Istrian desert: the marl landscape of Piski near Šterna

Updated October 16, 2026.

Piski, known as the Istrian desert, lies near Šterna and Grožnjan. Rain has carved gullies into its pale marl slopes.

Piski, also called Kalanki, lies between Šterna and Čepići in northwestern Istria. Bare, undulating slopes with narrow ridges and gullies stand amid green, rolling countryside.

How water shapes the marl

The bedrock is marl, a fine-grained sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate and clay. Rain and surface runoff carry away small particles, cutting grooves and deeper gullies. The remaining ridges can resemble dunes, but rock erosion shapes them rather than deposits of sand.

Similar areas of bare, eroded ground occur elsewhere in Istria's flysch terrain. Here, the word desert describes the exposed landscape, not an arid desert climate.

Walking from Šterna

The approach on foot starts at the church of St Michael in Šterna. Keep to existing paths beside the eroded ground to avoid trampling the crumbly marl slopes and narrow, steep ridges.

You can combine Piski with a visit to Grožnjan, a nearby small town with galleries and artists' studios.

Distance from Bale: 1 hour driving

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