The house in wich the renowed Istrian writer and economist Mijo Mirković, better known by the pseudoym of Mate Balota, was born, today hosts a memorial collection informing visitors abouth the life and literary work of this great man, his heritage, and the local tradition of pottery.

Throughout history, Rakalj is known for potters who made pots themselves by mixing soil – clay and quartz stone, “rotten” and “salty”. Rakljan potters crushed the salt and then mixed it with rot (clay) and in this way shaped the pots by hand, which they baked to make them resistant to high temperatures. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, great poverty reigned in Istria, and trade was conducted according to the saying “Peace at peace, at peace” – which in today’s modern times would mean “Clean accounts, long love”. Thus, the inhabitants of Rakalj would sell pots in Istria in such a way that the pot would be filled to the brim with corn, wheat and other foodstuffs, the potters would exchange the pot for food that would fit in the pot, and in return the farmers and households would receive that very pot, which they would fill with their groceries.

Belavići is a small village above the Raša canal and Blaz Bay, with about 30 inhabitants. It is particularly interesting because there is an intriguing legend associated with that village – the legend of King Tomislav’s crown. The crown is supposedly hidden in the picturesque Blaz Bay, but to this day no one knows where it is or if it even exists. Namely, the crown and the royal insignia were hidden in this bay due to a conflict between two ships – one that was transporting the royal insignia to Naples, where the coronation of the ruler was to take place. The future king was to be crowned with the Hungarian crown of St. Stepena, and the Croatian crown of King Tomislav. As the battles were going on between the candidates who were supposed to sit on the royal throne, the ship with the crown of King Tomislav was intercepted on the way by the ship of the opposition candidate who was aspiring to that place. And that’s how the ship with the scepter, crown and sword ended up in the Canal of Raša, more precisely in Blaz Bay. Valuable treasure was landed, which was skillfully hidden, so that even today it is not known exactly where it is.

Old Rakalj is located east of today’s settlement, on a hill above Cape St. Nicholas in Raška Bay. It is a former prehistoric fortress, an ancient fortress and a medieval castle. The first mention of the castle dates from 1288 (Castell Novo), and the settlement dates from 1312 (Castellare de Rachir). In the floor plan of Old Rakalj today you can recognize the ruins of the castle, the towers of the defensive walls, the guardhouse and the church of St. Agnes (St. Agnija) from the XV. St., which still exists and is a favorite wedding location with a magnificent view of the Raška Bay and the Kvarner Islands.

On the road from Marčana to the cove of Duga uvla, turn towards Mutvoran. There you will come across the ruins of a rormer Histrian fort and the leater Roman settlement. Mutvoran is today only a village with a few inhabitants, but the ruins of the prehistoric and medieval walls, and the parish chuish church of St. Mary Magdalene with its extraordinarily valuable works of art, attest to the area’s more glorius past.

Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Health near the same name church in Hreljići is a well-known Marian pilgrimage site in southern Istria and one of the smallest Marian sanctuaries in Croatia. Every year, on the second Sunday of October, believers and pilgrims from Istria and beyond gather in front of the church. On this occasion, the faithful take part in a procession with the statue of the Mother of God / Our Lady of Health around the church, begging for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for health, and after the mass celebration, pilgrims have the opportunity to bow in front of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the parish church and thereby express their faith and respect for this a pilgrimage shrine with a long tradition. The Church of Our Lady of Health was built in 1726, and there is an interesting story as to why it was built on that very spot in Hreljići.

Namely, the inhabitants of Belavići, Bratulići, Kuići, Manjadvorci, the former Prdajci, Hreljići and Biletići have been serving the missal, a hermit of the Pauline order, at the church of St. Dionysus on the crossroads of Barban, Mutvoran and Rakalj. But that church was too far for them to arrive on Sundays and holidays to attend the holy mass, and after that to take the cattle to pasture … therefore, on January 24, 1724 five local village officials decided to turn to the feudal lord Antonio Loredan with a request to build a church on a hill near Hreljići. The request was resolved positively, with the condition that the locals should build it at their own expense, supply it, light it and ensure the performance of God’s service. The church was completed in two years, and the people chose Mihovil Batelić as the first chaplain, who held the position for a very long time because he also renovated the church in 1764, as evidenced by the inscription in the sacristy. Later, the church was renovated in 1980, and on November 23, 1988 the chapel was declared a parish.

Mother of God / Lady of Health is a one-nave church with a small chapel and sacristy, and three marble altars. The main altar has a marble sanctuary and a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Rosary dating from 1736. There are four stone statues of saints in the church, two of which are on the altar and two above the door of the sacristy. Figures of St. Lucius, St. Valentine and St. Agates, martyrs from the first Christian times are united in an altarpiece from the 19th century, and are the work of the painter Venerio Trevisan from Vodnjan. Next to the church there is a cemetery that was founded and blessed on September 27, 1752 and a cemetery chapel was built in 2005. The Church of Our Lady of Health serves the settlements of Hreljići, Stancija Palion, Biletići, Jukići, Belavići, Rebići, Dobrani, Beloči, Bratulići, Kujići and Manjadvorci. The parish house is also located in Hreljići, and was built in 1775.

Loborika is a small village of big cyclists. Based on the outstanding results throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, in 2017 the House of Cycling was built and decorated in the center of Loborika. The House is full of historical results, pictures, medals and cups that the members of Loborika CC won and brought from all over the world, both as a team and individually. In the House, you can watch a video about the life path and sports achievements of the most famous cyclist of this region – Nevi Valčić. In 8 minutes, you will be convinced that this is truly an amazing cyclist and that it is worth visiting the House and experiencing firsthand the great career and top results of this athlete from Loborika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddGKw9lj0t4

Nevio Valčić and Cvjetko Bilić were champions of Yugoslavia, and Nevio Valčić was extremely successful in the biggest world competitions, so the House od Cycling is dedicated to their life story.

Today, in world cycling, the name of Loborika is nurtured and promoted by Bruno Valčić, Nevio’s nephew, who was the head judge at the Tour de France in 2016 and also judged at the prestigious Giro d’Italia, at various world championships and at the Olympics in London.

Nevio’s son, Luciano Valčić, is the man who best connects all the cycling events of Loborika. He was an excellent cyclist in Siporex at the time, and he played an important role as the founder and coach of the future Loborika Cycling Club. The most important, and perhaps the most touching moment of his career, happened in 1983, when he won the Kopar-Pula stage of the Through Yugoslavia race with 1 minute and 40 seconds lead, and received the cup from his father. In August 2024, 66-year-old Luciano, in honor of his father, drove the 200-kilometer section from Pula to Nova Gorica, along the same route of the 13th stage of the prestigious bicycle race “Through Yugoslavia”, on which his father Nevio Valčić triumphed back in 1964.

Luciano Valčić is a cycling enthusiast, the foundation of Loborika CC and, together with his sister Helena Valčić, the founder and organizer of the Nevio Valčić Memorial, the Granfondo Nevio Valčić and the Valcic Cycling Concept.

Brochure – Istra culture