Žminj () is a

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

and a municipality in

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; ; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian: ; ; ) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. Located at th ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

, 15 km south of

Pazin Pazin (, ) is a town in western Croatia, the administrative seat of Istria County. It is known for the medieval Pazin Castle, the former residence of the Istrian margraves. Geography The town had a population of 8,638 in 2011, of which 4,386 li ...

. The town is located on a limestone hill between the Lim valley and the Raša valley, 355 meters above sea level. Its economy is based on farming and livestock breeding. Žminj is located at the intersection of regional roads to

Kanfanar Kanfanar (Italian language, Italian: Canfanaro) is a naselje, settlement and a municipalities of Croatia, municipality in Istria, Croatia. Kanfanar lies at the Kanfanar interchange, interchange of the Istrian Y motorway A8 (Croatia), A8 and A9 (Cr ...

, Svetvinčenat and

Labin Labin (Italian language, Italian/Istriot language, Istriot: Albona) is a town in Istria, west Croatia, with a town population of 5,806 (2021) and 10,424 in the greater municipality (which also includes the small towns of Rabac, Rabac-Porto Albona a ...

. This part of Istria has a number of tourist attractions, landscapes and the remnants of cultural heritage from all ages (such as a tower Citadel in the old town).

History

The municipality has a population of 3,360, and was first mentioned in 1177 as a parish of the

Poreč Poreč (; known also by several alternative names) is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, west Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, which was designated a UN ...

diocese. Since 1368, Žminj has belonged to the County of

. In the center of the city is the

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

, three-aisled

Parish Church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

of St. Michael's Church built in 1625.

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, its population was 3,360, with 826 living in the town proper. It was 3,483 in 2011. The municipality consists of the following settlements: * Balići I, population 64 * Benčići, population 112 *

Cere The beak, bill, or Rostrum (anatomy), rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in turtles, non-avian dinosaurs and a few mammals. A beak is used for pecking, wikt:grasp#Verb, grasping, and holding (in wikt:probe ...

, population 140 * Debeljuhi, population 113 * Domijanići, population 125 * Gradišće, population 45 * Gržini, population 133 * Jurići, population 89 * Karlovići, population 40 * Klimni, population 65 * Krajcar Breg, population 48 * Krculi, population 126 * Kresini, population 14 * Križanci, population 141 * Krničari, population 65 * Kršanci, population 64 * Laginji, population 134 * Matijaši, population 47 * Modrušani, population 129 * Mužini, population 88 * Orbanići, population 57 * Pamići, population 117 * Pifari, population 30 * Prkačini, population 37 * Pucići, population 28 * Rudani, population 110 * Šivati, population 68 * Tomišići, population 132 * Vadediji, population 58 * Vidulini, population 49 * Zeci, population 31 * Žagrići, population 35 *Žminj, population 826

Notable people

* Gabrijela Galant Jelenić, musician, grew up in Žminj.

Tourism

Žminj and its surroundings are used hiking and cycling tours, as well as for

agritourism Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including direct-to-consumer sales such as farm stands and u-pick, agricultu ...

, which developed in many of the surrounding villages. Žminj is the traditional host of the Bartulja festival. Held at the end of August, this festival is dedicated to

St. Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...

, patron of Žminj (in the church of St. Bartholomew). Other traditional events are the Chakavian Assembly, a contest of young poets and reciters of poetry in the

Chakavian dialect Chakavian or Čakavian (, , , proper name: or own name: ''čokovski, čakavski, čekavski'') is a South Slavic supradialect or language spoken by Croats along the Adriatic coast, in the historical regions of Dalmatia, Istria, Croatian L ...

(in June) and the Harmonica Wedding, a competition in accordion-playing (in July). Žminj is also known for its agricultural fair which takes place every second Wednesday in the month. Exquisite specialities of Istrian cuisine: " maneštra" (minestra), sausages with cabbage, venison with "

fuži Fusi (also Fuži in Croatian and Slovene) is a traditional pasta of Istria region, in Croatia and Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, ...

" (a kind of pasta), "supa" (crisp bread in red wine, with olive-oil and pepper) and the famous wines, teran and malmsey.

References

External links

* Municipalities of Croatia Populated places in Istria County {{Istria-geo-stub