Vodnjan: 2-Hour Quad Safari to Kažuni & Historic Churches

2 & 3 Kažuni Sites

Most kažuni were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. They served as shelters for farmers and shepherds — protection from summer heat or sudden rain.
The stone used for their construction was collected from surrounding fields: by removing stones, the land was made suitable for cultivation, while the same material was used to build the kažuni and dry-stone walls. In this way, these structures became an inseparable part of the cultivated landscape.
The group known as the Three Kažuni represents one of the most striking examples of dry-stone construction in the Mediterranean. This unique complex is also the most significant in the Vodnjan area.
Impressive in size — approximately 4 meters in diameter and 4.3 meters in height — these kažuni provided comfortable and safe shelter. In some parts of the Mediterranean, structures of this type even served as permanent dwellings, such as the well-known trulli in Apulia, Italy.

St. Foška Church

The Vodnjan area is rich in sacred heritage — there are more than 60 churches, both in settlements and in rural areas. Of some once-large basilicas along the coast and inland, only modest remains have been preserved today.
The most famous is the parish church of St. Blaise, known for its Collection of Sacred Art and Holy Bodies. However, the widely renowned three-nave basilica of St. Foška, built at the turn of the 11th to the 12th century, is equally notable. Its spacious portico is among the largest in Istria.
The interior of the church is adorned with 12th-century frescoes, the work of a travelling master, likely originating from northern Italy. Even today, the site remains alive through tradition: Holy Mass is celebrated on the feast day of its patron saint, on the first Sunday after February 13.

Kažuni Theme Park

The Kažuni Theme Park in Vodnjan is a unique open-air museum dedicated to preserving one of Istria's most recognizable symbols—the kažun, a traditional dry-stone field shelter built without mortar. Located in the heart of the Vodnjan countryside, the park offers visitors an engaging introduction to the history, architecture, and craftsmanship behind these remarkable stone structures.

Vodnjan is home to more than 3,000 kažuni, the highest concentration in Istria, making the town the perfect place to discover this important element of the region's rural heritage. Traditionally, kažuni provided shelter for farmers and shepherds, protected tools, and served as an essential part of everyday agricultural life.