Dvigrad – Istria – Croatia is a cultural and historical attraction 15 km from Rovinj, and it symbolizes the ruins of the medieval city of Moncastello, not demolished due to a military coup, but abandoned due to the epidemic of plaque and malaria, so as a result, left to decay in nature.
The remains that are visible today, are the largest ruins of an urban settlement in Istria and provide a unique picture of a completely preserved typical medieval town ( castle):
The city surround double defensive walls and interconnected by three city gates. As part of the inner wall, there are three towers, build during the 14th century.
The central part of the settlement is also its highest point, dominated by the church of St. Sofia, build in several construction phases: the oldest, early Christian phase ( 2nd half of the 5th century), the church was a single-nave building. The sanctuary area, expanded in the 8th century and painted with frescoes. The Chapel and Bell Tower on the south side are build in the 9th and 10th century. It current appereance of a three-nave building, the church got in the 13th century ( Romanesque era). Sacristy is build on its north side in the 14 century.
In the front of the church was the main city square, surrounded by buildings: the city palace on the eastern side and the premises that belonged to the chapter house on the western side. To the west of the basilica are a number of rooms, connected to the fortification system, which housed the military crew. The southwestern part of the settlements is a craft zone, and the rest filled with the residential areas.
Dvigrad – Istria – Croatia The Henry Morgan Legend
Henry Morgan, notorius British pirate who fought against the Spain on the authority of the governor of Jamaica, Thomas Modyford.
His exploits often exceeded the powers he had, and his greatest success was the conquest of Panama. The looting of Panama violated the peace treaty between Spain and England. Morgan incurred the wrath of the British, who as a result, went after him. Legend has it, that during his escape from the sailing ships of the England fleet, Morgan is chased deep into the Atlantic and reaches the Gulf of Lim. The secretiveness of the bay made it an ideal place for him to hide himself and his treasure.
Upon anchoring on the coast of the Lim bay, he finds Dvigrad – Istria – Croatia, by then almost completly abandoned. Morgan decides to hide there the treasure he collected by destroying ships near the coasts of Cuba, Cartagena and Granada. Henry Morgan finds his new home near the Dvigrad, in the village M(o)rgani.
Discover the Charm of Istria
