Buje
Encyclopedia
Buje is a town situated in Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...

, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

's westernmost peninsula, population 2,979 (2001).

Buje was known as the "sentinel of Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...

" for its hilltop site located 10 km (6.21 mi) inland from the Adriatic sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...

. It still commands an excellent panorama. Buje has a rich history; traces of life in the region date back to prehistoric times. The town developed from a Roman and Venetian settlement into a medieval town. Buje has been part of the Venetian republic from 1358 until 1797 and has been an Italian city from 1918 to 1945. Today it is a modern regional center. Despite its development Buje has retained many features typical of various historical periods. With its narrow streets and a central square, the old town is a fine example of medieval architecture with strong Venetian influences as the rest of the region.

Overview

A baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...

 church from the 16th century, built on the foundations of a Roman temple dominates the square. The old city was protected with stone fortifications, part of which have been preserved to modern times. Being situated on a hill, the old town offers exquisite views on the surrounding scenery, dominated by Mediterranean vegetation, vineyards and olive groves.

Outside of the old town a modern city has sprung. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 Buje developed into an industrial, cultural and economic center of the region. To its visitors today Buje offers a blend of gentle Mediterranean climate, good food and a quiet setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristic Istrian coastal resorts.

It still has a high number of Italians, 39,66% of the population, making it the Croatian town with the highest percentage of Italian speakers although some Istrian villages have even higher percentages. There is an Italian school, the "Leonardo da Vinci".

Towns and Villages in Municipality:

External links

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