Veli Jože Istrian legend
Stories about giants are widespread throughout Croatia. One such story hails from the island of Brač, about strong people who had only one eye in the middle of their foreheads. Another legend speaks of giants in the valley of the Mirna River in Istria. There is also the legend of the Vedic giants who, having left their original settlements, retreated to the forests of Bilogora, an area of low mountains in central Croatia, as well as the legend of a one-eyed giant from Paklenica who lived in a cave.
Many legends tell of giant human bones buried in tribal graves, such as the Illyrian Mounds. It is said that the skulls of these ancient people had horns on them. There is a story that archaeologists in the 1970s excavated mounds in a village near Metković. The Great Gomila (Big Mound) was once located there, and people claimed it was the largest in the whole village.
Stone from this mound was used to fill a section of the Adriatic Highway along the exit from Metković to Opuzen. Because this part of the highway is a sloping road, car accidents are a common occurrence. Urban legend says that these accidents happen because the stones, which marked the final resting place of important Illyrian figures, were repurposed to build the highway. Moreover, all the workers who removed the stones from the mound died in unusual ways, from strange infections to car accidents.
Stories about giants in the Neretva Valley date back to ancient times, and it is important to note that the people of Neretva remember “those who were there before us.” These legends tie into Illyrian burial mounds that contain the bones of people who, according to locals, were up to two meters and forty centimeters tall. There are many such mounds in the area, so locals understand their significance. They have never demolished them and have treated them with respect.
In the area spanning Mount Velebit, legends are told about the giant Nemri, whom ethnologists consider to be an exclusive population. The Nemri are also known as the “Old People,” a term still familiar to the inhabitants of the Dinara region. Today, the Nemri are believed to be a people who could not die a natural death and lived in this area before the Greeks. Many legends about the Nemri are related to sites where medieval tombstones called stećci (stećak) are located.
In Croatian folk mythology, giants are depicted as huge beings who were considered demigods. They are described as real monstrosities and savages who ate and drank excessively, had hearts of stone, and acted like demons.
The giant of Ognjan – the giant of fire, Svittgor – the giant of winter, and Leđan – the giant of ice. The giant Svittgor was the most powerful, residing in inaccessible heights. Leđan loved Svittgor’s daughter Strijelka, who longed for light and brightness. Leđan killed Svittgor, and from his body came the earth, from his blood came Svitogorsk Lake, and from the gorges arose a bright city built from his bones.
The town of Leđan is a city made of ice where this giant lived and ruled winter. The people of Leđan thought that everything should be frozen before them. Gaining strength and power this way, the giant Leđan soon became arrogant and turned the entire empire into ice with the help of the wild winter of Moran.
There was also the giant and underworld god Black (Chernobog), who wanted to destroy all life on Earth. This giant hated everything divine, beautiful, and good and feared Perun and his arrows. The giant overestimated the power of their race and decided to start a war. The giants climbed on each other's shoulders to destroy the Moon, the Sun, and the Sky, but Perun managed to shoot them down with his arrows. The giants were petrified and turned into hills. The main names here are Klek, Orjen, and Snow. While the giant Klek was trying to escape, Perun hit him with an arrow in the right vein, which is now called the river Dobra or Đula.
Istrian legends often mention giants, and some Italian writers such as Carls De Franceschia talk about giants from the Motovun area. They have written about these giants, perhaps because Istria is close to Italy and has historical ties with it. The history of the town of Motovun relates to a legend about giant beings in the valley of the river Mirna. They were so large that they could move tools and large stones great distances. Legends say that many giants lived in Istria in the past and were poisoned by dwarves. They left one giant in each city to serve them. The giants did the hardest jobs, built cities on hills, and in return, received only contempt and scorn. The most famous legend about the giants from this region is certainly the one about Veli Jože.
Veli Jože served the people of Motovun. The giant would sometimes shake the city bell tower to make up for his cruel owners. One day, they sent him to Venice. On the boat,
he met the Gallot Elijah, who taught him the importance of freedom. Gallot disappeared in a storm, and Jože was saved. He decided to persuade the other giants to rebel. However, the rebellion did not materialize because the dwarves bribed the giants with gold and wine. So, all the giants, except for Veli Jože, returned to their cities and became slaves again. Veli Jože retreated to the mountains and decided to wait for a better time to come. Perhaps he is still waiting, hidden on a hill overlooking the Mirna River Valley?
Today, the tale of a gentle giant who railed against humiliation resonates as an allegory against oppression and enslavement. There is even festival dedicated Veli Jože and other imaginary creatures in Motovun. The fans of local folklore will love this spot located near the Motovun post office, in the vicinity of the Andrea Antico Square. The mural depicts the giant Veli Jože as if brought to life straight from the famous Motovun legend!
Captain Morgan
Legend has it that the notorious pirate Captain Henry Morgan, fleeing the English, hid his treasure in the ancient Istrian castle Dvigrad. Everyone in the Caribbean feared Morgan, and he amassed his vast fortune by raiding ships off the coast of Cuba, Cartagena, and Granada. For some unknown reason, he resented the English, who decided to arrest him.
The skilled sailor Morgan did not want to surrender his treasure easily, so he decided to hide it. He sailed into the Lim Channel and then searched for an ideal place to hide the treasure, which he found in the ruins of the abandoned Dvigrad castle.
Are you ready for an adventure to search for treasures?
The Crown of King Tomislav
In the 15th, there were fights for the Croatian-Hungarian throne. A legend is related to this fight – the legend of the crown of King Tomislav.
The king who would rule this area had to be crowned with both crowns, the Croatian crown of King Tomislav and the Hungarian crown of St. Stephen. For the enthronement, one crown and the other crown had to be taken.
In the 15th century, a ship that was moving from the north to the Kingdom of Naples was also the hallmarks of the rule of the Croatian king, his crown, scepter and royal mantle. Finding out this, the supporters of the opposite side boarded their ship and set out in search of the ship and, of course, the crown, but the ship with the Croatian crown was hidden in the bay Blaz. Because of the fear that the enemy will get their hands on the valuable cargo of the ship, at least that is what the legend says, all the features of the authorities are hidden in a secret place in the bay of Blaz. Since then, every trace of everything has been lost.
And... after 300 years of torment, at least that's what the legend says, the crown reappeared on one occasion, and then disappeared without a trace again.
It was during Venice, when the Venetian governor was working “jir” in Istria and collecting taxes. When he was visiting each town, the village prefect had to honor him and had to provided him with a lodging area..
Thus, the Venetian regent came to the village of Belavići near Blaz, and in the evening, he was supposed to have dinner and to have a lodging in the village of prefect Grge Belavić. It was a rich dinner, with that there was a lot of wine, so during the dinner, his guests got drunk. In such a drunken atmosphere, Grgo Belavić disappeared briefly, and after a short time he appeared... but he had the crown of King Tomislav, a royal cloak and scepter. He walked in front of the cheerful guests, then he disappeared again, and later returned as if nothing had happened. The next day, sobering up, witnesses of this unusual event asked him, still insecure what they had seen it at all, about the details of the previous evening. However, Grgo Belavić kept the secret for himself, so everything was attributed to a very cheerful atmosphere and excessive alcohol consumption.
However, Grgo gave materials to various treasure seekers and today the area of Blaz and its surroundings are being searched by those who have been reached by this legend.
The Legend of Vampire Jure Grando
But the story of Jure Grando was the first ever recorded one. In 1689. Slovenian naturalist Janez Valvasor wrote down this local story that later found its way to different books and possibly inspired all later works to this day.
Long ago, in a small village, there was a man named Jure. Jure was good and honest man, but he died young, aged just 27.
After his death, Jure began to appear to the inhabitants of the village, knocking on their door. Every house that Jure was visited by a great accident would have been accidented - the death of one of the householders.
The villagers were terrified and didn't know what to do. One day, the mayor of the village gathered a group of peasants and decided to dig up Jura's corpse and pierce him with a beheading stake.
When the peasants came to Jura's grave, they opened it and were amazed. They were met by the deceased's blush face, decorated with a spooky smile.
Nine peasants fled, but later arrived at the cemetery again, accompanied by a priest. The peasants tried unsuccessfully to score a halo stake in Jura's chest. Eventually, one of the peasants beheaded him with an axe.
However, there’s another version of the story that says Jure was a honest and hardworking man who fell victim to a tragic fate. He was a stonemason who lived in Grando Station and was in love with a woman named Ivana or Rosa. According to the customs at the time, there was a rule called “jus primae noctis” which gave the lord of the land the right to spend the first night with the bride. The monks of St. Peter in the Forest controlled Kringa and Jure opposed their use of this rule and wanted to protect Ivana and himself. The monks feared that Jure’s example would be followed by others in the village and ordered the mayor, Mihi Radetić, to kill him. But the blow with a hammer only knocked Jure unconscious. People thought he was dead and buried him alive.
When he regained consciousness, he started calling for help from the grave. The mayor and the monk Juraj declared him a vampire and opened the grave, cut off his head and buried him again. In this way, they carried out the order of the monks, but also prevented Jure from telling what really happened. Since killed and suicides were not allowed to be buried in the cemetery, Jure Grando was buried outside of it. Today, it is believed that his grave is located under a stone path behind the church, near the current cemetery in Kringa.
Witch Mare of Svetvinčenat
Mara Radolovich, a heroine of Svetvinčenat, faced charges of witchcraft and signing a pact with the devil in 1632. Although she had helped her fellow citizens with her medicinal herbs until recently, her fate was sealed in the courtyard of the Grimani-Morosini castle.
According to another version of the legend, Mare was the secret mistress of a wealthy nobleman. Their relationship had to remain hidden, and Mare's unfortunate end was being burned at the stake.
Today, by visiting the Witch's House of Mare in Svetvinčenat, you can explore these legends using state-of-the-art technology.
Legend of the last Histrian King of Epulon
In the second century BC, Istria was home to the Histri, an Illyrian tribe that fiercely resisted Roman conquest. The Romans were formidable warriors, but the Histri were brave and determined. One of their most famous heroes was King Epulon, who inspired his people to fight to the end. After many years of resistance, the Romans finally conquered Istria. During one of the last conflicts, they besieged the Histrian fortress of Nesactium. The Histri defended it valiantly for months. Eventually, the Romans diverted the river that supplied the fort with water. Realizing that the fort was doomed, King Epulon, along with his family and comrades, leaped from the walls and committed suicide. This event even impressed Julius Caesar, who mentioned it in his memoirs.
The legend of St. Foški
The legend of St. Foška is one of the most famous and beautiful in Istria. It tells the story of a young girl’s courage, faith, and martyrdom.
Here is a summary of the legend:
Sveta Foška was the daughter of a wealthy and reputable nobleman from Raven, who was a staunch supporter of the Roman emperor Decius and his persecution of Christians. Foška, however, had a different heart from her father. As a child, she was drawn to the new faith preached by Jesus Christ, whom she learned about through her nanny Maura, a secret Christian. Foška often listened to Maura’s stories of Jesus’ love, mercy, and miracles and wanted to follow his example. At fifteen, she decided to be baptized and join the Christian community.
Her father discovered her faith when he saw her praying before a hidden cross in her room. Furious and disappointed, he accused her of treason and reported her to the Roman prefect
, who ordered her to renounce Christ or face death. Foška bravely refused to abandon her faith, declaring that she was ready to endure any suffering for her love of God. The prefect sentenced her to execution by sword, along with her nanny Mauren.
Before they were led to their execution, a miracle occurred: the soldiers sent to arrest them could not move them from their spot, as they were surrounded by two angels who protected them. The angels assured them not to fear, promising that God would be with them and reward their faithfulness. They were told their bodies would be thrown into the sea but would be washed ashore on the other side, where Christians would find and honor them.
Foška and Mauren were then taken to the shore, where they were beheaded and their bodies thrown into the waves. Instead of being swallowed by the sea, their bodies were carried for three days and nights before washing ashore in Tripolitia, Africa. There, they were discovered by Christians, buried with dignity, and a church was built over their graves.
The news of their martyrdom and the miracle spread quickly among Christians. Many began to pilgrimage to their tomb, seeking intercession and experiencing healings and comfort through their prayers. Later, their relics were transferred to Venice and kept in the Church of St. Foška on Torcello Island. From there, the veneration of St. Foška spread throughout Istria. Her main shrine is the Church of St. Foška near Batcai village, dating back to the 12th century. Every year, on February 13 or the first Sunday after, thousands of pilgrims visit this shrine to pray for her intercession and thank her for the graces received. Many bring gifts, which include various items related to the healing miracles attributed to St. Foška.
The legend of St. Foška is one of courage, faith, and miraculous events.
How the fairies built the Pula Arena
The impressive Pula Arena is one of Croatia’s most famous historical buildings, but little is known about its creation. Historians believe construction began in the 1st century under Emperor Augustus and was completed during the reign of the Flavian dynasty. However, a local legend claims that the arena was not built by Romans but by fairies.
According to the story, fairies lived in Istria in ancient times and decided to undertake a major construction project in Pula. Since they hid from humans during the day, they worked on the arena at night, transporting stones from Mount Učka. However, they were unable to complete the construction before sunrise and the crowing of the first rooster. Consequently, the large circular building was left without a roof, and stones were scattered across Istria as evidence of the fairies’ unfinished work. A more “realistic” version of the story suggests that Emperor Vespasian built the arena as a testament to his love for a local beauty, Antonia Cenida.
Legend of the Curse of King Zvonimir
In this legend, King Zvonimir is depicted as a just ruler who aided the good and punished the wicked. During his reign, people were content, and cities were filled with wealth.
However, during his time, the Byzantine emperor, at the Pope’s request, sent letters and emissaries asking for help from the Christian and righteous King Zvonimir. In the first letter, he asked Zvonimir to gather all the knights and barons at five churches in a field near Kosovo (near Knin).
Zvonimir informed them of the request, asking whether, along with other Christians from different countries, they would go to free the holy places where Christ suffered, was crucified, and buried. Upon hearing this, the “God-cursed and unbelieving Croats” angrily opposed the king, accusing him of planning to take them from their homes and rob the holy sites. They attacked King Zvonimir with weapons, wounding him and shedding his blood.
In pain and shock at his people’s rebellion, King Zvonimir cursed the Croatian people, saying, “May you never again have a king of your own blood!”
The circumstances of his death in 1089 remain unclear, and rumors about the curse persist. It is said that the curse prevented Croatia from being ruled by a native Croat for a thousand years. While this might be a mere legend, Croatia’s subsequent history of anarchy, war, and foreign domination adds an ironic twist to the tale.
The legend of Marco Polo
One of the most famous legends about Korčula is that it is the birthplace of the renowned explorer Marco Polo. This legend is fueled by the historical fact that Marco Polo was captured near Korčula in 1298 during a naval battle between Venice and Genoa. Just three years earlier, he had returned from his legendary journey to the Far East, which lasted 17 years and introduced him to famous rulers and customs.
Although it is widely accepted that Marco Polo was Venetian, a small house in Korčula claims to be his birthplace. Some argue that the name Depolo, previously associated with the house, is a
variant of Polo, and that Marco’s father Nicolo Pilic (another variant) was from Šibenik in Dalmatia and later moved to Venice. If Marco had been born on Korčula, his nationality would have been recorded as Venetian even though he was not born in Venice.
There is limited information about Marco’s early life. We know that his father and uncle were successful merchants who met Marco when he was about 15, after having left for their travels when his mother was pregnant. It is plausible that Marco’s mother gave birth in Korčula and later moved to Venice, but there is no concrete evidence.
This debate was highlighted in 2011 when a Marco Polo museum in Yangzhou, China, was opened by former Croatian president Stjepan Mesić, who controversially claimed Marco Polo as Croatian. This sparked headlines and debates about Marco Polo’s nationality. Despite the ongoing discussions, Marco Polo’s legacy continues to transcend national boundaries.
These are just some of the magical and romantic legends that bring the spirit of Istria and its history to life. I hope you enjoyed them.
ความคิดเห็น