Višnjan ( it, Visignano) is a village and municipality in

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian and Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian, Italian and Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic betwe ...

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 = , capi ...

. Višnjan is the site of

Višnjan Observatory Višnjan Observatory ( hr, Zvjezdarnica Višnjan; obs. code: 120) is an astronomical observatory located near the village of Višnjan in Croatia. It is headed by Korado Korlević, a prolific astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. In 2009, ...

(an

astronomical Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxi ...

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. ...

). The observatory is home of several long-running international summer programs for youth in astronomy, archeology, marine biology and other disciplines.

Geography

Višnjan is located 12 kilometers east of

Poreč Poreč (; it, Parenzo; la, Parens or ; grc, Πάρενθος, Párenthos) is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, west Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, whi ...

and 3 kilometers west of

Pula Pula (; also known as Pola, it, Pola , hu, Pòla, Venetian; ''Pola''; Istriot: ''Puola'', Slovene: ''Pulj'') is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, and the seventh-largest city in the country, situated at the southern tip of the I ...

Koper Koper (; it, Capodistria, hr, Kopar) is the fifth largest city in Slovenia. Located in the Istrian region in the southwestern part of the country, approximately five kilometres () south of the border with Italy and 20 kilometres () from Triest ...

road. Višnjan is located on elevation of 244m and average municipality elevation is between 200-300m. One of the most notable sinkholes in Istria, Baredina, is located in the municipality.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census Višnjan had a population of 625 with a total municipal population of 2187 of which 71.7% were

Croats The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic ...

, 9.1% were

Italians , flag = , flag_caption = The national flag of Italy , population = , regions = Italy 55,551,000 , region1 = Brazil , pop1 = 25–33 million , ref1 = , region2 ...

and 6.2% declared themselves as Istrians. Like most settlements in Istrian interior Višnjan is experiencing depopulation in the last decades as people are migrating towards the coast. According to the 1921 census the majority of the population was italian.La fonte di tutti i dati statistici è G.Perselli, I censimenti della popolazione dell‘Istria, con Fiume e Trieste, e di alcune città della Dalmazia tra il 1850 e il 1936, Unione Italiana Fiume-Università Popolare di Trieste, Trieste-Rovigno 1993

History

In the village of Strpačići, 1 km from Višnjan copper earrings and needles were found. Illyrians came to the region somewhere between 2000 and 1000 BC and were later replaced by

Celts The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...

. The remains of the Celtic era can be found on the nearby Montemez hill which is Celtic for nice hill. Remnants of pottery can be found all over the area as well in the town itself. A few kilometers west from Višnjan there is a prehistoric and medieval settlement called Dilian with a monastery and church named Saint Mihovil dating from the 11th century. Višnjan was first mentioned in a document from 1003 AD. Višnjan was surrounded by a defense wall until the 18th century. The City was entered through a gate crowned with a Venetian lion and an open book. Višnjan was part of the Motovun municipality until 1847 when it became an independent municipality. It was subsequently incorporated into Poreč municipality in 1947. In 1976 an

astronomical observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. H ...

was built in Višnjan and the town became the astronomy centre of Yugoslavia. In 1993 Višnjan again became an independent municipality.

Economy

Most of Višnjan's economy comes from agriculture mostly olive growing and viticulture. Višnjan is also known as one of the last resorts in Istria of autochthon Istrian bovine '' Boškarin''. ''Boškarin'', the first geno-park in Croatia, was founded With the intention of preserving Boškarin in Višnjan . Most of the people work on the coast and travel daily to work.

Towns and villages in municipality

Anžići Anžići (Italian: ') is a village in Croatia located in Istria, in the municipality of Višnjan, in Istria County Istria County (; hr, Istarska županija; it, Regione istriana, "Istrian Region") is the westernmost county of Croatia which ...

* Bačva * Barburdi *

Barat Barat may refer to: Places * Barat College, Illinois, USA * Barat, NWFP, Pakistan, a town * ''Barát'', the Hungarian name for Baraţi, a village in Romania People Given name * Barat Ali Batoor (born 1983), Afghani photographer * Bara ...

* Barići * Baškoti * Benčani * Bokići * Broskvari * Bucalovići * Butori * Cerion * Cvitani * Deklion * Diklići * Fabci * Farini * Gambetići * Jugovci * Kočići * Kolombera * Korlevići * Košutići * Kurjavići * Legovići * Majkusi * Mališi * Markovac * Milanezi * Prašćari * Prhati * Pršurići * Radoši * Radovani * Rafael * Rapavel * Sinožići * Starići * Strpačići * Štuti * Sveti Ivan * Tičan * Trpari * Vrhljani * Zoričići * Ženodraga * Žikovići * Žužići Mondellebotte

References

External links

Višnjan official site

Višnjan Observatory

{{DEFAULTSORT:Visnjan Municipalities of Croatia Populated places in Istria County Italian-speaking territorial units in Croatia