Istarske toplice - Motovun Forest - Višnjan

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Istarske toplice

In the immediate vicinity, beneath an 85m tall rock, at the curative spring known as St. Stephen, lies the health resort Istarske toplice or Terme, known as early as Antiquity, testified by finds of coins, jewelry, inscriptions … The rock bears the ruins of the old chapel of St. Stephen, and in the vicinity, remains of a prehistoric hill-fort and Roman fortification. There are no greater remains that date from the Middle Ages. In his valuable recordings, the Bishop of Novigrad, Tomasini mentions Terme Santo Stefano in the 17th c. The first analysis of water was done in the 19th c. (results are identical to the ones today!), so the Gravisi family, owners of the neighboring Pietrapolesa, built a health resort in Terme, which at the time consisted of just two wooden buildings. However, Terme Santo Stefano became well-known across the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the area of the health resort was gradually extended. In the beginning of the 20th c. it was established that the water was naturally radioactive and rich in sulphur as well as 13 other minerals.
During World War II the buildings were nearly destroyed and the renovation and extension of the health resort began in the 60s; today its facilities and appearance make it an exemplary representative of modern health tourism.