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Croatia: Aleja glagoljaša, Hum, Istarske Toplice and Gorostas

This rainy day was reserved for chilling out. At first we decided to find a Wherigo Cache, that took us on the Glagolitic Alley - Aleja glagoljaša, a memorial composed of a string of eleven outdoor monuments dotting the road between the villages Roč and Hum. Since this road took us to the smallest town in the world, according to Guinness Book of Records, we explored it and bought some truffle products. Soon we moved on to the thermal health resort in the central part of Istria, Istarske Toplice and for the end of the day I also conquered a rock called Gorostas.

  

Glagolitic Alley sculptures were erected between 1977 and 1985 to honor the historical Croatian scribal tradition in Glagolitic script. The road is seven kilometers long.

Alley shows the path of Istrian, Croatian and Slavic Glagolitic tradition, illustrating the centers of Croatian Glagolitic medieval literature in Istria, suggesting its Slavic roots and literacy and its continuity from the 11th century to the present day.

 

The memorial is composed of eleven individual monuments, ten of which are made of stone, and one (City Gate) made of copper.

The Rise of the Istrian Demarcation (1980), stone door in the form of Glagolitic letter L is the 7th monument.

Wall of Croatian Protestants and Heretics - a stone clepsydra with names of Croatian Protestants.

Resting Place of Žakan Juraj - commemorating the first Croatian printed book in seven stone chairs forming the letters that spell the name of Žakan Juraj.

According to the legend, Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the river Mirna valley, an area in central Istria.

Hum with its 30 (2011 Population Census) inhabitants is formally listed as the smallest town in the world.

 

The town's history starts in early medieval age and it was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 12th century under the name of Cholm. The town was entirely enclosed by walls in the 11th century on the remains of an earlier fortification.

 

In Hum we bought some truffle products.

 

The Istrian thermal resort is placed at the foot of the very famous huge rock called Gorostas, 85 meters high, with the mineral spring Sveti Stjepan on the underside. This spring is well known for its hot water full of minerals (13 sorts), with high content of sulphur and optimal degree of radioactivity.

On the top of the huge Gorostas rock is the ruin of the old church Sveti Stjepan with the magnificent view to the valley of the river Mirna and famous forests of Motovun with its wood known also for building Venice.

On the top of the rock leads the Way of the Cross.

Due to the fog with bits of rain, the view wasn't perfect.

Easy hike to the top and back - Garmin Connect.

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable item "Loon", TB7EBX7 until one was dropped of):
- Glagoljaši, Wherigo, GC74044, where I placed trackable item "The Keyfob", TB5HV77 and took trackable item "Tea Lover's Travel Bug #8", TB3KPRN
- Gorostas, GC4RB4K