KRKAVČE

Authentic

ISTRIAN VILLAGE

The village is situated in the hinterland of Koper on a 191-meters-high hill, which on the south descends to the Dragonja River, nowadays the border between Slovenia and Croatia. The climate is Mediterranean: hot summers and mild winters.

Authentic

ISTRIAN VILLAGE

Lush

VEGETATION

What prospers here are the olive tree, the vine, the pomegranate tree, the fig tree, the mulberry tree and numerous kinds of fruit trees. As far as trees and bushes go, the commonest are the holm oak, the cypress, the chestnut tree, the acacia, the smoke tree, the broom and others. Along with quality early vegetables, some medicinal herbs grow in this region (the box tree, the wormwood, the common rue, the dog rose, lavender) and spices (aniseed, caper, marjoram, basil), too.
Every one of these plants grows on the southern and western parts of the terraced hills and valleys. This region is attractive, nice and worth a visit in any season.

Lush

VEGETATION

Rish

HISTORY

Thanks to the favorable climate and the strategically convenient position, different tribes and peoples have passed this region since prehistoric times. What proves it are the numerous findings: pieces of a well-burnt brick, rests of a trough, a collection of roman brands, the Krkavče stone, verbal documents, etc.
The first ones to settle this area were the Histrians, whom Istria was named after. We reckon them among the Illyrians. Following them the Celts settled the area and after those the Greeks found a way to trade from here. The biggest influence came from the Romans, who, in the 4th century A.D., started spreading Christianity.
After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Istria became part of the Frankish Empire. In the 8th century the Slavic tribes settled. During this period a castle, or better a fort, was built in Krkavče. In the 13th century the village became a part of the Most Serene Republic of Venice and this is the time when it evolved the most.

A very important fact is that people from this village constantly spoke Slovene, which can be seen in sources from 1566. Supposedly, the Krkavče mayor came to Koper due to taxes imposed on the serves from Krkavče. In order for him to be understood, they needed a translator. “Glagoljaštvo” (when a priest is saying mass in the Croat Church Slavonic rite and using Glagolitic missal) rooted itself very strongly.
Before WWI burst, the region belonged to the Hapsburgs for more than a century, and after that, for a short period from 1919 until 1943, it was a part of Italy. After WWII, the Free Territory of Trieste was established and divided into zone A and zone B. In 1954 zone A with Trieste appertained to Italy and zone B appertained to then-Yugoslavia. From 1991 on, Krkavče has been part of the independent Republic of Slovenia.

Tourist

ATTRACTIONS

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH

The majority of the sites from art history can be found by the church and inside of it. On the main altar there are four marble statues: the one of the Archangel Micheal, of St. Stephen the Martyr and the Apostles Peter and Paul. Along with the altars, the tabernacle and the sculptures, another interesting thing is the sprinkler with the relief of Koper’s coat of arms.

THE KRKAVČE STONE

The Krkavče stone is the oldest and most interesting site in the village. On its surface you can observe a man’s relief from the 2nd or the 1st century B. C. It is situated in Gradišče nad Krkavčami, on the road to Škarjevac.

DRAGONJA VALLEY

The Dragonja River valley is one of the most beautiful natural sites in Slovenian Istria. With its picturesque looks and diversity, it offers unlimited recreational opportunities.