{"id":36766,"date":"2020-10-30T14:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=36766"},"modified":"2020-10-30T14:11:49","modified_gmt":"2020-10-30T13:11:49","slug":"green-gradin-hinterland-slovenian-istria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/green-gradin-hinterland-slovenian-istria\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Gradin – The Undiscovered Magical Hinterland of Slovenian Istria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beautiful nature, charming, clustered stone villages, hospitable locals with a pleasant, melodic dialect, and excellent cuisine will strongly impress the visitor of Slovene Istria<\/strong>, who travels along the narrow winding roads in the hinterland of the Slovenian coast.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nine settlements with many hamlets form the local community of Gradin<\/strong> that is the most remote local community in the Municipality of Koper, Slovenia<\/a>. Distance from cities is an advantage in these places. Unspoiled nature, clean air, silence, and excellent spring water,<\/strong> will embrace the visitor with peace and contribute to better well-being.<\/p>\n

Green Gradin’s History<\/h2>\n

In the 1960s and 1970s, villages in the area were rapidly emptied due to a wave of emigration to major cities<\/strong>. People longed for better living and working conditions, and the infrastructure here was disorganized, with only farming offering a modest income.<\/p>\n

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It was not until the 1980s that living conditions in the area slowly began to improve, and the villages gradually got asphalt roads and water supply. Several more decades passed before people started to return to abandoned homes,<\/strong> renovate and build houses, cultivate overgrown fertile areas and bring life back to empty villages.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Accommodation<\/h2>\n

In Green Gradin, tourism is at its beginnings, so there are only a few possibilities for accommodation. However,\u00a0 the existing ones are designed and furnished with good taste in a traditional style<\/strong> and offer a unique experience of living.<\/strong> Among all Gradin’s accommodation facilities there is one very unique and different.\"The<\/p>\n

The Sunny Hill<\/strong> in Hrvoji village is a permaculture homestead<\/strong> that offers simple accommodation in a former rectory, restored with natural materials. The house has clay plasters and wooden floors. The food on Sunny Hill is mostly organic, and the vegetables and spices are grown in their permaculture gardens. At Sunny Hill, they organize cultural evenings or socialize by the bone fire with music. Guests from the house and surroundings are welcome.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Rich flavors of the Istrian hinterland<\/h2>\n

Istrian cuisine is characterized by rich and full flavors created by imaginative combinations of fresh local ingredients<\/strong> with the addition of herbs and wild plants. The simple preparation of traditional dishes and the abundant use of olive oil ensures an authentic taste and a healthy culinary experience.\u00a0<\/strong>\"Gradin<\/p>\n

The cuisine of the Istrian hinterland<\/strong> is known for the specialties that the visitor in Green Gradin must try. These include homemade pasta (fu\u017ei),\u00a0 polenta, gnocchi, various stews, and venison. Traditional dishes are prepared with different meat products (prosciutto, pancetta, blood sausages, sausages), delicious cheeses (sheep, goat, and cow), and eggs.<\/p>\n\n\t\t