Gračišće
Gračišće | |
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Municipality | |
UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Area code | 052 |
Website | gracisce |
Gračišće (Italian: Gallignana) is a village and municipality of Istria County in Croatia.
Geography
The municipality is located in the interior of the Istrian peninsula. The Gračišće village which is also the administrative centre of Gračišće municipality is located about 8 km (5.0 mi) east of the county seat Pazin, on the road to Kršan and Vozilići. It is seated on the top of the hill at an elevation of 457 m (1,499 ft) and has the overall appearance of a typical medieval Istrian town. The village stands completely under monumental protection. The old cemetery which is located in front of St. Vitus Church offers a panoramic view of inner Istria up to the Učka mountain range (1,402 m (4,600 ft)) in the east, as well as to the Julian Alps and the Dolomites in the north.
Between Gračišće and Pićan lies a protected landscape (1475 ha, protected since 1973) with unusual geological characteristics. Diverse landscape has been formed by erosion of marl, sandstone and limestone deposits with brook valleys formed in marl and hills formed from harder limestone which dominate the surrounding landscape.
History
The prehistory of Gračišće and its surroundings is poorly known. Due to its advantageous strategic position the area was almost surely settled and also played significant role already during the
After centuries of armed conflicts, the war between the
In the
After the German king
In 1199 Gračišće was first mentioned in written sources as Gallinianum. From that time onwards, the coastal areas of Istria were gradually conquered by the
With the
Demographics
According to the Croatian 2021 census, the whole of Gračišće Municipality has 1,312 inhabitants, while the settlement of Gračišće proper has 418 inhabitants.[2] The ethnic composition of the Municipality (2011 census) is 78,79% Croats, 19,1% declared themselves as Istrians, Bosnians 0,28% and 0,14% Italians.
Villages in the municipality
The municipal area has a surface area of 61 km2 (24 sq mi) and comprises seven settlements:
- Batlug – 118
- Bazgalji – 231
- Gračišće – 420
- Jakačići – 126
- Mandalenčići – 286
- Milotski Breg – 85
- Škopljak – 45
Economy
The economy of Gračišće municipality is mostly based on agriculture (grapes, wheat, fruits) and raising livestock (cattle, pigs), a smaller part of its population is employed in service sector at Pazin. In recent times rural tourism is emerging.
Architecture
Gračišće village has several interesting landmarks including the Church of The Mother of God at the Square (Croatian: Crkva majke božje na placu) built in 1425, the small Church of St. Anthony of Padova and The Church of St. Euphemia built in 1383. In St. Euphemia Church there is very impressive crucifix from the 13th century and golden Baroque altar. The successive reconstruction of St. Euphemia church did not change the essential characteristics of its medieval architecture. Many residential houses were built in the 15th century as dates which are inscribed on the portals show. In the Middle Ages it was encircled by fortifications and one of the towers and main municipal gates are still standing today.
The parish church of St. Vitus was built in 1769. The "Palace of Salamon" is the only example of a Gothic residence in this part of Istria. The summer residence of the Pićan bishop was also located in Gračišće.
The free-standing tower's lowest stage includes a Romanesque doorway, suggesting it may be one of the earliest buildings.
References
- Wikidata Q119585703.
- ^ a b "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements" (xlsx). Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2011) ) |
Sources
- Gračaški zbornik (Gračišće's collection of scientific papers); Zbornik radova sa Znanstvenog skupa Gračišće i okolica od prapovijesti do danas, u povodu obilježavanja 800. obljetnice prvog spomena imena Gračišća, Gračišće, 19. lipnja 1999; Library: KNJIŽNICA ACTA; Publisher: Skupština udruga Matice hrvatske Istarske županije; Gračišće: Poglavarstvo općine, Pazin, 2002. ISBN 953-96663-7-6
- http://www.istra.hr/hr/dozivjeti_istru/povijest Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine