This small hilltop town in Istria has become an arts hub since the 1960s, with over 20 galleries and music workshops filling its medieval stone buildings.
Perched 230 meters above the Mirna Valley in Croatia's Istria region, Grožnjan draws artists and musicians to its stone-paved streets. In the Fonticus Gallery, housed in a 16th-century loggia, contemporary artists display their latest works. Around the corner, ceramic artists shape clay in open studios, while jazz notes drift from the main square during the annual Jazz is Back festival in July.
Art Galleries and Studios
Artists have transformed Grožnjan's stone buildings into working studios and exhibition spaces since the 1960s. Walk into any of the 20 galleries to watch painters at their easels or jewelers crafting pieces at their workbenches. The Fonticus Gallery changes its exhibitions monthly, displaying works from both Croatian and international artists in its historic 16th-century space.
Summer Music and Culture
Each July, the Jazz is Back festival transforms the main square into an open-air concert venue for two to three weeks. After winning recognition as Europe's best small jazz festival in 2008, the event now attracts musicians from across Europe and beyond. The village also hosts summer programs in music, art, and dance, with daily classes taking place in converted stone buildings throughout town.
Streets and Architecture
The baroque Church of St. Vitus dominates the central square, its 1770 structure replacing a 14th-century church that once stood on the same spot. Stone-paved lanes lead away from the church in all directions, winding past centuries-old houses with green shutters and red-tiled roofs. Several paths end at viewing platforms overlooking the Mirna Valley below.
Food and Local Products
Local restaurants serve Istrian specialties, including pasta dishes topped with truffles hunted in nearby forests. Along the main street, you'll find shops selling jars of local honey and bottles of Malvazija and Teran wines from surrounding vineyards. Many restaurants have outdoor terraces where you can dine while looking out over the valley.
Getting There and Around
Drive 25-30 minutes inland from Umag, Novigrad, or Porec to reach Grožnjan. Leave your car in the parking lot at the village entrance - the center is pedestrian-only. A 5-10 minute uphill walk takes you through the village to several viewpoints, where on clear days you can see across olive groves and vineyards all the way to the Adriatic Sea.
