IAS NIKA TRAVEL

Groznjan, Istria, Croatia

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After the second Worls war, Istria was divided into two parts, the Yugoslav one and the Free Territory of Trieste, which was divided into Zone A, controlled by the US Army, and Zone B, controlled by the Yugoslav Army. Grožnjan become a part of Zone B. On October 5, 1954 the London Memorandum was signed and Zone A was assigned to Italy, and Zone B to the People’s Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1975 the Treaty of Osimo divided the Free Territory of Trieste and Grožnjan became officially part of Yugoslavia.

The London Memorandum provided a possibility of opting out which - together with nationalization, confiscation, forced cooperatives, poor agrarian policy (instead of traditional crops like grapes, olives and fruits, farmers had to grow wheat), severing of traditional ties with Koper and Trieste, limitation of religious freedoms, forced school reform, and various other restrictions and fear-mongering - contributed, along with strong anti-Italian propaganda, to a mass exodus. By April 1956 more than 2/3 of the population emigrated from the area to Italy.

In 1955 Grožnjan lost its municipality status and became part of Buje municipality. In 1965, when the Town of Arts was founded, some houses were given to artists from Croatia, Slovenia and Vojvodina, and some were assigned to the Cultural Centre of the International Music Youth Federation in 1969. In 1993. Grožnjan got its municipality status again.

Today Grožnjan is the meeting point of young musicians from all over the world because the International Cultural Centre of Young Musicians has its seat here. Every year Grožnjan organizes music courses (violin, cello, viola, piano, organ, etc.), orchestra courses, ballet courses, recital, directing, video and sound recording and reproduction courses, seminars for architects, panel discussions about environmental protection and yoga courses. The area offers good opportunities for walking, cycling, hunting and spelaeology. A restaurant in Grožnjan offers Istrian specialities. During summer months concerts and music events are held almost every day. At the end of summer, the international art ex tempore is held. Grožnjan is also the location of an annual jazz festival, attracting international musicians. In 2008 it won the European award for best small jazz festival. It is normally held for two weeks at the end of July and early August. From 2009 it will last for three weeks.