During our Backpacking through the Balkans journey, we made Pula, Croatia our base for few days and made a day trip by a public bus to Rovinj, one of the most picturesque and romantic towns on Mediterranean.
Rovinj (Italian: Rovigno) is a charmingly picturesque town with narrow, cobbled streets, striking many visitors as being very Italianate in nature. The town is officially bilingual, Italian and Croatian, hence both town names are official and equal. The town was originally an island secured by medieval walls, but 250 years ago the narrow channel which separated it from the mainland was filled in.
The first archaeological traces of life date back to the Bronze Age, and the old city started developing in the 3rd century. The limited space conditioned the construction of narrow houses tightly crowded down to the seafront, narrow streets and small squares. A tangle of cobbled streets leads to the hilltop church of St. Euphemia, whose towering steeple dominates the skyline.
From 1283 to 1797, Rovinj was one of the most important towns of Istria under the Republic of Venice. The city was fortified by two rows of walls with three town gates. After the fall of Venice and the Napoleonic interlude, Rovinj was part of the Austrian Empire until World War I. Then it belonged to Italy from 1918 to 1947, when it was ceded to SR Croatia within SFR Yugoslavia.
Pictures below are from our day trip to one of the most picturesque town in Croatia.
A charmingly Picturesque town of Rovinj. The largest monument in the town, the Church of St. Euphemia is a Venetian Baroque building restored between the 1725 and 1736. The bell tower was designed by the Milanese architect as a replica of the Church of St. Mark in Venice.Rovinj was originally an island secured by medieval walls, but 250 years ago the narrow channel which separated it from the mainland was filled in.The Church of St. Euphemia, The largest monument in Rovinj, a Venetian Baroque building restored between the 1725 and 1736. The bell tower was designed by the Milanese architect as a replica of the Church of St. Mark in Venice. The tower construction started in 1651 and lasted 26 years. On top of the tower there is a large copper statue of St. Euphemia that was set in 1758.Inside view of the Church of St. Euphemia; first time I saw a chapel for St Mother Teresa.There was a wedding ceremony at the church during our visit.There was a wedding ceremony at the church during our visit.View from The Church of St. Euphemia; Many Sail cruises bring tourists from all over Europe to this beautiful island town.The limited space conditioned the construction of narrow houses, narrow streets and small squares.The limited space conditioned the construction of narrow houses, narrow streets and small squares.One of the most picturesque house in the city. The limited space conditioned the construction of narrow houses tightly crowded down to the seafront.A Boy with the fish Fountain on Main Square in RovinjThe late-Renaissance clock tower located on the main town square in Rovinj. The town clock features the distinguishing Venetian lion.Marina of Rovinj with many bars and restaurants near by.ACI Marina near the town of Rovinj.The batana, Rovinj’s traditional wooden fishing boat with flat bottom, that enables navigation and fishing in shallow water. Since 2016, the Batana Ecomuseum, a community project of safeguarding the living culture of Rovinj, is inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. A view of Rovinj town from ACI Marina.Red island (Crveni otok), also known as island of Sveti Andrija (St. Andrew), a 15 minutes boat ride from Rovinj.A Benedictine Monastery on island of Sveti Andrija (St. Andrew), established in the 6th century AD, now been converted into a hotel.View from Red island (Crveni otok).Red island (Crveni otok)A seagull is trying to drink fresh water from fountain on Red island (Crveni otok).A beautiful Ring-necked pheasant on Red island (Crveni otok).A beautiful Ring-necked pheasant on Red island (Crveni otok).
After exploring the old town of Rovinj for a day, we went back to Pula for the night, next morning taking a bus to Ljubljana, Slovenia in order to continue our Backpacking through the Balkans journey.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Window on the World 