Sitting atop of a bluff and overlooking an ancient lake known in the area as Čepičko polje, one can find the beautiful town of Gračišće. The view from the town over the surrounding landscape is awe inspiring and almost magical. In all directions, one can see lush green fields and rolling hills covered in olive plantations and vineyards.
The area where Gračišće is now located in has been inhabited since the day of the great Roman Empire. The name of the city was originally Gallignana, but after the Slavs began immigrating to Istria during the 6th and 7th centuries, the city’s name was changed to Gračišće. The first records of the town can be dated back to 1199.
Back in the 14th and 15th centuries, Gračišće was a walled town, a stronghold of sorts which had 15 towers around its outermost edges and walls running from each tower to the next.
However, time has not been good to the walls and towers of Gračišće as there is only a single tower of the original 15 remaining and most of the wall has since fallen. There are a number of 15th century homes in Gračišće that have stood the test of time.
You will also find that there are 4 churches located in Gračišće along with a number of natural monuments. It has been the summer residence of the Bishops that called Pićan home for many centuries.
There is a 30-meter high bell tower in the city that was constructed during the 13th century as well as palace built by the Venetians in the 16th century. For those who have a love of caves, one will find that the Bregi cave has been documented as covering a distance of more than 2000 meters.
Then of course there are the many annual events that occur in Gračišće which attracts thousands of people from all over the world.
