Remarkable Rovinj
This little town in the Istria region of northern Croatia has everything you could dream of in a holiday destination. Pastel-colored houses, narrow, steep cobblestone streets, all surrounded by turquoise sea.
We had rented a house in the small town of Fazana, between Rovinj and Pula, and wanted to explore our local area a bit. Rovinj was at the top of our wish list and did not disappoint.
I was completely captivated by the colors and the narrow streets, and we treated ourselves to wandering around the little town. There was a small market in town when we arrived, which is always exciting to explore when we’re traveling.
At the very top of the town stands the church, offering panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. The church itself wasn’t particularly special, but its location makes the climb worthwhile. It’s not too strenuous, but not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
The town is definitely a tourist hotspot with loads of day-trippers. There are several large hotels outside the old town, but within the town itself, there are only a few small accommodations, shops, cafes, and, of course, restaurants.
Tourist town
We found many gems as we wandered around, like this little courtyard where it was very tempting to sit down in the shade. We ended up at a small square a bit further down in the town, but all these spots are incredibly picturesque and perfect for a little break.
The most important thing on our agenda that day was to find a restaurant for lunch. There were plenty to choose from, most of them down by the water. Up in the narrow streets, there wasn’t much room for outdoor seating, and on warm summer days, it’s lovely to eat outside. The narrow streets and tall houses make it easy to find shade, and we eventually found a narrow alley with a view down to the sea. We skipped the soup of the day.
Further along the beach promenade, there were plenty of ice cream bars and restaurants in the slightly newer part of town, and here too, the houses are picturesque and colorful. Thankfully, they haven’t gone for the all-white, black, and gray look!
Photo overload
No matter where we went, there were views that made the camera work overtime. Whether it was luxury yachts with their own red carpet at the dock, flower-adorned shop facades, or restaurants with cozy terraces. It wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded when we were there on a weekday at the beginning of July. I imagine it gets busier towards the end of July, on weekends, and in August.
To fully enjoy a day-trip destination like this, I always recommend staying overnight if you’re on a road trip. That way, you can enjoy the town without the crowds, experience it a bit like the locals do, and enjoy the streets and restaurants without too much hustle and bustle. In the morning, you can photograph all the beautiful alleys without people getting in the way if that’s your thing.
We did this in Mont St. Michel in France, and it was absolutely worth it to have the famous island almost to ourselves.
History
We can clearly see the Italian influence throughout Istria. It’s just a few hours’ drive to Venice, either by car or boat. Istria was inhabited by Venetian or Illyrian groups for many centuries until the Romans conquered them. Between 1283 and 1797, Rovinj was one of the most important towns in Istria and was ruled by the Republic of Venice. It was during this period that the three city gates were built. One of the gates can still be seen on the pier, dating back to 1680. Remnants of the two outer walls can also be seen in some places today.
The town itself is located on an island but was eventually connected to the mainland. In that sense, it was easily accessible to seafarers with both good and bad intentions.
After the fall of Venice, Rovinj became part of Austria, and this lasted until World War I. Despite being part of Austria, nearly 98% of Rovinj’s population, or Rovigno as it was then called, were Italian-speaking in 1911. After World War I, the borders changed again, and Rovinj became part of Italy. This lasted until 1947 when the town became part of Yugoslavia and eventually Croatia. After World War II, many Italians left the town, which significantly changed the demographics. (Source: Wikipedia)
We spent a few hours in Rovinj, and it just makes me want to explore more towns in Croatia. As someone who loves old stone, there’s so much to appreciate in this country.
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Read about our stay in Fazana.
