Rakalj is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. It is part of the municipality of

Marčana Marčana ( it, Marzana) is a village and municipality in the southern part of Istria, Croatia, 15 km northeast of Pula. The village is situated on the D66 state road (Pula - Rijeka Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, ...

Istria County Istria County (; hr, Istarska županija; it, Regione istriana, "Istrian Region") is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula ( out of , or 89%). Administrative centers in the county are Pazi ...

Culture

Rakalj is home to a Chair of the .

History

The old part of the town of Rakalj is closer to the sea, and is mostly uninhabited today. In this part are the ruins of the former castle and the church of ''Svete Agneze (Agnjije)'' ("

St. Agnes Agnes of Rome () is a virgin martyr, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches. St. Agnes is one of several virgin martyrs comm ...

"), dating to the end of the 15th century. The church is located on a hill with a beautiful sea view. It has a rectangular ground plan, an inscribed apse, and a transept and Gothic portal with a date (1495) carved therein on the front. On the church tabernacle there is the inscription ''Anno Domini MCCCCXXV die XXV Dec. Master Dominicus fecit''. According to a 1555 document it was once a parish church. The tabernacle of the church (and the inscription) might be the work of Domenico da Capodistria. Sunday Holy Masses are not held at St. Agnes, but there are a few days in the year when St. Mass, traditionally, is held in this church. People also come to the church to get married, both from the surrounding smaller towns and larger cities. Remains of a prehistoric hillfort were found at the place where the medieval castle was built, and later there was an ancient fortress. The castle itself, whose remains can still be seen today, was probably built at the beginning of the 11th century. The old castle is located east of today's settlement, above the promontory of Sv. Nikola, at over 90 meters above sea level. The castle was mentioned in a 1312 document as ''Castellare de Rachir''. In the town of Rakalj there are still present the ruins of the defensive walls and towers. After several changes of rulers, in 1536 Rakalj was sold as a fief to the

Loredan family The House of Loredan (, ) is a Venetian noble family of supposed ancient Roman origin, which has played a significant role in shaping the history of the entire Mediterranean. A political dynasty, the family has throughout the centuries produced a ...

together with

Barban Barban ( it, Barbana, Čakavian ''Barbon,'' or ''Brban'') is a small town and municipality in the southern part of eastern Istria, Croatia. The municipality of Barban covers an area of around 100 km2 and contains 72 villages with a total of ...

. Today's Rakalj is mentioned in sources in 1342 as ''Castrum Novum''. The parish church ''Rođenja Blažene Djevice Marije'' ("Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary") was built in the 15th century, as a rectangular building with an elevated sanctuary, without an apse. The apse, together with side chapels, was added later, in the mid-18th century. On the way to nearby Krnica there are the ruins of the church of ''sv. Teodora'' ("Saint Theodora"). The inhabitants engage in traditional agriculture, farming, and quarrying in the nearby quarries. Some are also employed in larger Istrian towns and cities, such as

Pula Pula (; also known as Pola, it, Pola , hu, Pòla, Venetian language, Venetian; ''Pola''; Istriot language, Istriot: ''Puola'', Slovene language, Slovene: ''Pulj'') is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, and the List of cities and town ...

. The town was once known for making traditional Istrian pottery. Today, tourism is beginning to develop Rakalj.

Notable people

Mate Balota Mijo Mirković (; 28 September 1898 – 17 February 1963), also known by his pen names Miho and Mate Balota, was a prominent Croatian poet, novelist and economist. Considered one of the most prominent Croatian poets of the 20th century and of ...

, poet * Lidija Percan, singer

Bibliography

* Danilo Klen, ''Arhivske vijesti o nekim kulturnim spomenicima Barbana i Raklja'', Bulletin of the Institute of Fine Arts JAZU, 1964, 3; * Luigi Foscan, ''I castelli medioevali dell’Istria'', Trieste 1992; * Vladimir Marković, ''Crkve XVII. i XVIII. st. u Istri – tipologija i stil'', Zagreb 2004

External links

Rakalj at Istrapedia

References

{{Reflist Populated places in Istria County