PARENZANA
ROUTE BACKGROUND
ONCE A RAILWAY LINE ...
For 33 years, a black locomotive was puffing its way from Trieste along the Slovenian coast and deep into the Croatian inland, passing tiny Istrian villages all the way to Poreč.
A model of a locomotive in Vižinada (Croatia)
It slowly dragged passenger and freight cars behind.
So slowly that those on board could hop off, stretch their legs, go pick some fruit from the trees along the track, and then easily just hop back on.
Young ladies would throw love letters directly into the letter box on the postal carriage so the names of their lovers remained a secret from the nosy villagers.
Meanwhile, the children had fun coating the tracks with ripe figs.
This caused the train to stop because it was losing its grip, and the tracks had to be cleaned before continuing with the journey.
Rakotule (Croatia)
THE TRAVELLING SPEED
Because of the hilly landscape, the railway track had numerous bends, and the train had to overcome some steep inclines.
As a result, its average speed was 25 km/h (15 m/h), and the highest speed was only 31 km/h, (19 m/h).
The journey between Trieste and Poreč (the distance od 123 km / 76 miles) therefore took 7 hours.
View over Motovun (Croatia)
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARENZANA LINE
From 1902 until 1935, this railway line was connecting people and nations, and with ensuring vibrant trading, it was mostly providing prosperity to otherwise remote Istrian inland regions.
The train transported wine and olive oil, as well as fruit, vegetables, livestock, fish, salt, and stone slabs from quarries.
During World War I, the army and food provisions for the region of Istria were also transported on the same line.
THE DECLINE OF THE RAILWAY LINE
In the end, the decline of the narrow-gauge railway between the port cities of Trieste and Poreč was caused by the economic crisis as well as the more competitive maritime transport and transport by buses.
Therefore, the line was closed in 1935.
It was in operation for 33 years: 18 years under the Austro-Hungarian rule, and 15 years under the rule of Italians.
... NOW A RECREATIONAL TRAIL
The former railway line was being overgrown by macchia shrubs, bushes, and forests, until decades later the 3 countries the train had passed on its way found a common thread.
At the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Parenzana Railway Line, in 2002, the Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia seized the opportunity to revive the sleepy, forgotten places along the track.
An idea was formed to turn the former railway line into a recreational path for joggers, hikers, and cyclists.
It was named Parenzana, the Route of Health and Friendship, after the italian name for Poreč (Parenzo).
