Pićan

Pićan stands out as the smallest municipality in the eastern part of Istria, with the fewest households and residents. However, despite its modesty, the municipality area is rich in precious natural and cultural heritage and has held the title of a cultural monument since 1962.

Pićan was inhabited since prehistoric times, with the oldest parts of the Histrian fortification located on Kalvarija Hill. In Roman times, the same strategic location served as the military stronghold Petina. It was the administrative center of the central part of Istria during the Byzantine era and the seat of the Pićan Bishopric from late antiquity to the end of the 18th century. In the park at the entrance to Pićan stands the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, and nearby is the church of St. Roch. The old part of Pićan is entered through monumental city gates from the 14th century. The Pićan bell tower, built of white limestone in 1872, is among the tallest in Istria.

The protected landscape between Gračišće and Pićan, covering 570 hectares, is characterized by an unusually rugged relief with stream valleys and limestone hills. Benkovski Waterfall, about 40 meters high, near Pićan, is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Istria, named after the village of Benkovići. This waterfall is adorned with impressive rocks through which the water of the Grajanski stream flows. After that, the stream continues towards the Krbunski stream and windingly descends all the way to the mouth of the Raša River. Sopot Waterfall, also near Pićan, is one of the most beautiful in Istria, about 25 meters high, with a beautiful turquoise lake at its base. Additionally, in this area, there are two viewpoints: one dedicated to Perun, the god of the sky, above the waterfall, and the other to Mokoš, the goddess of fertility, halfway down towards the lake. The uniqueness of this area is complemented by the Centuries-old Bridge, built in the Napoleonic era as an important link to surrounding villages and Pićan.

With its natural beauty and cultural heritage, Pićan remains an irresistible destination for exploring and enjoying the charm of Istria.