Istria is one of the most beautiful Croatian regions, rich in
numerous cycling and hiking trails that lead you through untouched nature to the medieval towns in the heart of Central Istria. If you are staying in one of our
beautiful villas with pool, we recommend you to explore the surroundings and the many hiking trails surrounded by
picturesque landscapes.
The youngest Istrian town is the town of
Rasa, which was once
a mining town. The biggest holiday, which is still celebrated today, is the holiday of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners and architects.This hiking trail, which takes you from Labin, past the old mines and quarries, to the town of Rasa, is named after her.
Start your tour by visiting the town of Labin and
discover the beautiful cultural buildings that have been preserved from the Venetian period. Visit the town gates of San Fior, the town lodge, the palaces of Frankovic, Manzini, Scampicchio, Negri and the National Museum of Battiala-Lazzarini, which will delight you with a unique model of the mines in this part of Europe.
Full of impressions of the old town of Labin, take the path towards the town of Rasa, which will take you past the "Karlote" quarry and the old mines. After 4.4 km of a
pleasant walk through nature, you will arrive in the town of Rasa. Rasa will enchant you with its peaceful scenography and the Raska valley. The regular rows of houses integrated into the surrounding landscape seem almost unreal. The town was built in 1937 according to the project of the architect Pulitzer Final. Rasa was a modern town designed to meet the needs of the miners and their families, with all the necessary facilities such as a school, hospital, cinema. There is a church in the town dedicated to
the patron saint of miners, St. Barbara. The church is built in the shape of a wagon and the bell tower resembles a miner's lamp. Although today mining activity has ceased in the Labin area, you can find traces of a rich mining history in the church of St. Barbara, which contains a mining collection.
Today, the former mines have become
museums of mining heritage, which we recommend you to visit with your family and children. You can visit the most famous museum dedicated to mining in the town of Rasa. It is located on the town's main square and offers visitors a
unique experience of the former work and life of the miners in Rasa. In the museum, the mining shaft is realistically depicted, and there are also numerous exhibits and tools that tell the
story of miners' life in an interesting way.
If you want to learn more about mining and at the same time
enjoy the untouched nature of the Istrian region, the next time during your stay in one of our villas, you should take a walk along the path of St. Barbara from Labin to Rasa. Feel the peace, as you walk the paths through nature, surrounded by dense forest and the ruins of the old mines.
Ana-Marija Tot
24.11.2021
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
