Area
Terra Albona is a gastro cycling event held
on the area of the City of Labin and the municipalities of Sveta Nedelja, Kršan, Pićan and Raša.
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Area
City of Labin
It covers an area of 71.85km², and according to the 2011 population census, there are 11.642 inhabitants.
Labin is located on the eastern coast of Istria and is 5 km away from Rabac, tourist pearl of Kvarner. The Old Town is situated on the hill, and the second part of the town is known as Podlabin (originally built as a mining settlement in the 30s of the last century). More than 400 years in Labin and its surroundings, intensive mining activity was taking place. Mines have long been the backbone of Labin’s economy. The birthplace of Matthias Flacius Illyricus, the reformer and first associate of Martin Luther, and the place of the famous Republic of Labin in 1921, today it has developed into a cultural and administrative centre.
The area of the city of Labin consists of 17 settlements, namely: Bartići, Breg, Duga Luka, Gondolići, Gora Glušići, Kapelica, Kranjci, Labin, Marceljani, Presika, Rabac, Ripenda Kosi, Ripenda Kras, Ripenda Verbanci, Rogočana, Salakovci, and Vinež.
Through targeted planning and investment in direct economic development, as well as indirect investment in infrastructure, the city of Labin creates the preconditions for significant economic growth and development. By planning investment in infrastructure, in a rational and long-term manner, taking into account the needs of the population and economic entities, Labin stives to be a partner for businesspeople and individuals who see their interest through investments in the city area.
With its natural beauties, cultural attractions and economic potential directed towards small and medium-sized companies and craftsmanship, Labin has become a place where people are happy to live and invest.
Municipality of Kršan
It covers an area of 124 km², and according to the 2011 population census, there are 2.951 inhabitants.
The area belonging to the Kršan Municipality is located in the central part of the eastern coastal area of the Istrian peninsula. It is situated between the Kvarner Bay, Plomin Bay and Plomin cove, the river Raša valley, the slopes of middle Istria and the Učka area and the Brestova cove on the seashore side.
The area of Kršan Municipality consists of 23 settlements. These are in sequence: Kršan, Blaškovići, Veljaki, Lazarići, Boljevići, Čambarelići, Kožljak, Jesenovik, Nova Vas, Šušnjevica, Letaj, Kostrčani, Lanišće, Zankovci, Polje Čepić, Zatka Čepić, Purgarija, Plomin, Plomin Luka, Stepčići, Vozilići, Zagorje, and Potpićan.
Kršan can be justifiably praised for its rich cultural and historical heritage, dating back to the 11th century.
The beauty and diversity are felt whether a visit begins with the Kršan Kaštel (castle), where the document Istarski razvod was found, with the church of St. Juraj Stari, which houses the oldest known Glagolitic inscription – the Plomin inscription, with the western Učka massifs and Kožljak castle, the Romanesque church of St. Kvirin and fresco from the 15th century with details of the adoration homage of the famous painter Alberto, with the village Čepić and the homonymous lake, which was dried out to be transformed into cultivated fields, or from the youngest settlement in Istria – Potpićan.
In the area of the Kršan municipality, the remains of Glagolitic and sacral heritage and old trades intertwine with a modern tourist offer and a variety of gastronomic pleasures, and if you look a bit better and feel the beauty of this region’s nature, you will surely see and perhaps hear the gentle jingle of its endemic plant species – the Istrian bellflower (Lat. Campanula istriaca).
Municipality of Sv. Nedelja
Municipality of Sv. Nedelja covers an area of 64.00km², and according to the 2011 population census, there are 2.987 inhabitants.
Sveta Nedelja Municipality is located in the eastern part of central Istria. The industrial zone of Dubrova, built at the time of the substitution of the “Ugljenokop Raša” (Raša colliery) directly adjacent to the State Road D66, is of particular importance for the economic development. The specificity of the area of Sveta Nedelja municipality is also its geographical position, which, being long a hinterland of the town of Labin, offers its interior Istria area with excellent amenities for rural tourism, as well as the proximity of coastal tourism of the eastern coast of Istria.
Particularly in the area of the Sveta Nedelja municipality, within the cultural and museum activities, is the activity of the Mediterranean sculpture symposium, in the Dubrova area, with a history of some thirty years as an open-air museum.
The richness of cultural assets recorded in the area of almost the entire area of the Sveta Nedelja municipality, from medieval forts on the edge of the Raša canyon to the rural complexes on the properties of Labin’s nobles, some of which are categorized as objects of high national significance. In addition to conservation research and building repairs and renovation, this is one of the possibilities of improving excursion tourism and thus the future development of the municipality.
A particularly valuable area of the natural landscape stretching over the Raša river valley, along its eastern shore, due to its characteristics presents a special feature in the municipality and, as such, it can also be included in the offer of excursion tourism and contribute to the economic development of the municipality.
Municipality of Raša
Raša Municipality covers an area of 80.15km², and according to the 2011 population census, there are 3.183 inhabitants.
There are 23 settlements in the municipality, namely: Brgod, Brovinje, Diminići (Sveti Lovreč Labinski), Black, Drenje, Koromačno, Krapan, Kunj, Letajac, Most Raša, Polje, Raša, Ravni, Skitača, Stanišovi, Sveta Marina, Sveti Bartul, Škvaranska, Viškovići.
Raša, the youngest town in Istria, because of the needs of the coal mine located there, was built in only 547 days as one of a number of new towns (It. città di fondazione) at the time of the Italian administration, namely the so called fascist era. The construction of the settlement started at the end of April 1936, and in April 1937 most of the buildings were completed, so the tenants began to populate it, and Raša was officially inaugurated on November 4, 1937.
At the Gustavo Pulitzer Square in Raša there is the church of St. Barbara. Mr. Pulitzer designed this very elegant church in minimalist contours, built in the shape of overlaid mining trolleys, with a bell tower evoking a mining lamp.
After the Second World War, Raša experienced its paradoxical fate. On the one hand, because of its involuntary fascist past, it was systematically neglected and left to decay, and on the other hand, as a producer of the precious black gold, glorified and respected, but all in order to maximize its exploitation. At the time of the Yugoslav administration, the municipality of Raša was integrated into the municipality of Labin, in order to gain the status of an independent municipality in the new Croatian state. Since then, efforts have been made systematically for the valorisation of this once remarkably important mining centre.
Today’s most important economic facility is the cement plant in Koromačno. The Raša Valley still provides extremely good conditions for agriculture, and the municipality has a wide sea exit, allowing fishing activities to be performed. The tourism sector consists of two auto camps with a capacity for several hundred tourists, as well as over two hundred private renters of rooms and suites, and additionally a significant number of other smaller catering establishments.
Municipality of Pićan
Pićan Municipality covers an area of 50.92km², and according to the 2011 population census, there are 1.827 inhabitants.
Pićan is located in Istria, 12km southeast of Pazin, on the regional road Pazin-Kršan.
There are 10 settlements in the municipality, namely: Grobnik, Jakomići, Krbune, Kukurini, Montovani, Orič, Pićan, Sveta Katarina, Tupljak, and Zajci.
A favourable strategic position has given rise to the prehistoric fortress, and it is logical that during the Roman reign, Pićan has become a military base. From the 6th until the 18th century, it was also the seat of the only diocese in the inner Istrian area with 12 parishes, and connected with the Roman Church in this manner, it has always had an important role and administrative power in central Istria.
During the Byzantine rule, Pićan was the administrative centre of the central part of Istria. In the 10th century, Pazin and Pićan was governed by the Aquileia Patriarch who, in the 12th century, awarded the Pićan feud to the founder of Pazin Earldom, and as its constituent, in the 14th century Pićan came under the rule of the Habsburgs, and as such remained for many years.
Historical sights are highlighted by partially preserved medieval ramparts and the 14th-century town gate, next to which the former Bishop’s palace is located. Let us also mention the church of St. Rok from the 17th century, at the cemetery of St. Mihovil, with 15th century frescos and the parish church erected on the foundations of the 14th-century cathedral.
The belfry, 48 meters high, was built at the end of the 19th century and is among the tallest in Istria. Next to it a stone measure is laid that was once used to collect tithes. Valuable orgies, many relics, inscriptions and memories of the rich period of the Bishop’s city are also well preserved.