Motovun: The Medieval Town of Truffles and Independent Cinema
Motovun (Italian: Montona) is a municipality and medieval village in central Istria, Croatia, perched 277 metres above the Mirna River valley. The municipality has 912 inhabitants (2021 census), of whom 397 live in the village itself. Famous for its Venetian walls, white truffles, and film festival, it is one of the most visited villages in Istria. Since 2007 it has been on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List.
History Celts and Illyrians already built fortresses at this site, and the village's name is of Celtic origin: Montona means "town in the hills." The first documentary mention dates from 804 in the Placitum of Rižana. In the Middle Ages, Motovun belonged to the Patriarchs of Aquileia and, from 1278 to 1797, to the Republic of Venice, which erected the imposing stone walls surrounding the village. After Napoleon, the Austrian Empire, and Italy (1918–1945), the village passed to Yugoslavia and finally to independent Croatia. Mario Andretti, the legendary Formula 1 and Formula Indy racing driver, was born in Motovun on 28 February 1940.
Heritage Motovun's walls, built between the 13th and 17th centuries, are among the best-preserved in Istria and in themselves constitute a panoramic walkway over the vineyards and Mirna valley. The Church of St Stephen (early 17th century) was built to sketches by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and contains 17th-century marble statues. The central square holds a 14th-century water cistern. The Motovun Forest, at the foot of the hill, is one of the richest habitats for white truffles (Tuber magnatum) in Europe. The Motovun International Film Festival, founded in 1999 by director Rajko Grlić, is one of the most popular independent cinema events in the region.
Points of interest: - Population: 912 (municipality, 2021); 397 (village). - Altitude: 277 metres. Town walls open 10:00–19:00 (approx. €5). - Getting there: Own vehicle required. Parking at the foot of the village; free shuttle in high season.