ZAGREB, 18 April (Hina) - Recent archaeological research beneath the road from Poreč to Dračevac and Mugeba, at the Pudarica site, has uncovered a well-preserved early Christian Church of St Peter, with its oldest layer dating to the 6th century, the City of Poreč said.

Although the site was first explored in 1961 by archaeologist Ante Šonje, only recent systematic excavations have provided a fuller picture.

Findings include a single-nave chapel with a semicircular apse, a floor of finely cut stone slabs, and fragments of an altar made of Proconnesian marble, indicating the site’s historical importance.

Pudarica is not an isolated case: traces of villae rusticae were also found nearby, along with the prehistoric site of Holy Angel, suggesting continuous habitation across multiple periods.

Poreč Mayor Loris Peršurić said the city was investing not only in infrastructure but also in cultural heritage, including research from Marafor and Lorun to Pudarica.

Museum director Elena Uljančić highlighted the importance of continued research and preservation, noting that many layers of the past remained unexplored.

Research at Pudarica is funded by the City of Poreč, with the next phase set to focus on wall conservation and preparing the site for visitors, with plans to develop Pudarica into a new cultural point of interest.