Cultural and historical heritage of Rakalj

U ovom radu pisalo se o povijesti, narodnim običajima i kulturnim vrijednostima Raklja. Rakalj je u prošlosti bio poznat po izradi tradicionalne istarske lončarije. Stari kaštel Rakalj nalazi se istočno od današnjega naselja, iznad rta sv. Mikule. U ispravi iz 1312. spominje se kao Castellare de Rachir. U tlocrtu staroga Raklja danas se prepoznaju ruševine kaštela, kule obrambenih zidova, stražarnica i crkva sv. Agneze, koja još postoji, a na putu prema sv. Mikuli nalaze se ostaci crkve sv. Križa. Današnji Rakalj spominje se u povijesnim izvorima 1342. kao Castrum Novum. Nakon višekratnih promjena gospodara, 1536. zajedno s Barbanom prodan je kao feud obitelji Loredan. Župna crkva Rođenja Blažene Djevice Marije izgrađena je u 15. stoljeću kao pravokutna građevina s povišenim svetištem, bez apside. Obnovom su joj 1757. pridodane apsida i bočne kapele. U crkvi je očuvana kamena kustodija s reljefima dvaju anđela, rad majstora Dominika iz 1425. Na putu prema Krnici nalaze se ruševine crkve sv. Teodora. Povijesni izvori spominju područje oko crkve kao posjed istoimenoga samostana benediktinki iz Pule. Uz crkvu, veže se jama Golubinčina u kojoj je pronađen spomenik posvećen Melosocusu, značajan za povijest Histra. Sjeverno od Raklja nalazi se brdo Gomila, na kojem je potvrđena prapovijesna gradina. Osim Gomile, na južnim padinama brežuljka iznad uvale Blaz, zaklonjene od udara hladnih sjevernih vjetrova, smješteno je i prapovijesno naselje Gradina. Danas se mogu vidjeti samo ostaci. Rakalj je rodno mjesto Mije Mirkovića (Mate Balote), najpoznatijeg istarskog književnika i znanstvenika. U njegovoj se rodnoj kući danas može posjetiti Etnografski muzej njegova književnog stvaralaštva, ali i narodnih običaja Raklja.This paper analyzes and describes the history, folk customs and cultural values of Rakalj. Rakalj was known in the past for making traditional Istrian pottery. The old castle Rakalj is located east of today's village, above the Cape St. Mikula. In a document from 1312 it was mentioned as Castellar de Rachir. In the remaining layout of the old Rakalj today can be recognized the ruins of the castle, tower defense walls, watchtowers and church St. Agneza, as well as the ruins of the church of St. Crosswhich can be seen on the way to St. Mikula. Rakalj as a village from contemporary point of view was mentioned in historical sources in 1342 as Castrum Novum. After multiple changes of it's masters, 1536. was sold to a Venetian feudal family Loredan together with a nearby village. The parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the 15th century as a rectangular building with an elevated sanctuary, without the apse. Its apse and the side chapels were added in 1757. In the church can also be seen apreserved a stone tabernacle with reliefs of two angels, the work of the artist Dominique from 1425. On the way to a nerby Krnica are the ruins of the church of St. Teodora. Historical sources mention the area around the church as the property of the homonymous Benedictine monastery in Pula. To the church is also linked the Golubinčina pit in which, it has been found a monument dedicated to Melosocus, important for the history of the Histri. North of Rakalj is the hill Gomila, on which the existance of prehistoric ruins has been confirmed. Besides Gomila, on the southern slopes of the hill above the bay Blaz, sheltered from the impact of cold northern winds, it was located prehistoric settlement Gradina, only ruins of which can be seen today. Rakalj is the birthplace of Mijo Mirkovic (Mate Balota), Ithe most famous Istrian writer and scientist. His birth house is nowdays the ethnographic museum of his literary works, but also folk customs of Rakalj