Veli Badin - “Ears of Istria”
| Region | Coastal - Karst Statistical Region |
| Starting point | Sočerga Village, St. Kvirin’s Church |
| Route length | 2,74 km (1,70 miles) |
| route duration | 2-3 h |
| Best time to visit | spring, summer, autumn, winter |
| Appropriate for | Baby Carriers , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
| Level of difficulty | Moderately easy route |
Route Description
Certain destinations, which we all already know well or have visited several times, are often praised. There is not so much talk about the “Ears of Istria”, but it seems to us that this location should be one of the top five tourist spots in Slovenia, as the place is straight out of a fairytale!
The starting point for the hike is the St. Kvirin’s Church in the village of Sočerga. Drive along a narrow asphalt road, which branches off to the left from the main road at the very beginning of the village - there is also a small sign that directs you to the left up the hill, to the mentioned church. Be careful, the road sign is quite hidden and appears at the beginning of the village.
Park at the St. Kvirin’s Church and go past the building. The path descends slowly for the first half hour, goes past the nearby bunker (smaller natural window) and continues through the village of Dvori, where there is also an entry box. The trail goes in a circle and has quite a few information boards. Rock shelters of the Karst ridge of Veli Badin at Sočerga are a great natural sight of Slovenia. These walls fall steeply towards the border crossing above the village of Mlini. The erosion that is evident here is the remainder of collapsed karst caves. It is not completely clear how they were formed, but it was probably a combination of tectonic, temperature and also corrosive events.
The rock shelters are indeed fascinating and with a little imagination they really remind us of giant ears. These rock formations catch the sound of the surroundings well. There are several rock shelters, some are shallower, others deeper - the largest of them is 13 meters (42 feet) deep and 12 meters (39 feet) high. Rare birds also nest here, and visitors should not disturb them.
On your way back stop by the natural bridge with an arch which is six meters (19 feet) long and 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) high. If you decide to come here in the summer heat, we advise caution and lots of water. Locals say the area is most magical in autumn, when the shrubs turn orange.
Interesting Facts
Only a few km from Sokoliče stands the famous Church of Holy Trinity in the village of Hrastovlje.
The Church of Holy Trinity stands on a small elevation above the village, within the walls built for protection. It was sanctified in 1475. The interior is entirely covered by an exceptional medieval and renaissance fresco cycle, the best known in the Slovenian part of Istria. An unusual scene appears in the northern apse. The three Wise Men are seated on the throne and next to them stand the saints Cosmas and Damian. The cycle of the Passion of Christ covers the western and a part of the southern wall, the bottom area of which shows a detailed scene of the Dance of Death.
Dance of Death is a fresco covering a part of the Church of Holy Trinity wall in the village of Hrastovlje. John from Kastav (Johannes de Castua) signed it and wrote the year of its creation (1490).
The seven-meter (22-feet)-long fresco depicts a procession in which representatives of various strata of society and all ages move towards the tomb. From pope, king and queen to monk and citizen to beggar and child, each time paired with a skeleton who does not joke around, does not take bribes, and treats all people equally. Death is relentless and laughs at everybody’s faces. Everyone arrives with her at the same destination: her kingdom of grave. The fresco was probably created under the impression of medieval plague epidemics.
Map
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Nearby Restaurants
Švab Inn in Hrastovlje
Exhausted and hungry from a family trip to the waterfall and the church in Hrastovlje, we decided to have lunch at an authentic coastal inn. Their menu is full of local Istrian cuisine. The staff prepares dishes according to old recipes, just as mothers, aunts and grandmothers used to prepare them at Istrian hearths for centuries. They serve grilled and sauce ombolo, veal and pork legs, steaks, pork medallions, trout of every kind in polenta, etc. Are you drooling already ;)? We gobbled up the homemade bread before the entrees, and the staff was so friendly that they even mashed a stew specifically for our baby girl, who had only 3 teeth at the time. There is a small children's playground outside and a changing table inside. We highly recommend this inn!
Hrastovlje 53
6275 Hrastovlje
+386 (0)41 688 156,
+386 (0)41 685 408
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
During spring, you can choose from variously prepared asparagus dishes while visiting the Karst region. Asparagus is a long and green plant that parents say is edible and healthy. We find it really funny that the urine has a very interesting smell after you eat this vegetable, hee hee.
