Church of St. Stephen in Sovinjsko Polje

Buzet, one of the most important Istrian centers is located in the northern, interior part of Istria. The image of its old town rising on a hill above the river Mirna, defying the blue sky and the endless green landscape is one of the specific symbols of the Istrian peninsula. But Buzet is not the only interesting place in these parts: its surroundings hide countless historical and cultural gems as well. 

Stone objects found in the caves give evidence that this region has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but it was the Middle Ages that left the most traces in the places that surround Buzet. One of such places is Sovinjsko Polje. Those who pass there simply describe it as a place that "has no specific monuments, but it is nice to walk through it". 

The first reason why you would find yourself in Sovinjsko Polje is probably to watch the sunset from a hill, through olive groves and vineyards. But don't be fooled: this small village, which according to the last census has only thirty inhabitants, hides a monument from a bygone era. 

Extend your stay and look for the church of St. Stephen the First Martyr. The long history of worshiping this saint in Istria, the first to perish after Christ, finds its echo in this Romanesque building with a characteristic Gothic bell decorated with horsetails, usually very common with coastal churches. 

Today, the church is currently in the working order - but it serves more as a witness of the times gone by.  Modest and small, surrounded by lush vegetation, it seems to tell a quiet story about the simplicity of life in this majestic landscape and the strength of the country on which it is located. For it was precisely the land that gave life to the man of this area: the people built settlements on the hills that provided them with a natural fortress, and they have always lived off the land, olive trees, and vineyards. 

Just by looking at the simple St. Stephen church under the Istrian sky, we are warned how nature here cannot be overshadowed by the human hand. That sunset over Sovinjsko Polje now seems even more magical, doesn't it?