As part of the MEDS garden+ Steering Committee meeting in Koper, a special study tour was organized for project partners from Slovenia and Italy, connecting cultural heritage, the use of Mediterranean herbs, and the local gastronomy of Slovenian Istria.
On the first day, the partners visited the village of Krkavče, where they were welcomed at the Vrešje House by a hostess in the role of a Šavrinka. She greeted them with a traditional welcome – bread dipped in red wine with olive oil (Šavrinka soup) – and presented the way people used to live in Istria: from grinding flour and producing oil and wine, to preparing humble but authentic meals such as polenta and minestrone. After visiting the museum collection and the village of Krkavče, the evening concluded with a dinner featuring Istrian prosciutto, cheeses, olives, artichokes, olive oils, fuži with truffles, pljukanci with wild asparagus,
and other local delicacies.
The next day, the journey continued into the pristine Dragonja River Valley, where the group visited the Bonistra herbal farm. Surrounded by sage, lavender, and helichrysum, they observed the production of hydrosols and essential oils and learned
more about working with authentic Istrian herbs. The farm operates under the brand Bonistra – Born in Istria, symbolizing love for nature, quality, and tradition. The tour concluded at the Piran Salt Pans, where partners discovered how traditional Piran salt and fleur de sel have been produced for over 700 years – both protected by a Geographical Indication (GI) mark. Partners expressed great enthusiasm for the program and agreed that the experience was not only educational but also inspiring for the continued development of the MEDS garden+ project.
