Savudrija
Encyclopedia
Savudrija is a coastal settlement in northwestern Istria
, Croatia
. It has developed from a fishing village into a pleasant holiday centre. Savudrija is also the name of the surrounding area in the peninsula.
The main attraction of the settlement is a 29 m high lighthouse
, the northernmost in Croatia and reputed to be the oldest on the Adriatic Sea. Three kinds of wind meet here, so the area is popular with windsurfers
.
The village was mentioned in written sources in the second part of the 12th century and was part of the Piran
municipality from the 13th century, while today it is part of Istria County
in Croatia. On February 18, 1893 Savudrija became part of the Piran municipality.
The territory remained part of the municipality of Piran until 1947, when the municipality of Savudrija was set up. In 1954, when the Free Territory of Trieste
was dissolved and its southern part became officially part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
, Savudrija was joined to the Socialist Republic of Croatia
in accordance with the decisions of ZAVNOH.
According to the last Austrian
census in 1910, almost 79% of the population of the Savudrija territory was Italian
-speaking, 14% were Slovene-speaking. During the period of fascist rule (1922–1945), the zone was almost completely Italianized
. According to the first ethnic census in 1945, Savudrija had a Croatian majority, with 54% Croats
, 30% Italians, and 14% Slovenes. Following the decisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947), many ethnic Italians opted to relocate to Italy. Today, Savudrija remains largely Croatian-speaking, but there is a small Italian minority, and most topographic signs are bilingual.
began with the creation of a healing and bathing facility of the St. Anna Children's Hospital in Graz
. Compared to other tourist places in Istria, Savudrija is more of a tranquil holiday resort. There are few hotels and restaurants.
Savudrijas beaches are mainly rocky, but there are small pebble beaches as well.
Agriculture is still important, especially the cultivation of vegetables and wine, the indigenous varieties of wine like Teran or Malvasia
included, in the rich terra rossa soils of the district.
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 ...
. It has developed from a fishing village into a pleasant holiday centre. Savudrija is also the name of the surrounding area in the peninsula.
The main attraction of the settlement is a 29 m high lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, the northernmost in Croatia and reputed to be the oldest on the Adriatic Sea. Three kinds of wind meet here, so the area is popular with windsurfers
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
.
History
As evidenced by archaeological finds, the Savudrija area has been settled since the Neolithic period. The Roman port facilities still remain intact. In the vicinity of Savudrija are some notable Roman sites, in particular a Roman fort on the peninsula.The village was mentioned in written sources in the second part of the 12th century and was part of the Piran
Piran
Piran is a city and municipality in southwestern Slovenia on the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the three major towns of Slovenian Istria. The city resembles a large open-air museum, with medieval architecture and a rich cultural heritage. Narrow streets and compact houses give...
municipality from the 13th century, while today it is part of Istria County
Istria County
Istria County is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula . The area of the county is called Istra in Croatian and Slovene...
in Croatia. On February 18, 1893 Savudrija became part of the Piran municipality.
The territory remained part of the municipality of Piran until 1947, when the municipality of Savudrija was set up. In 1954, when the Free Territory of Trieste
Free Territory of Trieste
The Free Territory of Trieste was to be a city-state situated in Central Europe between northern Italy and Yugoslavia, created by the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of World War II and provisionally administered by an appointed military governor commanding the peacekeeping United...
was dissolved and its southern part became officially part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, Savudrija was joined to the Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
in accordance with the decisions of ZAVNOH.
According to the last Austrian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
census in 1910, almost 79% of the population of the Savudrija territory was Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
-speaking, 14% were Slovene-speaking. During the period of fascist rule (1922–1945), the zone was almost completely Italianized
Italianization
Italianization or Italianisation is a term used to describe a process of cultural assimilation in which ethnically non or partially Italian people or territory become Italian. The process can be voluntary or forced...
. According to the first ethnic census in 1945, Savudrija had a Croatian majority, with 54% Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, 30% Italians, and 14% Slovenes. Following the decisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947), many ethnic Italians opted to relocate to Italy. Today, Savudrija remains largely Croatian-speaking, but there is a small Italian minority, and most topographic signs are bilingual.
Economy
The economic base is mainly tourism. The development of Savudrija as a seaside resortbegan with the creation of a healing and bathing facility of the St. Anna Children's Hospital in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
. Compared to other tourist places in Istria, Savudrija is more of a tranquil holiday resort. There are few hotels and restaurants.
Savudrijas beaches are mainly rocky, but there are small pebble beaches as well.
Agriculture is still important, especially the cultivation of vegetables and wine, the indigenous varieties of wine like Teran or Malvasia
Malvasia
Malvasia is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world...
included, in the rich terra rossa soils of the district.