ROVINJ

Rovinj, a town of unique beauty located on the southwestern coast of the Istrian peninsula, has for decades been known as a recognizable tourism brand on the European level.

Its unbelievably rich archipelago with more than forty islands and islets will make you fall in love with it at first sight and repeatedly return. The old town was proclaimed a zero-category UNESCO monument of culture. Kilometers of coast on the southern and northern sides of the town hiding a myriad of unforgettable places for enjoying the charms of the summer and the sea, a protected park forest close to the center of the town, Austro-Hungarian architecture blended with the rich Mediterranean vegetation, numerous religious buildings of invaluable cultural and historic significance, modern facilities and stores, various sport, recreation, cultural and entertainment amenities, a plethora of undersea attractions, authentic wine&dine offer in the narrow and wide surroundings of the town, proverbial hospitality and willingness of local residents to please, are only some of the features that make Rovinj a truly special place.

Rovinj was first mentioned in written documents in the 7th century B.C. It had been an island until the 18th century A.D. The present-day old town was annexed to the mainland by filling the channel separating the island and the mainland with earth.

As far as the development of its tourism, service, cultural and historic potential is concerned, Rovinj has come a long way. According to all indicators, Rovinj has been successfully developing, continuously improving each year.

The best proof of Rovinj’s successful development are the several hundred thousand visitors from all over the world who traverse the streets of this multi-cultural gem each year.

The town authorities and its utility service devote special attention to the maintenance and development of an environmentally friendly infrastructure. The priorities include: improved connection, convenience and cleanliness of green areas, development and maintenance of walking trails by the sea and landscape design adapted to modern trends, based on professional practices.

Today Rovinj has about fifteen thousand citizens, most of them of younger age. Spurred by the above-average living standards, the population of the town increases each year.

Church of St. Euphemia

The legend says that at dawn, on July 13, 800, a 208cm-long, 95cm-wide and 195cm-high stone sarcophagus with the body of a saint from Chalcedon washed ashore during a heavy storm and got stuck between the foaming rocks.

The main Rovinj’s religious building, the most recognizable symbol of the town, the Church of St. Euphemia (Crkva Sv. Eufemije), built in the Baroque-Venetian style in the 18th century with a copper statue of the saint fixed on top, which turns around its axis as the wind blows, was named after the afore-mentioned saint.

Old Town

The amazing old town of Rovinj – a blend of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque, the arches, stars, portals, terraces and balconies, the steps, yards, streets and alleys, the stone bathing in the scented Mediterranean air in a primordial union with the sea.

There were seven gates leading in and out of the medieval island of Rovinj protected by walls. At the site where the ornamental arch is found today, the main gate known as the Fishermen’s Gate (Ribarska vrata) used to stand. In the late 17th century the gate was demolished and an arch, known as Balbi’s Arch (Balbijev luk) today, was set up.

Chapel of the Holy Trinity

Among other, Rovinj is also characterized by numerous valuable religious buildings. Almost forty valuable religious buildings are found in the town and on the nearby islands.

The best-preserved Romanesque monument of Rovinj is located in the heart of the town, in front of the entrance into the most popular street in Rovinj, Carera Street. We are referring to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity (Kapelica Presvetog Trojstva) dating from the 12th century and consisting of seven niches and domes.

A true gem of domestic art is the transenna presenting images of Golgotha, Mother of God, St. Peter, St. John the Baptist and the Evangelists.