Dvigrad is one of the oldest walled cities in Croatia, located near the town of Kanfanar. Dvigrad is located in the valley dredge. Lim Bay, which goes in the gorge, is a natural border between the regions of poreč and Pula.

Dvigrad known since ancient times. The gorge in which it lies the city, once was the most important trade route in Istria. At the beginning of its existence, the town consisted of two settlements. But currently preserved only one of them (Dvigrad). And settlement Parentin, which was on the South of the gorge, completely destroyed.

From the times of the Roman Empire, Dvigrad was considered part of the province of Istria, and its location is favorable from an economic point of view. In those days, the city prospered, but after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Dvigrad also lost its importance. And later, ravaged the land of epidemics was almost completely destroyed.

In VI-VII centuries the lands of Istria again began to be populated by different nationalities – the Slovenes and Croats. But only in the middle Ages, Benedictine monks have mastered these lands and brought them into order. In the XI century on the territory of the city was laid a fortress from the XIV century due to constant wars with the Venetian Republic, the fortress was subjected to frequent sieges. The city fell in 1413. Venice appointed its ruler. Dvigrad had to pay annually at 390 pounds.

From 1544 until the end of the XVI century this area was constantly faced between Austria and Venice. After the termination of these wars Dvigrad became subject to attacks by pirates-uschakov (defectors from Slavic lands), but to fully capture the city they could not. In 1650, the Italian Bishop of Tommasini found in Degrade just a few families and a strong desolation. Later, in 1714 Dvigrad finally became “dead city”, because even the Basilica. Sophia was abandoned, dried up wells, the city was overgrown with weeds.

In our days preserved city gate and the line of the fortification wall, and the once huge watchtowers. The Basilica was destroyed in the nineteenth century, but the ruins of some city buildings. Well preserved main gate of Dvigrad. Inside the fortress ruins of buildings.