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The ‘Tonon’ Cortile

The cortiles (inner courtyards) of the old town reflect the charm and uniqueness of Mediterranean urban architecture. These small courtyards are usually surrounded by stone walls and entered through portals, decorated stone arch entrances.

The cortiles in Lovran were built during the intensive restoration of the town in the last quarter of the 17th century. Particularly characteristic for Lovran are arch courtyard portals, which have stronger square bases and cubic capitals, among which some had a prismatic keystone. This cortile with a stylized portal and keystone with the year of construction embossed on it (1687) is one of the most beautiful examples of this construction in Lovran. It owes its name to the Tonon family, the long-time owners of one part of the dual building by the courtyard itself, which they bought from the Bradičić family in 1947. Behind the portal, one can see the facades of neighbouring houses with staircases, porches and vaults – all of them pearls of Lovran's medieval urban architecture. In the centre of the cortile there is the stone wellhead. During restoration works on one of the houses that surround the courtyard, walled up windows and loopholes were found, of which one can be seen in the courtyard, immediately by the wall of the so called 'Venetian' house. Moreover, the outer wall is 80 cm thick – all of which speaks of the historical defence function of these buildings, which were part of the fortifications of the Old Town. It is certain that in the circumstances of the tight living spaces of the Old Town, it was a privilege and fortune to have such a big courtyard with its own water cistern that provided reserves of drinking water, and its own garden, as well as enough space for drying clothes.

Trivia

This is one of as many as nineteen Lovran courtyards, which were and remain silent witnesses of passionate love under the cover of darkness.