- by croatiaweek
- March 9, 2026
- in
(Photo: 10th Festival of Istarska Supa Rovinjsko Selo)
ZAGREB, 9 March (Hina) – Istrian soup, a traditional drink of the Istrian Peninsula, has been officially entered into Croatia’s Register of Cultural Goods, recognising its significance as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage, the Rovinj City Administration announced.
The nomination was submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Media by the local association Agrorovinj, with the support of the City of Rovinj.
The registration helps protect and transmit this practice, which is not only a culinary tradition but also a social custom closely tied to Istrian identity and way of life.
Experts say Istrian soup has existed “since ancient times” and is traditionally prepared in a “bukaleta” (jar) with warmed red wine, a piece of toasted homemade bread, olive oil, sugar and pepper. In the past, households sometimes used simpler ingredients or other containers, such as pots or plates, but the bukaleta is now the key symbol and material “bearer” of the tradition.
Mayor Emil Nimčević described the registration as “a major recognition of a tradition preserved thanks to the community, and an important incentive for its continued safeguarding.”
He added that Istrian soup embodies not only gastronomic value but also a ritual of togetherness, forming part of Istria’s cultural identity.
(Photo: Festival of Istarska Supa Rovinjsko Selo)
Nimčević also praised Agrorovinj members for their long-standing work in preserving and promoting Istrian and Rovinj products, notably through the Istrian Soup Festival, and stressed the aim of passing the tradition on so future generations can continue to recognise it as part of their identity.