Filipi – The Old School and Wine Tradition

• Filipi is located in the Municipality of Vižinada.
• The Old School (Stara škola) is listed as a historic building with protected status ZPP 3.
• The Bruno Ferenac family winery’s tradition of growing grapes and making wine goes back around a hundred years.

The Old School (Stara škola) is listed in an overview of the municipality of Vižinada’s significant cultural assets as a historic building with protected status ZPP 3. This provides a specific, named heritage connection right in Filipi. The protection designation is part of the building’s description; on its own, it says nothing about visiting or access.

Another local point of interest is the Bruno Ferenac family winery, located in the village of Filipi. The family’s tradition of growing grapes and making wine goes back around a hundred years. Filipi thus brings together a historic building and a long-standing family wine tradition as distinct points of interest.

The wider destination of the Municipality of Vižinada also has its own cultural and historical points of interest. A stone relief of the Lion of St. Mark, dating from the 15th century, has been preserved in Vižinada’s main square. The lapidarium there, next to the bell tower, contains five Roman inscriptions. The Church of St. John the Baptist, built in the 13th century, stands above the historic town centre. It is one of around ten double-apsed churches in Istria.

Another example is the Maraston Visitor Centre, which presents local heritage through interactive interpretation and playful activities. The Church of St. Barnabas in the centre of Vižinada is known for its frescoes, which were discovered when the church was used to store props during the filming of the war movie “Kelly’s Heroes.” These varied stories give the culture of the wider destination more than one architectural perspective.

Two details are especially specific for walkers: the 6.9-kilometre “SRCE VIŽINADE 504” trail passes through Bajkini, Vranje Selo and Crklada in the southwest of the municipality. “The Trail of Scenic Views” reaches the small 12th-century religious building of St. Vital, near its cemetery, after 3.7 kilometres. The 3.7 kilometres refers to the distance to this destination, not to a stated total length for the trail.

Cycling routes also vary in scale. The “Vižinada family (103)” route is 13 kilometres long, starts in Vižinada on the former Parenzana railway line and returns via the Parenzana. A 123-kilometre cycling route also runs through Vižinada along the renovated Parenzana railway line. These details help distinguish a shorter ride from a much longer route; they refer to different routes, not comparable travel times.

In the wider destination of the Municipality of Vižinada, the “Slatka Istra” event preserves the tradition of making nine types of authentic regional cakes. These include Fritula, Kroštula, Cukerančići, Pandešpanj, Povetica and Pinca; several kinds of dry biscuits are also presented. The event takes place every year on 14 August in the centre of Vižinada. Check the programme for the relevant year before your trip if you plan to attend.

Discover more destinations: Ferenci, Mekiši Kod Vižinade, Žudetići, Vrbani, Bajkini, Jadruhi, Baldaši, Crklada.

What protected status does the Old School in Filipi have?

The Old School (Stara škola) is listed as a historic building with protected status ZPP 3.

How long has the Bruno Ferenac family winery’s wine tradition been in place?

The family’s tradition of growing grapes and making wine goes back around a hundred years.

When does “Slatka Istra” take place in Vižinada?

The event takes place every year on 14 August in the centre of Vižinada. Check the programme for the relevant year before your trip.

Go to the wider travel overview: Municipality of Vižinada.