Malinska: Cultural - historical walk.

If you want to explore the surrounding area of Malinska, through the history and culture of local monuments and churches, we recommend that you choose to visit six sites, which are sorted around different corners around Malinska. The route was originally considered as a walkway, as in that way you experience the true spirit of the place, while you are moving from one point to another. If you do not want additional recreation, and you are only interested in sightseeing, you can also visit them by car.

1. You may begin your path in a place called Fumak, where you rise on the gravelly path marked with numbered stones of the Cross; you rise on a small hill above the Cape Pelova. On the hill there is a monumental cross, set by Peter Trp from the place nearby called Turčići. He vowed during his life abroad, that one day he will create this cross. On the hill Fumak you can enjoy a wonderful view of the bay Čavlena, the island of Cres and the greater part of Kvarner. Close to the sea in the Gulf of St. Martin, you can also find the remains of the st. Martin church, which today are nothing but a few rocks on which stands a small chapel with Mother Mary.

2. The next stop is the monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Porat, who is about 50 minutes’ walk away from our first stop. The monastery is one of the most famous attractions in the surrounding area of Malinska. You will reach the monastery after you pass a luxury hotel Pinia, with a beautiful grassy garden and sun loungers. From a distance, you may notice a few nuns who are usually walking around the area. To view the museum with a sacred collection, ring the bell at the gate, which is located in the corner next to the 500 years old church. There will always be someone who will see you and show you around the museum collection, where you will see a series of historical books, old monastic clothes, copies of the most important Croatian Glagolitic records, stone monuments and other objects. Then you will enter the premises where they stored Old-device called “Toš”, which was built in 1850 in the monastery for processing olives, there is as well a range of agricultural tools, which you can see on the wall in this room. When you visit the museum it is fitting that before you leave you write something in their guestbook, because that means a lot to them. Also throw a few coins in a box next to the book, which is intended for the maintenance of the Glagolitic monastery called (trečeredci).

3. From the famous monastery to the next stop it will take you about 35 minutes of walking. You will arrive to the place where today is located the cemetery of St. Apolinar in Dubašnica. Up to 1855 there was situated the church of Sv. Apolinar, who was then with the help of oxen (animals) moved to the village Bogovići. The only thing left was the bell tower with motifs from the late Gothic period, built in 1618. Even today, you can notice traces of the church, which was once leaning against the stone bell tower. With the help of traces on the tower, you can also measure height of the church. The length of this cemetery surrounded by cypress trees measures around 50 meters in width and 40 meters in length. The silence of this holy place is only occasionally interrupted by sounds of pigeons and pheasants nesting in the area.

4. The route will take you about 25 minutes until you reach the stop number 4. This stop is presented by a cross build by the road at a crossroads Bogovič-Sv.Anton-Milovčići. Cross wears the inscription: Sacred Mission and date of 17 December 1863. The cross is famous by the tradition associated with the story of the missionaries, who cast a spell above the foxes, which were apparently causing damage. After this spell the foxes disappeared from the entire island. After World War II they reappeared.

5. From there, head to the fifth point, which is located just off the main road on the left side when looking towards the island of Krk. There you will see a sign along the road, which is directed into the woods and indicates the Chapel of St. Ivan de Matha (Matahara). The chapel is located in the forest, which is owned by Ivan Kraljič of Oštrobradić. On this property between the ruins they’ve found a picture of St. John de Math, which is today located on the wall of the newly constructed chapel, which was the result of generous labor immigrants from America. This chapel is today owned by residents of Dubašnica.

6. This last point represents the St. Peter church on Veher, which rises above the village Gabonjin. To the church from the village Gabonjin leads an interesting and instructive, 200 meters long Glagolithic path, which extends over the hill to the church of Sv. Peter and contains 37 stone slabs, engraved with the letters of the entire Glagolitic alphabet. The road was later renamed into St. Glagolitic Path of Peter Gabonjin. Towards the same church runs several routes, but this is definitely the most interesting one, so I recommend that you first head to the village Gabonjin and from there rise to the last point where you will be greeted by historic church build in 1279. Next to the church is a beautiful viewing point from which we can see previously mentioned village and the northern part of the island Krk. When visibility is clear, the view extends even to the highest peak of Istria – Učka and other seaside resorts. Such good visibility is also the reason that this was once a watch point from which princes Frankopans, controlled the Venetian ships, which sailed across the Bay of Kvarner.

You can access to the church of Sv. Petar:

– Gabonjin – St. Peter 20 minutes

– Ljutic – St. Peter 1 hour and 25 minutes

– Rasopasno – St. Peter 45 minutes

If you decide to visit all of this sites on foot, this might turn into a whole day trip. I recommend a use of a map and a bucket of luck.