VIŠNJAN

The building of the Višnjan Railway Station, sandwiched under the “armpit” of the modern motorway, called the Istrian Y, has been preserved almost in its original form. The town of Višnjan stands 60 metres above the station. The name of the town probably derives from the Latin word Vicinianus, which means “near”, because in the past Višnjan was the closest neighbour of Poreč. Parenzana brought it even closer, so that livestock products, olive oil, wine and fruit reached the customers easier and faster. Today, Višnjan is best known for its unique observatory, which is among the twelve most effective ones in the world by the number of discovered asteroids. Due to the increasing light pollution of the sky above Višnjan, a new observatory was built on the Tićan Hill, situated between Višnjan and Karojba.