The third point of our hike begins at the Parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Završje, near the Museum of Folk and Wind Instruments (MU=BAJS) and the information panels about the archaeological excavations of St. Cross from the Neolithic period. Upon leaving the village, the route first takes us to the Church of St. Andrew, which also serves as the local cemetery.

A visit to the Church of Sts. Primus and Felician, with recently discovered 13th and 14th century frescoes depicting scenes from the New Testament, is highly recommended. We then pass by the village of Mlin, enter a nearby forest, and continue walking through the hamlets Makovci and Kortinari fields. Once again, the route takes us through idyllic Istrian rural landscapes of pastures, fields, and numerous vineyards, eventually leading to the fourth point of our journey – the picturesque village of Šterna, located near the renowned Istrian desert Piski. Historically, Šterna was known as the “Grožnjan reservoir or cistern” due to its inexhaustible water source that supplied the village.

Završje (Italian: Piemonte d’Istria)

Završje is a small Istrian town located 7 km east of Grožnjan and 12 km southeast of Buje. It sits on a hill 373 meters above sea level and 240 meters above the Mirna River valley between Grožnjan and Oprtalj. Its Baroque Parish Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1794, is a highlight with its Romanesque bell tower. The former parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary, constructed in 1684, held a valuable chalice from 1476 that now resides in the Louvre. The vineyards at the nearby Sveti Pelaj site produce the famous red wine Teran. The town was historically protected by a double ring of walls, remnants of which are still visible in places. It had two gates, of which only the southern gate remained intact.

With the construction of the narrow-gauge Parenzana railway, the Austrian administration brought prosperity to Završje. Shortly after, under the Italian Republic, the town gained a school, post office, shops, an oil mill, and various crafts. However, after World War II, Završje came under the control of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Economic and political circumstances led to a mass exodus of residents to Trieste. Once home to ninety families, the town has only forty permanent residents.

In 2017, Završje served as a perfect backdrop for Robin Hood’s birthplace, earning it a spot on the list of the best European locations for historical film shoots!