The Istrian Pasta Festival in Žminj is a celebration of traditional Istrian pasta, featuring workshops, food shows, and local culinary heritage under the chestnut trees of Zad Kaštela.
Pasta and all that jazz!
After wine, olive oil, Istrian dried ham and cheese, it's also time for traditional pasta dishes from Istria. The event to take place in Žminj will highlight pasta's rightful place in Istrian cuisine. The aim of promoting and holding this event is to preserve and foster the local tradition and encourage the protection and valorisation of indigenous pasta.
The event provides support to local manufacturers in their efforts to preserve indigenous pastas and in their creativity to develop new products. The food event will be held in Zat Kaštela Square behind the old Church of Saint Michael, under the old chestnut trees, and it will seek to unite the traditional with the modern in Istrian cuisine.
Visit the rustic stalls and the kitchen decorated especially for the occasion, to the pleasant surroundings lit with lampions and candles. Enjoy yourselves, taste and buy pasta, sauces and cheese.
The rich and diverse programme - from the food show to workshops on how to make pasta, from children's workshops to a presentation of new and old recipes - is sure to satisfy every visitor. You might find a novelty dish by the top masters or learn one of their secrets, or maybe you'll come up with a new idea of your own, one you will fall in love with and use in your own kitchen.
So, save the date for an event that represents an important aspect of Istrian culture.
The Istrian Pasta Festival has been ranked among the top 10 summer food festivals in Europe for 2025, according to a list of the 25 best compiled by the popular travel portal Big 7 Enjoy Travel.
Held in Žminj, the festival claimed 9th place, alongside events such as the Sardine Festival in Portugal, Italy's Napoli Pizza Festival, Fistiki Festival in Greece, the UK's Foodies Festival, Copenhagen Cooking Festival, Spain's La Tomatina, as well as Taste of London, Taste of Dublin, Bite of Amsterdam, and the Bordeaux Wine Festival.
Best Summer Food Festivals in Europe: 1. Sardine Festival – Portimão, Portugal 2. International Oyster and Seafood Festival – Galway, Ireland 3. Almo do Vinho – Alenquer, Portugal 4. Maschseefest – Hannover, Germany 5. Stragusto Food Festival – Trapani, Italy 6. Napoli Pizza Village Festival – Napoli, Italy 7. Fête de l'Ail Rose – Lautrec, France 8. Fistiki Festival – Egina, Greece 9. Istrian Pasta Festival – Žminj, Croatia 10. Gladmat Food Festival – Stavanger, Norway
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