Chestnuts from Lovran stand for one of the best kind of chestnut in the world. This variety is endemic to the Kvarner region, because they are the product of hybridization between native species of chestnut trees and those from the Far East brought back by Lovran sailors from their travels. The people of Lovran are very proud of their chestnuts and hold an event called Marunada in the month of October. Indeed Marunada has been held for almost four decades in mid-October in Lovran and the nearby villages of Liganj and Dobreč. At Marunada visitors are offered products made of chestnuts from roasted chestnuts and traditional dishes prepared with them to various desserts, cakes and pastries. It is a real treat for the connoisseurs.
The first Marunada was organized back in 1973 and in time, this popular celebration associated with picking chestnuts that abound in the Lovran forests of Opatija Riviera, has developed into a real tourist attraction.
Besides the entertainment and culinary program in Lovran at Trg Slobode (Freedom Square) and the parking lot Brajdice near the old town, a rich gastronomical offer is organized in many restaurants and cafes of the hotels Excelsior and Lovran, but also the cafes in nearby Opatija which are all marked by chestnuts at this time.
Marunada also contains a sporting part which consists of sports that promote Učka Nature Park: an adventure race Učka Mountain Trek, then the Učka mountain walk and mountain bike rides from Lovran to Lovranska Draga, Liganj and Dobreć. In addition, a bowling tournament and a meeting of old-timers are also held.
This year's thirty-seventh Marunada will be held 15 - 31 October.
Lovran is a town with a long and rich history. The village was first mentioned in the seventh century under the name Lauriana. It was named after the plant laurel (Laurus nobilis) which grows abundantly in the evergreen groves in the village and surrounding areas. Lovran has preserved its historic urban center since the Middle Ages. The old city was surrounded by defensive walls and bastions which, over time, became the foundations on which houses were built.
The mild climate, Mediterranean vegetation and a favorable geographical position enabled the strong development of tourism in the late 19th and early 20th century. Lovran has from this time, together with Opatija, been the most important place on the famous Riviera. Several villas built at that time are regarded as part of the world's architectural heritage.
Lovran is situated on the eastern coast of Istria in the Kvarner Bay. It lies at the foot of Učka, the mountain greenest and richest in flora found on the Adriatic, and its sea side faces the islands of Krk and Cres. It is located 19 km from the biggest Croatian port – Rijeka.
The Tourist Board of the Primorsko-Goranska County
www.kvarner.hr
The Tourist Board of Lovran
www.tz-lovran.hr