Three hundred and twenty meters above the water, overlooking the shoreline only 3 kilometers away, one can find the picturesque town known as Labin. The history of the town can be dated back to the 4th century B.C. when the Celts first came to the Istrian peninsula. However, there are some historians that have insisted that the earliest settlements of the area can be dated back as far as the 11th century B.C. when the Illyrians first entered the area.
The original name of the town was Albona which is derived from Illyrian-Celtic which means the town on the hill. During the era of the first Roman advancements, the inhabitants of the area where of the Labin tribe who were pirates and would routinely attack and rob the Roman ships until they were finally overpowered and the area fell into Roman control. The first time the town was mentioned was in 285 A.D.
Because of the rich history of Labin, there are many great places to see and things to do while visiting this town on the hill. There are several churches that were built back in the 14th century along with a Baroque palace which has been turned into the local museum. Parts of the original town wall are still intact and the town doors have been well-preserved over the past few centuries. There is still the bastion of the old medieval castle still standing. A strolling walk through the narrow ancient cobblestone streets of Labin will yield some of the most amazing items of interest in this Mediterranean city. You will also find Sculpture Park which is home to 70 unique and stunning stone sculptures.
There are many great coffee bars, taverns and restraints located throughout the town where you can simply stop and relax until you are ready to explore more of Labin.
Photo by Irene Becker
