Chapel of St Peregrine

Why it is worth your time

The Chapel of St Peregrine stands right on the shoreline south of Umag, on a spot tradition ties to the martyrdom of the town's protector: according to legend Peregrine was killed here in the 3rd century, and the place was venerated for centuries before today's stone chapel was raised on it. The building is small and simple, with one entrance and a roof of stone slabs, and it stands so close to the sea that in a storm the waves reach its threshold. That position is precisely what makes it unforgettable: a chapel amid the rocks, without a fence and without ceremony, with sea on three sides.

It is reached by the coastal promenade from Umag, some twenty minutes' walk, or by car to the car park above. The interior is open on the feast day and by arrangement, but the exterior view alone suffices. For a visitor seeking a reason to walk the shore instead of lying on the beach, this is the best goal in the area, and the best at dusk.