Vrela i Perila
The Vinodol Valley is a stunning blend of nature and human effort.
Stone steps carved into the rocks, pathways and trails, dry stone walls (gromače), wells (studenci), and old washing places (perila) all stand as a testament to what people can create with their own hands to make life easier – all while preserving the harmony of the surrounding nature.
A vrelo (or vrilo) is the term for a natural water spring, of which Vinodol has many. However, during the long summer months, many of these springs would dry up, while the need for water remained high.
Water needed to be collected, enclosed, protected, and made accessible to the people. This is how these structures, known as studenci, came to be – a result of human needs, effort, and hard work.
In the area of Drivenik, Grižane, and Bribir, over fifty springs have been identified and documented, though the actual number is likely higher. Already in the second half of the 19th century, these springs were enclosed with beautiful, carved stonework. This was the craft of local stonemasons, who often decorated the small structures with various ornaments, giving them not only functional but also aesthetic value.
Although many of the older springs are undated, we can find years engraved on the stones: 1842 (Kričina), 1866 (Drivenik), 1876 (Barci), 1877 (Podskoči), 1881 (Miroši), 1889 (Grižane).