Medieval Istria, Roc Village & Hum Town
Medieval Istria, Roc Village & Hum Town
See Medieval Istria and picturesque Hum, the smallest town in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately one-hour drive over the Učka Mountains en route to the Istrian Peninsula and your first visit to Roc Village. An important cultural monument, Roc features well-preserved medieval town walls with two entrances. Discover the Roman lapidarium, a Venetian bombarda cannon, and even a functional watchtower. Churches abound here and include the 11th-century Romanesque Church of St. Anthony, small St. Roch Church (with several notable 14th-century frescoes representing St. Paul and the Apostles), as well as the St. Bartholomew Parish Church, which dates from the 14th century and features a prominent, approximately 85-foot-high (26-meter-high) steeple erected in 1676. Numerous other smaller artefacts are preserved in these ancient buildings.
Following a short walking tour of Roc Village, view a fresco presentation at a local artist's workshop. Next, re-board the coach and head to the town of Hum. En route, pass by the Glagolitic Alley, a scenic route of ten monuments from the history of the Glagolitic alphabet. Located in the central part of Istria on an approximately 1,145-foot-high (349-meter-high) hill overlooking the Mirna Valley, Hum has retained all the features of medieval urban architecture and organization. With a population of just 28 people (according to the latest census), Hum is often called the smallest town in the world. On its western side, Hum is enclosed by town walls; on the remaining sides, houses are built into the defensive walls.
Take a guided walking tour of Hum when you arrive. See the bell and watchtower, built in 1552 as part of the town's defenses, and the present Church of St. Jerome with its classical façade, which was built in 1802 on the site of an earlier church. The “Glagolitic wall writings” are preserved in the church. Written in the formative Glagolitic period (during the second half of the 12th century), they are one of the oldest examples of Croatian Glagolitic literary culture in the Middle Ages. Following your tour, proceed to a traditional local tavern for a tasting of Istrian specialties served with wine. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately one-hour drive back to the pier via the Adriatic coastline.
Notes: The drive to Roč Village and the return to the pier are approximately 60 minutes each way. This tour requires intermittent physical effort while walking through historic town centers. The excursion is not wheelchair accessible. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as both Roč and Hum feature stone-paved lanes and uneven medieval surfaces that may be irregular underfoot. Streets are narrow and may include slight inclines. Light clothing is advised, particularly in warmer months, as shade can be limited in open squares and summer temperatures in inland Istria are often higher than along the coast. The route over the Učka Mountain includes winding road sections.
A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures, and some may have limited capacity. All adventures in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. Final departure times will be published on-board.
Port: Opatija
Duration: 4.5 hours
Current Price: 229 USD
Voyages where this land adventure may be found: