The Val Derniga is the water catchment area of the Derniga stream, enclosed by an imaginary line from Sicciole, rises to Corte d'Isola, turns west to the summits of the Castellier and Malio mountains, continues to the village of Saredo, continues on Bared and Gason, passes through the Crosera of Montetoso, then follows the road to Monte of Capodistria, turns south to Villanova di Pirano and San Pietro dell'Amata, goes down to the village of Dragogna and with the "forest road" ends on the bridge where this tree-lined boulevard surpasses the Dragoon River. In different historical periods this valley was mentioned as Vallis Derniga, Reniga and Erniga.
The valley is crossed by Via Flavia, which rises from Koper and goes down to the Drago river after the Croce of Mount Toso. The ancient artery runs along the valley always on the left bank of the Derniga, with wide curves and a gentle descent. The left bank of the valley is rugged, wooded and only a road goes east to the village of Padena and then continues towards Val Dragogna. The right bank is much sweeter with streamlined hills, with villages and country houses scattered along the fields planted with vineyards. The bottom of the valley, after the junction of Padena, extends and is all cultivated with vineyards, vegetables and fruit trees. The road passes to the Valderniga houses.
In the village of Dragogna, at the crossroads between the "forest road" and the Via Flavia, called Bivio Ferrari, the valley intersects with the river Dragogna, forming a wide plain that goes down the road that from Sicchiole goes up to Buie; this plain is almost completely covered by a large orchard cultivated on the back. The valley of the Derniga stream, a small basin situated between the Marna-arenaceous hills covered with vegetation, is about a dozen kilometers long, and it is pleasant to travel through the very near and connected residential settlements with many dirt roads and footpaths to walk; the excursions are made more enjoyable by pubs and restaurants that are not lacking in this area.
In the Val Derniga you can see the villages of Paddena, Sergassi, Gasòn, Dragogna, S. Onofrio and Corte d'Isola, which is part of the island of Istria.
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