This paper analyzes and describes the history, folk customs and cultural values of Rakalj. Rakalj was known in the past for making traditional Istrian pottery. The old castle Rakalj is located east of today's village, above the Cape St. Mikula. In a document from 1312 it was mentioned as Castellar de Rachir. In the remaining layout of the old Rakalj today can be recognized the ruins of the castle, tower defense walls, watchtowers and church St. Agneza, as well as the ruins of the church of St. Crosswhich can be seen on the way to St. Mikula. Rakalj as a village from contemporary point of view was mentioned in historical sources in 1342 as Castrum Novum. After multiple changes of it's masters, 1536. was sold to a Venetian feudal family Loredan together with a nearby village. The parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the 15th century as a rectangular building with an elevated sanctuary, without the apse. Its apse and the side chapels were added in 1757. In the church can also be seen apreserved a stone tabernacle with reliefs of two angels, the work of the artist Dominique from 1425. On the way to a nerby Krnica are the ruins of the church of St. Teodora. Historical sources mention the area around the church as the property of the homonymous Benedictine monastery in Pula. To the church is also linked the Golubinčina pit in which, it has been found a monument dedicated to Melosocus, important for the history of the Histri. North of Rakalj is the hill Gomila, on which the existance of prehistoric ruins has been confirmed. Besides Gomila, on the southern slopes of the hill above the bay Blaz, sheltered from the impact of cold northern winds, it was located prehistoric settlement Gradina, only ruins of which can be seen today. Rakalj is the birthplace of Mijo Mirkovic (Mate Balota), Ithe most famous Istrian writer and scientist. His birth house is nowdays the ethnographic museum of his literary works, but also folk customs of Rakalj.