Discover Frančići

• Josip Miletić, known as Bepo Markoc, played the large sopela. He was born in Frančići in 1909 and died there in 1986.
• The abandoned Church of Saints John and Paul is near Frančići and is considered a monument. Check its condition before visiting.
• Nearby is Dubrova Sculpture Park, an open-air museum of contemporary sculpture.
• For regional context, the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja lies on a plateau above the Raša River.

Bepo Markoc is a specific local connection: Josip Miletić played the large sopela and was born in Frančići on 25 December 1909. He died there on 6 November 1986. Writers Mate Balota and Branko Fučić also came to Frančići while searching for the birthplace of Matija Vlačić.

The abandoned Church of Saints John and Paul, considered a monument, stands near Frančići. Since its condition should be checked before visiting, it is best to treat it as a reason to plan cautiously around what you may find on site, rather than as a promise of access or sightseeing opportunities.

Dubrova Sculpture Park, an open-air museum of contemporary sculpture, is near Frančići. The walkable White Road consists of 16 sections, each 25 metres long. Croatian artists such as Edo Murtić, Julije Knifer and Dušan Džamonja designed the route. At the annual sculpture symposium in August and September, guest artists create stone sculptures. Across the wider travel area of the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja, the collection of Istrian stone sculptures has been augmented year after year by the International Sculpture Symposium since 1970; the programme may vary from year to year.

Other examples of the municipality’s architectural history have their own character. Kaštel Šumber is a protected cultural asset of national importance. It was built on the site of a prehistoric fortification in the hamlet of Stari Grad in Šumber. Near Štrmac is the Stancija Franković–Lazzarini estate complex, established in 1654 on land belonging to the Franković-Vlačić noble family from Labin. The residential and agricultural complex features fortification elements; most of its buildings are abandoned, and the east wing is partly in ruins. The Baroque atmosphere and fundamental features of this type of estate have been preserved.

The archaeological site of Kočur (Cozur) is also part of this regional picture. It lies west of the present-day settlement of Čamparovica on the plateau above the Raša Valley. The ruins of a single-nave Chapel of the Holy Cross are located there.

The Municipality of Sveta Nedelja lies on a plateau 250 to 300 metres above sea level, stretching from the Raša River to the sea in the hinterland of Labin. The river runs along the municipality’s western boundary; the sea is about ten kilometres away at Rabac. The area is described as a link between green and blue Istria. This information provides context about the municipality and is not a distance from Frančići.

The Šumberske Dine hiking trail is 7.3 kilometres long and connects natural phenomena, local family farms and largely unspoilt nature. It passes through marl dunes and an area with rare geological features. The 16th-century Church of Saint Quirinus stands beside the cemetery along the trail.

The ten-kilometre Staza kalića i bukaleta trail has a different focus: it connects vineyards with several ponds that are important freshwater habitats. Rare surviving springs along the route are also considered part of Istrian cultural heritage. Comparing the two trails is therefore about more than just their length: Šumberske Dine links geological features and family farms with the route, while Staza kalića i bukaleta connects vineyards and freshwater habitats.

There are also different routes for cyclists. The Trail of Ponds and Nobility (441) starts in the centre of Nedešćina and heads towards the hamlets of Jurazini and Eržišće, where there are several ponds. The Trail of Miners and Stone Sculptures (442) also starts in Nedešćina and passes through the centre of Vinež, where the miners’ strike began. The Trail of Saint Martin / Baron's Trail (443) is a circular route through several settlements that returns to Sveti Martin. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Near Frančići, Giovanna Allegra Agritourism in Gorenji Kraj in Šumber serves traditional dishes from the Labin area, whose recipes are linked to Italian cuisine. At Pineta Agritourism in the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja, you can sample products from the Radićanin family farm, including acacia and blossom honey, as well as homemade juices and jams.

One accommodation option in the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja is Lazzarini-Battiala Palace, which has six apartments, a wine cellar and an Istrian hearth. Visitors can learn about local history, culture, art and gastronomy there. The apartments are a specific type of accommodation; check availability before booking.

Discover more destinations: Kerestinec, Rakitje, Ružići, Kraj Drage, Santalezi, Martinski, Veli Golji and Sveta Nedelja.

When does the sculpture symposium at Dubrova Sculpture Park take place?

The symposium takes place every year in August and September. Individual events may vary; if you are planning your trip around it, check the latest dates.

How do the Šumberske Dine and Staza kalića i bukaleta hiking trails differ?

Šumberske Dine is 7.3 kilometres long and passes through marl dunes and an area with rare geological features. Staza kalića i bukaleta is ten kilometres long and connects vineyards with important freshwater habitats.

Which specific accommodation is named in the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja?

Lazzarini-Battiala Palace has six apartments, a wine cellar and an Istrian hearth. Check availability before booking.

For the broader travel overview: Municipality of Sveta Nedelja.