The first issue of The Motovun Herald came out last month. I got a copy only today, but I was quite stunned by it. I assumed it was a small publication on just a few pages, but it is actually of the standard review format, and it counts nearly fifty pages. Wow! Bursting with excellent photographs by Martin Močibob and Romina Kotiga, both of them from the municipality, it is a pleasure to leaf through. Tomislav Pahović, the mayor of Motovun, is the editor. The issue opens with his letter to the municipality. The publisher is the Municipality of Motovun. Beside Motovun itself, the surrounding settlements of Brkač, Kaldir, and Sveti Bartol are presented in the review’s pages.

All the projects conducted since the last municipal elections are presented, and it is amazing how much has been accomplished in less than two years. There are articles about the new façade of the communal palace, the new sewer system, and the refurbishment of the cultural heritage with the financial help from Veneto in Italy. Also, the new system of garbage collection is presented. The Program of Municipal Development from 2014 to 2020 is presented in considerable detail, and so is the Municipal Budget for 2015. All this could only be dreamed about under the former mayor, Slobodan Vugrinec, who was in power for twelve full years.

A large number of cultural events are also represented in the first edition of the review. There are articles about the Motovun Film Festival, the Festival of Teran and Truffles, the Veli Jože Festival, the Fruit Festival in Kaldir, the Motovun Downtown bicycle race, and so forth. The new Parenzana Train, which goes along the old railway route between Motovun and Vižinada, is introduced. The Italian Community is also represented with two articles. All this suggests tremendous changes in recent years that go in line with rapid tourist development in the municipality and Istria as a whole.

All in all, I am delighted with the new review dedicated to Motovun and the surrounding settlements. The first question that came to my mind after leafing through it concerned the next issue. When can we expect it? I am yet to talk to the new mayor about it, but it appears that there will be two issues a year. Given all the givens, this stands to reason. But The Motovun Herald is here to stay. It is available to all on the Motovun Municipality’s website, which has been redesigned only recently (www.motovun.hr). This was unimaginable only a couple of years ago, but times are undoubtedly changing. My congratulations to the new crew at the municipal helm.