Istria, considered by many to be Croatia's most beautiful region, is a location that has it all. Its cities and villages, from the coast to the interior, will enchant you with its beauty, gorgeous landscape, cultural legacy, and excellent gastronomy. For years, Istria has drawn travelers from all over the world who are fascinated by its natural beauty. Kotli is one of the areas that has grown in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years.
Many people in Hum county believe that the name stems from the fact that the water flows in the stone bed of a tiny river from a little or larger dip that mimics a form.
Boilers are pots used in rural households for cooking over open fires. Water pours from one "boiler" to another in the splashing waterfalls, eventually flowing down a high rock and collecting in a vast natural pool called Slap. (Slap literally meaning waterfall)
Because of its isolation, the settlement of Kotli has retained its rustic appearance from the end of the nineteenth century, as well as the famous mills, which were operated until 1964. The stone homes contain a variety of timber components that were commonly employed in northern Istria's historic architecture. The houses are more elaborate and wealthy in comparison to their surroundings.
Life was prosperous in Kotli because of the flourishing trade, and the inhabitants were known as skilled musicians of traditional instruments like as the bajs, violin, and clarinet.
River Mirna comes face to face with life in the ancient wealth of the mills, as the old bridge unites land and water in anticipation of her homecoming. This is the place where the giants sleep. Kotli was once the most prosperous village in the Hum region, with well-known millers and tailors. The mill there has withstood the test of time. Kotli is now a protected rural area with well-preserved courtyards, ballads, vaults, and gorgeous chimneys. The river Mirna flows through the settlement, cascading over the rocks and digging in the stone cauldron hollows that give the village its name.
There was no primary school in the village before the Second World War, so the children walked to a school in Hum, which was a few kilometers distant. Prior to the establishment of the school in Hum in the middle of the nineteenth century, and during the years when it was closed, students from Kotli attended classes in Buzet.
The historic walled route extends through the Rečina Valley to Buzet, where children went to school and people from Kotli drove their wares to Sveti Ivan (Saint John) near Buzet for the yearly fair, held in June.
In the verdant valley of Rečina river, the waters of which, after joining the tributary Drago, run as the Mirna, Istrian's longest and most famous river. The river's official name is Rečina, and it is marked on most maps as such, however the people who live nearby call it Mirna. When the snows of Učka and Ćićarija begin to melt in the spring, and after heavy rains, a torrent of water pours through its bed, and by the end of the summer, after protracted droughts, it can totally dry up.
After WWII, it suffered the fate of many tiny villages and towns in Istria's interior, whose populations began to emigrate. People from Kotli moved to Buzet, in the vicinity of Pore and Koper, to try to make a living, and the houses, abandoned and abandoned to the ravages of time, began to crumble.
The 1970s census showed 14 more inhabitants living in the village, but they too soon left, and Kotli remained an empty and dead place. Today, Kotli has come to life, but only "on paper" - the village has one resident, according to the 2001 census.
I discussed the cities of Hum and Buzet earlier in this essay. I will undoubtedly write about them in subsequent posts. As a tiny curiosity, I'd like to notify you that Hum is the world's tiniest city. How intriguing does that sound?
We can all agree that Croatia has a plethora of stunning spots that will steal your breath away with their beauty. These are the spots where you depart with your batteries charged and your heart full of wonderful memories. As a result, this modest yet lovely jewel was also included in my postings.
I'd like to share a couple of macro photographs I took at that location with you.
Be safe my Hive friends, and be happy. I hope you will enjoy my post , please let me know if you did. :) Bye till next time with stunning sunset on my way home.
“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.”
– J. R. R. Tolkien