Zvonejske njivi (Zvoneća fields)
"Zvonejske njivi" or Zvoneća fields are located
near the village of Zvoneća in the Matulji municipality, these fields represent
a lesser-known but deeply impressive monument of rural architecture, comparable
to the famous Bakar dry-stone terraces (Bakarski prezidi). They were created
between the 15th and 17th centuries through the tireless labor of generations
of Zvoneća peasants, who used dry-stone walling techniques to shape
approximately sixty hectares of rocky terraces at an altitude of 300–450 meters
above sea level. Today, only a portion of the land remains under cultivation;
however, the stone walls (prezidi) still define most of the
landscape—well-preserved on active plots, while left to the natural elements on
abandoned ones. For centuries, these terraces were the heart of local
viticulture, most notably featuring the indigenous grape variety Jarbola, which
has been present in the area for over a hundred years. The significance of
"Zvonejskeh njivi" was officially recognized in 1994, when they were
registered as a protected cultural monument, confirming their immense value.



