Description of the attraction
The summer residence of the bishops of Porec is most often characterized as a deserted castle, which in principle can be called the most accurate definition of this sight of Vrsar.
The building was built between the 12th and 13th centuries and is a monumental palace structure located very close to the parish church of St. Martin. Initially, a modest Romanesque palace was erected on the same site. After some time, the building underwent significant changes: the walls were strengthened and the total area increased.
The architecture of the palace, which we can see today, has retained features of various styles, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque. In the southern part of the building, there are two towers (one of which supposedly served as a prison), which were previously monitored.
The palace itself has an impressive number of rooms in which not only the owners, but the servants and guests could live. The first floor was occupied by presses for pressing oils, ovens, water tanks, stables and warehouses for products. By the way, all food products were grown in the bishopric estates in the vicinity of the city.
When Poreč was overtaken by a plague epidemic or military action, the bishops tried to move to Vrsar for a while. For example, when the revolt of 1299 was raised, Bishop Bonifatius tried to leave the city as soon as possible and find refuge in the palace. For some bishops, the castle generally became a permanent place of residence. In addition, Ruggiero Tritoni and Zhanbatista de Judice were buried here.
After the abolition of the right to property in 1778 by the bishops of Porec, the palace was transferred to the ownership of the Venetian Republic. Almost two centuries later, the monumental building became the property of the patrician Vergottini family.
In the XX century, the palace began to slowly but surely collapse - today it requires an early restoration.
