Istrian fairy tale roadMade by Ivan Rossa, Michiel Plantenga, Paola Sirotić,

Mateo Kašner, Ivan Štiković

Istria

Once upon a time there were Pazin and Istria. The two young people fell in love and gave birth to Raša, Mirna and Dragonja. Soon Pazin found out he had to go back to his kingdom. As he had sworn that he would never go back to his father, he killed himself. That's how the place, where this tragedy happened, got its name Pazin. Today people like to call it the Heart of Istria. His beloved, Istria was very sad so in his honor she decided to stay beautiful forever.

The vampire of Kringa

The vampire of Kringa first appeared in text form in 1689. The Kringa vampire story evolves around a Kringa inhabitant by the name of Jure Grando (Giure Grando). Rumour has it that the vampire of Kringa, Jure Grando , would roam the streets of Kringa at night, knock on doors and those residents who answered would soon after die.

In 1672 nine Kringa villages decided enough was enough: they went to grave of Jure Grando, carrying the cross, lamps and hawthorn stick. The 9 Kringa villages attempted to destroy the body. The first attempt of driving a hawthorne stake through him failed but eventually and after some exorcism prayers, the body of Jure Grando was decapitated by Stipan Milasic with a saw.

Veli Jože (“Big Joseph”) In some towns in the north of

Croatia they celebrate a legendary hero known as Big Joseph ('Veli Joze') who appears to be their very own version of Finn MacCool. Big Joseph was a giant, captured by the Venetians and forced to work as a slave. He may not have fought a Scottish rival but he was immortalized by a Croatian writer in a tale of rebellion against fascism.

St. Eufemia

Eufemia, the daughter of a senator, saw Christian men being tortured because of their religion. Eufemia decided not to hide her religion and she confessed she's a Christian, too. Given the fact that all Christians were tortured she was beaten with fists and sent to prison. In the end she was torn apart by lions in the Amphitheater in Pula. There's a church in Rovinj, called The Church of St. Eufemia built in her honor.

Dvigrad

Near the village Mrgani, by tradition,the famous pirate Captain Morgan is situated, and somewhere in the vicinity he buried his loot from many robberies. Is it really true, it is hard to tell, but today there are people who sometimes, while walking in this area, are still searching for the treasure.

The legend of Motovun

Legend has it that Motovun was built by giants, out of stones which the giants collected in the valley of the Mirna River. The entire town of Motovun is actually one big monument and its appearance today dates back to the Middle Ages. Motuvun also has the longest stairwell in Istria, from the top of the Motovun hill to the bottom there are a total of 1052 stairs. Motovun has many palaces situated around a Venetian town square and you do not have to like art to appreciate the beauty of Motovun.

Baredine

It is said that a Porec nobleman named Gabriel fell in love with a beautiful milkmaid from Nova Vas called Milka. Gabriel's mother tried to diminish his love for her, but couldn't, so she tried to bribe highway robbers with three gold pieces to kill Milka. The robbers didn't kill the milkmaid but instead threw her into the cave. When Gabriel found out of his love's ill fortune he got on a horse to look for her never to be seen again.

Stone in the mud or “La pietra di san. Luterio”• St. Maurus is the saint protector of the city of Poreč and St.

Eleutherius was his companion and assistant. Evil Romans tortured St. Eleutherius, tied him to a large stone block, and threw him into the sea from the city walls. After one thousand years St. Eleutherius came out of the water in a gold episcopal uniform; knelt on the stone to which he was nailed, and an impress of his knees remained on it. According to legend, on that day every year, white flowers sprout from the stone. Legend has it that the stone "walks" towards the church of St. Eleutherius when people are evil and greedy, and the moment it arrives Doomsday will happen!