Lavanda is lavender, which grows abundantly in Istria. L is also for Labin, one of Istria's most charming hilltop towns. L is also for Loža. The Italian word is loggia, a covered gallery similar to a veranda or porch. This is a typical architectural feature in many towns and villages across Istria which dates back to Venetian times. You can see more examples in a previous post.
Koza is the Croatian word for goat. The goat is the symbol of Istria, and is represented on the Istrian flag (above). Istria's goat is also found on the Croatian flagrepresenting the region of Istria: it's on one of the five shields making up a crown above the central red and white checkered shield. K is also for Krasna zemljo Krasna zemljo (beautiful land) is a hymn that was adopted in 2002 as the official anthem of the Istrian Region. The lyrics were written by Ivan Cukon in 1912, while the music was composed by Matko Brajša Rašan. The Croatian lyrics and their translation are available here. And here's a beautiful musical and visual representation of Krasna zemljo by the Croatian tourist office:
K is also for Konoba A konoba is a tavern which is often family-run and serves traditional local dishes. The konoba is also the name for the cellar in a house where wine and other food is stored. K is also for Kažun
Jadran (pronounced yadran – the J is pronounced Y) is the name for the Adriatic Sea in Croatian. Istria as a peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea on all three sides, so its history and many aspects of everyday life are intrinsically tied to it. J is also for Jugo, the warm wind that blows from the South and brings cloudy and rainy weather.
Continuing with this A to Z of Istria, today's post is short and sweet. I is for Istra Istra is simply Istria in Croatian (and Istrian). I is also for Istrijanski And Istrijanski is the name for the Istrian language.
Harmonika is the Croatian word for accordion, a popular instrument in Istria. Every celebration includes the lively and joyful sounds of the accordion – which is often accompanied by singing. When I hear an accordion being played in the village, I know something's up: a wedding, a birth, or another cause for celebration. You may be wondering... if harmonika is the word for accordion, then what's a harmonica (or mouth organ) called? In Istrian dialect, it's organić, while the Croatian word is usna harmonika. H is also for Histri The Histri were Istria's first inhabitants – they were an Illyrian tribe who lived on the peninsula around 1000 BC. This is how Istria got its name.
By the way... yes, I am back home in Istria after spending most of the winter in India, and I will be sharing the local sights and sounds of Istria again, and giving readers a break from the Istria abecedary! From now on, the abecedary posts will continue but will be interrupted with updates about life in Istria. Also, this month my article on seaside Istria was published in the in-flight magazine of Aer Lingus. The Irish national airline offers flights from Dublin to Pula during the spring and summer tourist season. You can read the article here.
The Glagolitic alphabet dates back to the 9th century, and is the oldest known Slavic alphabet. It was in use in Croatia from the 12th to the 20th century. Glagolitic inscriptions can be seen in several places in Istria. These stone tablets with Glagolitic characters in the image above are found in Hum's town gate.
