Castles & ruins 2: Dvigrad, HR

Dvigrad is the name of a town which before belong to two towns actually: Moncastel и Parentin in ancient time, renamed by Venetians into Duecastelli. Originally both towns were founded by Illyrians, we know about them since year 879: there is a document about dispute between catholic Pula and The Patriarchate of Aquileia. 

Citizens of Dvigrad were not much involved though in this quarrel, they were busy with their crops (Dvigrad surrounded by fertile valley) and trades – the towns overlooked river and sea coast, controlling every trade route of this part of Adriatic. So people of Dvigrad just watch them fanatics fight over their imaginary friend with the wine in hand at the tables full of food.

But – as usual – peaceful life of wealthy people become a target, and in several wars Venice took over both, despite their frantic defenses. It took time, but in 1381 both towns were severely damaged and conquered, Venice totally destroyed Parentin and Moncastel become catholic Venetian property as most of the Istria.

Anyways, Duecastelli or Dvigrad prospered under Venice rule too and we can see it today as town ruins are actually in good conditions, because

One sunny day local shepherd boy met on the road to the town an old lady who asked for a ride to the town gates. The boy helped her to get on his cart and brought old woman to the town gate. The old hag then smile unpleasantly showing her rotten teeth and thank the boy telling: „you are a good lad, so tell your family they need to go as far from the town as possible and quick“. And old witch hobbled to the town streets.

The boy come home and told his parents all about it, the parents just shrugged their shoulders saying that people use to become weird with the age but the son did good to help the old lady. Only his grandma was shocked and ordered the whole family to pick up supplies and go away from the town. Family was upset with grandma stress but listen and did what she told.

And in the town that same night a plague broke out – and so dreadful as never before, people were dying in their houses, on the streets and on the road too – those who tried to escape, noone survived. The ghosts of dead diseased townsfolk haunted Dvigrad long years since – so noone ever lived there anymore.

The ones stupid enough to go to the town later told that they were seeing the old hag Plague, those usually died too, infecting others. Dvigrad become cursed empty place for centuries and its buildings were not even used as a construction materials – so much people were afraid of old Plague still living there.

Apart from the legends, according to the church registers from around 1630^th there were 700.000 people living in Dvigrad, after plague end of 17^th century the town mentioned as empty and still infected.

Todays ruins are perfect for archeologist of nowadays as they are not destroyed by fires or thieves, it declined naturally and for today you can see about 200 houses, cathedral of St.Sofia, squares, streets, double walls around the town, market places etc

Have a look from above:  Dvigrad