How a church I never visited became a part of my book

Church of San Mauro, Istria, Croatia

When we visited Croatia in 2011, the last thing on my mind was sculpting a novel from the experience. But, on the flight home, an idea popped into my head that wouldn't leave me, so I ended up writing Truffle Hunt which was finally published in 2015.

Because I didn't know I was going to write a book, some of the things that I saw or experienced were not as well documented as they might be.

View from out agriturismo, Istria, Croatia

For example, in the book, the Mattioli family is friends with Father Horvat, a priest at a nearby church. That church was inspired by a church just up the road from the agriturismo where we were staying. 

Each morning, Karen and I would make some tea and sit on our balcony overlooking the grape vine and olive tree covered hills of Istria, watching the fog slowly lift from our hilltop. The church was just a few steps from our accommodation, but I never went in, just walking around it one afternoon. But, when I began writing the book, I created the character of Father Horvat and imagined him and his tiny congregation in the church I had never been inside.

View from out agriturismo, Istria, Croatia

In fact, the only record of the church is the picture I have posted here. I never even knew the name of the church until today when I tried to look it up on the Internet. Google Maps claims the name of the church is San Moro, but I couldn't find any mention of a Saint Moro (although someone named Moro was the Doge of Venice and at one time Venice did dominate Croatia).

Gigi, retired truffle hunting pig and resident of the agriturismo where we stayed, Istria, Croatia

After some more digging, I am sure that the name of the name of the church is San Mauro, named after Saint Maurus, the first disciple of Saint Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century. San Mauro is often depicted with a crutch, as he is one of the patron saints of the disabled. This is an incredible coincidence because, as I said, I never knew the name of the church before today or any of San Mauro's history, but the heroine of Truffle Hunt is Jelena, a young paraplegic woman.  
***
If you enjoyed this story, you might like my novel Truffle Hunt
Order the Truffle Hunt ebook at Amazon
Order a softcover copy of Truffle Hunt at Eckhartz Press