Instructive path

Instructive path Starigrad

Artistic images of the Starigrad mirila (a resting spot for the body during the funeral procession from distant mountain villages to the grave - the mirila was built specifically for the deceased and once built, it was said that his mirila had been made; mirila = measure in the Dalmatian dialect), despite their rustic quality, the wealth of the raised engraving etched into the head stones is fascinating. At the first site along this trail, which can be reached from the road from the centre of Starigrad, is one of the rarely preserved headstones with an engraved anthropomorphic (human-like) symbol.
From here, the mountain trail leads to the site Opuvani dolac, offer a magnificent view over Starigrad along the route. It is the iconography of the mirila that makes them so distinctive, and here, it is possible to see many different symbols - from the simple motif of the cross (Latin, Greek, solar, anthropomorphic), often in combination with solar circles, to fully undefined symbols (rosettes, spirals, four-hooks), whose meaning is known only to the master who engraved them... The return trip to Starigrad leads along a skilfully built trail down the steep slopes of Veliki Vitrenik. At the end of the trail, we recommend a visit to the small ethnography museum in the village of Marasovići to become better acquainted with the traditions, customs and culture of the Velebit region.

Time necessary for the tour: 1,30 hours
Necessary equipment: sports clothing and shoes, water
Difficulty of path: medium heavy
Length of path: 3 km

Instructive path Ljubotić

The path includes 6 localities with mirila in the immediate vicinity of the village of Ljubotić, the former hub of this part of Velebit, to which the population of all the surrounding hamlets gravitated. This is also the location of the local cemetery - the starting place for the processions that carried the deceased to burial. Each of these localities contributes to a part of the story of this unique custom through words and pictures.
The largest preserved group of over 300 mirila is the so-called Vukićeva mirila (6), located along an old path that connected the hamlet of Bristovac with Ljubotić. From the elevation on which the so-called Renjevačka mirila are located (5), there is a beautiful view of the entire Velebit Channel, all the way to the Zadar Archipelago. On the return trip, there is an opportunity to rest at the village household of Vrata Velebita, visit an ethno-house and a permanent exhibit on the development of beekeeping in Dalmatia and the Mediterranean. With advance notice, it is also possible to savor domestic specialties.

Time necessary for the tour: 2 hours
Necessary equipment: sports clothing and shoes, water
Difficulty of path: easy, with the exception of the
ascent to Locality 5 and the descent
to the village Ljubotić
Length of path: 5 km

Photo gallery
Download the information leaflet "Mirila"