Reopened Romanesque House in Poreč: A New Museum Exhibition Opens to the Public

The recently restored Romanesque House (Romanička kuća) in Poreč, one of the city’s iconic landmarks, has officially opened to the public with a grand ceremony and the unveiling of its permanent museum exhibition. Following extensive construction and conservation work last year, the building has now been outfitted to house a multimedia display focusing on the culture of living in Poreč during the 19th and 20th centuries.

A Unique Look at Poreč’s Residential History

The exhibition, titled “Culture of Living in Poreč in the 19th and 20th Centuries,” was curated by Dr. Elena Uljančić, Vltava Muk, and Gaetano Benčić, with the visual concept developed by Kristina Kalčić Brajković from Studio KKA. Spanning approximately 70 square meters across three floors, the display invites visitors to explore the intimate aspects of Poreč’s residential culture, shedding light on the everyday lives of its inhabitants.

Uljančić explained the reasoning behind the exhibition’s theme: “The well-preserved interior from the Italian administration period made it the perfect setting for this exhibit. We treated the building itself as a museum piece. This exhibit offers a unique insight into our multicultural environment, local crafts, trade, textiles, and the everyday lives of people within their homes.”

A Cultural Milestone for Poreč

Poreč’s Mayor, Loris Peršurić, emphasized the importance of such projects in bringing history to life and preserving it for future generations. “Poreč is a city with a rich history, and projects like this allow us to keep our heritage alive. We are not just preserving the past; we are actively making it part of our present and future,” said Peršurić. He expressed gratitude to the museum experts, restorers, conservators, and designers who contributed to the project, from the restoration of the building to the creation of the exhibition.

Open for Public Viewing

The exhibition will be open to the public on weekdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Additionally, free entry and guided tours will be available during the Museum Night on January 31st from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

A Boost to Poreč’s Tourist Offerings

The Romanesque House represents one of the most recognizable buildings in Poreč. Its restoration and the opening of the new exhibition will significantly enhance Poreč’s cultural tourism offerings and provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the city’s material and intangible cultural heritage. The project was fully funded by the City of Poreč, continuing the city’s significant investments in preserving its cultural heritage, which also include the restoration of Upper Kindergarten – Radost II, Sinčić Palace, the Euphrasian Basilica, and the bell tower, as well as ongoing renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Angels and the port captaincy.

About the Romanesque House

The Romanesque House was built in the second half of the 13th century and is one of the few preserved examples of Romanesque residential architecture in Istria. The two-story building features a typical Romanesque bifora (window with two openings) on its façade.

Throughout its history, the house has undergone several interventions, including the addition of an external staircase between the 16th and 17th centuries and a 1926 restoration led by conservator Ferdinando Forlati, which reduced the size of the upper floor and added a wooden balcony. Prior to World War II, the house was part of a residential block that was destroyed in bombings. Today, the Romanesque House stands as a freestanding structure. It was the first post-war monument in Poreč to be restored and used for public purposes and has been under the management of the Poreč museum for over 60 years.

The most recent comprehensive restoration took place last year, ensuring the building’s continued preservation as a protected cultural monument in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia.