Daily Stage information
Length: 30 km
Estimated time: 7:46
The highest point: 62 m
Lowest point: 0 m
Setup GPS route on your smartphone:
- First install Maps.Me application (for iPhone and Android)
- Then, on your smartphone open this web page and click on Camino South Istria GPS file download. After you download it, open it in the Maps.Me application.
The peace and quiet surrounding the locality of Saint Foška, the starting point of the second section of Camino South Istria, seem unreal. The locality is in the immediate vicinity of the village of Batvači. The settlement itself was densely populated from ancient times until the early Middle Ages, which can be seen from the numerous remains in the vicinity of the settlement. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, many believers have always found their place of peace and prayer right here. Saint Foška is probably the most famous and most visited shrine in southern Istria, visited by pilgrims from all over the world every year.
After a needed break, we continue to follow the trail through the gentle green of the Istrian landscape all the way to the hidden gem of this part of the Camino – the kažun trail. These are traditional Istrian dry wall shelters resembling gnome huts and can be found in almost all parts of southern Istria. Here you should deviate a little from the trail and visit the site of St. Mihovil Banjolski, which is said to have been a thermal bath in Roman times, and today there are visible remains of a once larger medieval basilica complex. Returning to the trail, the route continues towards the village of Peroj, already at the entrance you can see the Church of St. Stephen, and in the very centre there’s the Church of St. Spyridon, the patron saint of the village. Next to the church there is a recognizable bell tower with a dome, and behind it an interesting Orthodox cemetery.
With the sounds of the sea and a light breeze that always brings freshness, clears your thoughts and strengthens your soul, the Camino trail stretches along the coastline, offering a wonderful view of the coast, the nearby Brijuni Islands and the turquoise sea. We reach Fažana, a small fishing town that has retained its charm to this day. The Parish Church of St. Cosmas and Damian watches over the town, right on the waterfront, interestingly, it is a church situated at the lowest altitude in Istria – only one metre above sea level. A little further, almost hidden from view, is the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Carmel, while the Church of St. John the Apostle is situated within the local cemetery. A little outside the town, immersed in a gentle landscape, there is also the Church of St. Elisha. Returning to the trail that follows the promenade by the sea, the Camino leads all the way to Valbandon, another tame little village, where, within the Ministry of Interior’s resort complex, there is a church dedicated to the Croatian Blessed and Martyr Miroslav Bulešić. It is a pilgrimage church for the Military Ordinariate in the Republic of Croatia.
The trail continues along the coast, then enters the forest and gently climbs towards Štinjan and the local Parish Church of St. Margaret. Štinjan is a suburb of Pula, the city that is the final destination of the Camino’s second day. The largest city in Istria is rich in history and has played a significant role in the life and development of Istria since ancient times. In Pula, in one circular tour, you can start from the magnificent Arena and the nearby Church of St. Anton and go down to the waterfront and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the main square there is also the Temple of Augustus, and on one of the many city slopes you’ll find a church with the monastery of St. Francis. Going back to the waterfront, the trail continues to the Chapel of St. Maria Formosa and the Arch of the Sergii, providing a dignified entry into the city through the “Golden Gate” at the end of the second day of the pilgrimage.