Peroj
Encyclopedia
Peroj is a village in the Vodnjan
municipality on the south-western coast of Istria
, currently inhabited by ~400 inhabitants, dating back to the Copper age
of prehistory
, as testified by a necropolis
within the old walls of the town. The town has been settled with families from a variety of origins throughout its history. During the occupation of the Romans
, the town was named Pedrolo, and was a popular holiday destination.
In 1562 the town had been emptied due to malaria and plague, and Leonardo Fioravanti from Bologna
brought to the area 124 families of farmers from the Romagna
region of present day Italy, some of which settled in Peroj. However people from Pula
felt their territories had been violated and began a series of persecutions which lead the families to leave the area.
In 1578 some Greek families were brought to the area, and between 1580 and 1583 25 more Greek families from Nauplia were settled in Peroj, and 25 families from Cyprus
were also settled. In 1585 the families from Nauplia renounced to the lands given to them and left the area. The Cypriots remained, but gradually some left and some died due to the plagues affecting the region, and in 1644 the population of Peroj was reduced to three people only.
n 1657, the Doge of Venice
, Giovanni Pesaro
, decided to repopulate the town by bringing 13 families of Serbian origin and of Orthodox
religion, originally from the Cernizza region in Montenegro
that had escaped from the Turkish occupation. These families remained in Peroj and until recently Serbian
was taught in the local schools due to their presence. Owing to their presence the Orthodox church of San Spiridione was built in the 19th century.1.
Most of the residents have declared Serbian their native language, while a handful Croatian.
Vodnjan
-Geography:Vodnjan is situated 10 km north of Pula, on elevation of 135 m. It is located at the intersection of the main road Buje - Pula and the regional road Vodnjan - Fažana, as well as on the railroad Divača - Pula.-Demographics:...
municipality on the south-western coast 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...
, currently inhabited by ~400 inhabitants, dating back to the Copper age
Copper Age
The Chalcolithic |stone]]") period or Copper Age, also known as the Eneolithic/Æneolithic , is a phase of the Bronze Age in which the addition of tin to copper to form bronze during smelting remained yet unknown by the metallurgists of the times...
of prehistory
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
, as testified by a necropolis
Necropolis
A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
within the old walls of the town. The town has been settled with families from a variety of origins throughout its history. During the occupation of the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, the town was named Pedrolo, and was a popular holiday destination.
In 1562 the town had been emptied due to malaria and plague, and Leonardo Fioravanti from Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
brought to the area 124 families of farmers from the Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
region of present day Italy, some of which settled in Peroj. However people from Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
felt their territories had been violated and began a series of persecutions which lead the families to leave the area.
In 1578 some Greek families were brought to the area, and between 1580 and 1583 25 more Greek families from Nauplia were settled in Peroj, and 25 families from Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
were also settled. In 1585 the families from Nauplia renounced to the lands given to them and left the area. The Cypriots remained, but gradually some left and some died due to the plagues affecting the region, and in 1644 the population of Peroj was reduced to three people only.
n 1657, the Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
, Giovanni Pesaro
Giovanni Pesaro
Giovanni Pesaro was the 103rd Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on April 8, 1658 until his death. The Cretan War was ongoing for the entirety of his brief reign....
, decided to repopulate the town by bringing 13 families of Serbian origin and of Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
religion, originally from the Cernizza region in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
that had escaped from the Turkish occupation. These families remained in Peroj and until recently Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
was taught in the local schools due to their presence. Owing to their presence the Orthodox church of San Spiridione was built in the 19th century.1.
Most of the residents have declared Serbian their native language, while a handful Croatian.