Above the Istrian Spa rises on an 85 meter high rock that dominates the landscape of the northwestern part of Istria. It is called Gorostas, and below is the healing spring of St. Stephen who was used in ancient times.

At the top of the giant rocks are the ruins of the old church of St. Stjepana, which was built on the foundations of old churches from the 16th century, which offer a beautiful view of the Mirna valley and the Motovun forest.

The legend of the rock Gorostas The story is about a chaste and good girl who took her own life due to accusations of immoral decision-making. Namely, the count from Oprtalj, hunting in the area of ​​Motovun forests, met the girl Marija while she was tending sheep and spinning wool, and completely obsessed with her beauty, he fell passionately in love and wasted no time. No, the startled and frightened girl was in love with the serf Jaka, her neighbor. The daughter of the Oprtljan pedestal was in love with that count, and because of jealous malice she spread rumors that Mary was a reckless sinner. Hearing these slanders about Mary, Jacob stopped cultivating tender feelings for her and denied her love. As Mary could not reconcile herself to Jacob’s more flights, she decided to climb the 85-meter-high rock that covered the water source and vowed to St. Stephen: “If I am a sinner, let me die by jumping into the abyss, if I am innocent, let me water flows underfoot to heal people. ”According to legend, Mary jumped, stayed alive and since then the place has been a source of healing water