Sveti Petar u Šumi – ancient plateau, surrounded by enchanted woods
On an old and ancient plateau, surrounded by enchanted woods, one can find the ancient municipality of Sveti Petar u Šumi; the smallest in all of Istria. Over the years, this quaint town has become well known for its picturesque baroque church which features high stone walls and beautiful gardens.
The St. Peter and Paul and Pauline monastery is one of the largest attractions in this ancient town. Inside this monastery, one can find the Supetarski ulomak which has been considered to be perhaps one of the oldest of the Glagolitic monuments found in the region.
San Pietro in Selva – Sveti Petar u Šumi, Istria, Croatia
While being one of the smallest towns in Istria, Sveti Petar u Šumi is rich in history. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric time and many of the artifacts that have been uncovered can be found in the museum in nearby Trieste. Nearby, the remains of an ancient fort were discovered which has been dated back to the times before the vast Roman Empire.
The fort was replaced by a castle in the medieval period, but today no traces of the castle can be found. Instead, upon the grounds where the castle once stood, was built the San Tommaso church.
An interesting point of the history of Sveti Petar u Šumi revolves around the appearance of a vampire in the area who would terrorize the local population every night for a period of 16 years before the body was finally exhumed, pierced through the heart and beheaded. After having been exhumed, the locals never saw the vampire again.
With so much history in the area, it’s no wonder why so many people choose Sveti Petar u Šumi for a day trip from coastal towns; especially during the annual festivals which are held in the many nearby municipalities surrounding this quaint little village.
