzana railway route. The distances can help you choose a route that suits the length of outing you have in mind.
Local specialities and events
“Slatka Istra” takes place every year on 14 August in the centre of Vižinada, on the eve of the Vela Gospa festival. The event preserves the tradition of making nine kinds of authentic local cakes. These include Fritula, Kroštula, Cukerančići, Pandešpanj, Povetica and Pinca, as well as various kinds of dry biscuits. Those interested in local desserts will find a dedicated culinary focus here.
The cistern in the centre of Vižinada is also the venue for the “Verši na šterni” festival of čakavian poetry, which has been held regularly since 1993 on the second Saturday in June. “Viva Vino” is another event in the municipality: a ten-kilometre wine and food walk through vineyards, olive groves, fields and wooded areas, with five refreshment stations. For specific travel planning, it is advisable to check the latest event dates and participation details.
Discover more destinations: Ferenci, Lašići, Vrbani, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Markovići, Žudetići, Vizinada, Staniši.
For the wider travel overview: Općina Vižinada.
