This longer cycling trail, called the Izgubljene krune kralja Tomislava (The lost crowns of King Tomislav), is suitable for cyclists. The trail stretches from Puntera to the Blaz bay, where it continues uphill on macadam roads that lead back to the starting point in Puntera. The trail is circular, with a starting and ending point in Puntera, with a total length of 17.5 km and a 470-metre altitude difference.
The trail is called Izgubljene krune kralja Tomislava (The lost crowns of King Tomislav) in accordance with an existing legend. The story of the legend goes like this: During the 15th century, battles raged in Croatia over the royal Hungarian-Croatian throne. There were several contenders for the position, and each party supported its own candidate. The ruler of the joint kingdom was to be crowned with the Hungarian crown of St. Stephen, and the Croatian crown of King Tomislav. Ships transporting the Croatian royal ensign to Naples, where the coronation was to take place, clashed with the forces of the opposition candidate, and the ship carrying the sceptre, crown and sword hid in Raša Bay. According to legend, Croatian royal symbols were hidden in that bay, specifically in the Blaz cove, and all traces of them have been lost ever since. About three hundred years later, an interesting event took place in the nearby village of Belavići. This was when the Venetian viceroy visited Istrian towns to collect taxes, and according to protocol he was usually hosted by the local village prefect. In this case, it was Grgo Belavić, who, after completing the administrative part, prepared a rich dinner for the Venetian viceroy and his men, with lots of wine. When the dinner advanced, and the participants fell under the influence of wine, the host snuck out of the house for a while, only to return shortly after with a crown on his head, a sceptre in his hand, a mantle and other royal signs. He briefly strutted in front of distinguished guests, then disappeared again. The next morning, remembering the event hazily, the Venetian viceroy asked the host about the strange event, but Grgo Belavić answered very decisively that nothing unusual had happened the previous evening, except for good fun. Thus, everything is attributed to the influence of wine, and it remains to be speculated whether the crown of King Tomislav was still in Blaz cove in the Raška Bay or not.
Foto: Barbara Ban, David Matković, Loris Zupanc