Camino South Istria is a circular route, so you can start your Camino in any place. The real experience of this Istrian adventure can start in Vodnjan, a small town located only ten kilometres from Pula, the largest city in Istria. You should start your tour in the Church of St. Blaise, which keeps the world-famous collection of relics and the incredibly preserved holy bodies of the three saints.

On the Camino route, in Vodnjan, you should also visit the magnificent Bradamante Palace, the Town Palace, as well as the Church of St. James, which is said to be the first version of it built between the 11th and 13th centuries, and the churches of Our Lady of Carmel and St. Madonna Traverse.

The route then heads east, towards the Guran estate, where you’ll find the remains of the Church of St. Simon, but also the early medieval settlement of Guran and a three-nave basilica. Regardless of the time of year, this tame Istrian region offers every camino traveller a unique encounter with nature in its pristine form. The trails go through a gentle landscape, accompanied by birds chirping and bees buzzing, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, through olive groves and cultivated vineyards, with dry stone walls and kažuni.

At one point, the well-marked trail follows a wide turn and goes across or along local roads towards the settlement of Gajana. On the way, you can visit a valuable site of a Roman villa and the Church of St. Cecilia, and after Gajana, try not to miss the Church of St. Ivan Turnina, on the eponymous site the mention of which dates back to the 13th century.

After a short break, the trail starts to descend gently towards the sea, and you’ll feel the first gusts of wind that bring the scent of the sea. Going across the state road, the trail slowly descends, following the local road, all the way to the settlements of Baretini, Krnjaloža and Mandriol. Precisely from Mandriol, before it begins to descend sharply towards the coast, it offers a wonderful view of the Adriatic Sea, the indented Istrian coast and the incredible Brijuni Islands. So there, in Mandriol, it is an ideal time to take a break on a bench in the shade of an old tree and enjoy the view, before continuing the route all the way to the remains of the early Christian Church of St. Agnes and the very interesting archaeological outlines of the monastery of St. Andrew at the Betiga site, the destination of the first day of Camino and the 28 kilometres travelled.