Historic City Gates

Buzet is a hill town in northern Istria, on a rocky ridge above the Mirna River valley in Croatia, and it is often called the town of truffles because of the white and black truffles found in the nearby forests. The old town, called Gornji Grad or Upper Town, is built on the hill and was fortified for centuries because of its position on the border between Venetian Istria and the lands to the north. The historic city gates mark the main entrance to this walled centre, and passing through them is the best way to understand how the town was meant to be approached.

The gates date from the Venetian period and are usually described as 16th-century. Like the walls and towers around them, they were designed to control who entered the town and to protect the inhabitants during times of attack, with a narrow passage that could be closed with heavy doors. Today they work as a symbolic threshold. On one side is the modern lower town, with its shops and traffic, and on the other the quiet cobbled lanes of the old town, with stone houses, small squares and views over the surrounding hills.

Once inside, there are several landmarks within a short walk. The Church of St. George (Crkva sv. Jurja) is the main church, with a Baroque character and a prominent bell tower that is a feature of the skyline. The Bigatto Palace is an old townhouse that now serves cultural purposes and gives an idea of the elegant homes of local families under Venetian rule. The walls and towers on the edge of the old town offer the best views, with the valley, the forests and distant hills all visible on a clear day.

Buzet's food culture is part of the visit. Local restaurants and shops sell truffle products, olive oil, cured meats and Istrian wines, and in autumn the town celebrates its signature ingredient at the Truffle Days festival, when stalls and events fill the streets. A walk through the gates and around the old town takes an hour or so, with more time if you stop for a meal.

The area suits history enthusiasts, food lovers and photographers. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled, sloping streets, and go in the late afternoon for the best light on the stone. Parking is usually possible near the foot of the old town, and the rest of the visit is on foot.