Knapići: Cultural and Hiking Information

• The Church of St. Martin in Sveti Lovreč is a three-aisled basilica with three apses, dating from the 11th century.
• The Put vode circular hiking trail is 11.2 km long and connects water sources in the area of Općina Sveti Lovreč.
• The San Lorenzo II loop starts and ends in Sveti Lovreč; it is 9.9 km long, takes two hours, has 145 m of elevation gain, and is rated easy. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The parish church of St. Martin brings together several periods of architectural and art history. It is considered the largest Romanesque church in Istria and contains one of the region’s oldest surviving ensembles of frescoes. Some frescoes date from the 14th century and were created under Italian influence. Restored frescoes can be found in the northern and southern apses. The southern apse features monumental figures of saints; Christ appears in its semi-dome, surrounded by archangels.

The organ is also noteworthy: it is considered the oldest organ in Istria. The instrument was made by Petar Nakić, also known as Pietro Nacchini, in 1735 and was restored in 2013. The Municipal Loggia stands along the church’s south wall. In Sveti Lovreč, architecture, furnishings, and public buildings are therefore closely connected thematically, though they do not all tell the same historical story.

The town walls were expanded and reinforced in the 14th century, when Sveti Lovreč was the seat of the captains. During the tenure of Captain-Podestà Giovanni Contarini, the walls were extended eastward, enclosing the basilica as well. The fortified complex includes the Funtanela Tower, a nearby triangular tower, and a bell tower that once served as a defensive tower. The town’s circular shape dates back to a prehistoric hillfort on the hilltop.

Put vode, also listed as Istra Trails No. 720, is an 11.2 km circular hiking trail in the area of Općina Sveti Lovreč. It connects several water sources. The starting point is at the restored town spring in the center of Sveti Lovreč, near Velika vrata; from there, the loop returns to the same spring.

San Lorenzo II also starts and ends in Sveti Lovreč. The 9.9 km loop is listed as taking two hours, with 145 m of elevation gain, and is rated easy. The two loops differ in length; San Lorenzo II also has stated duration and elevation figures. Compare these details with your own plans and check trail conditions before setting out.

For cyclists, the Staza Lovrečkih kapetana route passes through Poreč, Ženodraga, Baderna, Sveti Lovreč, Montižana, and St. Bečić before returning to Poreč. Here too, it is advisable to check current route conditions before setting off. Another natural site is the Puč spring in Vošteni, considered the best-known natural water source in the municipality of Sveti Lovreč.

If you would like to compare other places in the wider destination of Općina Sveti Lovreč, discover Perini, Selina, Orbani, Heraki, Jakići Dolinji, Kloštar, Flengi and Medvidići.

How long is the Put vode circular trail?

The loop is 11.2 km long. It starts at the restored town spring in the center of Sveti Lovreč, near Velika vrata, and ends at the same spring.

What are the details of San Lorenzo II?

The loop is 9.9 km long, takes two hours, has 145 m of elevation gain, and is rated easy. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

What makes the Church of St. Martin in Sveti Lovreč notable?

The three-aisled basilica with three apses was built in the 11th century. It has Istria’s oldest organ, made by Petar Nakić in 1735 and restored in 2013.

For the overview of the wider destination: Općina Sveti Lovreč.