‘World’s smallest city’ has solely 52 residents however is known for a special cause

The world’s smallest town has been named and is called Hum, with a population of just 52 residents, yet the Croatian location is home to some of the world’s best-selling schnapps

You’ve more than likely never heard of Hum, a dreamy Croatian hamlet dubbed the world’s smallest town.

But while it’s home to a mere 52 people, it’s famous for other reasons. Nestled on the rolling hills of Istria, this teeny township spans just 100m by 30m and comprises two adorable cobblestoned lanes plus a triplet of terraced structures.

Hum’s roots delve deep into medieval times, with its earliest mention as “Cholm” tucked into 12th-century scrolls, yet local folklore credits its birth to titanic giants who fashioned it from leftover stones while erecting towns along the Mirna River Valley.

An 11th-century makeover gifted Hum with its enchanting stone houses nestled within age-old battlements where prior defense works once loomed. As years unfurled, Hum grew a watchtower, a bell, and a loggia.

But while the tiny town of Hum may be lacking in residents, but it’s brimming with booze – especially its legendary Biska. This mistletoe-infused fruit brandy is said to be based on an ancient Celtic Druid recipe that’s more than 2,000 years old, reports the Mirror.

Come the end of October, Hum goes all out with its annual Grappa Festival, where the local tipple maestros compete for the title of best homemade spirit. But it’s not just about the booze; tradition is king here, as seen with the “Election of the Prefect” ceremony.

Revived in 1977, this age-old ritual happens on the Day of Hum in June, when men gather in the town hall to pick the prefect – responsible for settling squabbles and keeping the peace – by scratching their choice onto a wooden stick known as a ‘rabos’.

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