Rovinj: The Jewel of Venetian Adriatic
Rovinj (Italian: Rovigno) is a town on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, Croatia, with a population of 12,968 inhabitants (2021 census) and 11,629 in the urban core. Built on a hill that was once an island, with colourful cobblestone streets and the campanile of the Church of St Euphemia dominating the skyline, Rovinj is considered one of the most romantic fishing towns in the Mediterranean and the second most visited tourist destination in Istria by number of overnight stays. The city is officially bilingual (Croatian and Italian).
History The settlement has roots stretching back to prehistory; Greeks and Illyrians inhabited it before the Roman conquest. In 1283 it was one of the first towns in Istria to fall under Venetian rule. For greater protection, in the 17th century its inhabitants filled in the narrow channel separating it from the mainland, transforming the island into a peninsula. The upper town's architecture, with its tall, narrow houses pressed against the ancient walls, reflects the Venetian Baroque style. After the fall of Venice (1797), it passed to Napoleon, then to the Austrian Empire (until 1918) and subsequently to the Kingdom of Italy until 1947, when it was ceded to Yugoslavia.
Heritage The Baroque Church of St Euphemia (1736), the largest Baroque building in Istria, dominates the town from the hilltop. Its 61-metre campanile —a copy of that of St Mark's Basilica in Venice— bears a copper statue of St Euphemia that acts as a weather vane. The Romanesque Chapel of the Holy Trinity (12th century), the Franciscan monastery (18th century), and the remains of the ancient walls with their gates complete the historic heritage. The Golden Cape Forest Park (Zlatni Rt), created in the late 19th century by Georg Hütterott, is a green lung of trails and coves. Every August, Grisia Street becomes the Adriatic's largest open-air art gallery.
Points of interest: - Population: 12,968 (municipality, 2021); 11,629 (city). - Rovinj has 22 islands and islets off its coast. - Getting there: Pula Airport (40 km) and Trieste Airport (Italy). Seasonal ferries from Venice and Italy.