Rovinj
WELCOME TO ROVINJ
Our town has been described as the most romantic place in the Mediterranean, infused as it is with so many reminders of times past.
Established between the 3rd and 5th centuries, the town was originally named Castrum Rubini.
Located on an island, it was protected by cliffs from the sea and by solid walls from the mainland.
Castrum Rubini was concentrated around the church now known as St Euphemia, but originally St.George’s. With the town’s expansion on to the mainland in the17th century, the passage which separated the two parts was filled in.
The rich history and the rule of numerous nations, from Histrions, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, Lombards, Franks, the Venetian Republic, theAustro-Hungarian monarchy, Italy and Croatia within the former Yugoslavia, have all contributed to the town’s unique appearance.
The buildings stand tightly together side by side, reaching high into the skies, all connected with cobbled streets and small, melancholic town squares.
Rovinj is situated on the western Istrian coast, at 45° 01’ latitude and 13° 01’ longitude east of Greenwich.
The town has approximately 13,000 inhabitants.
The climate is Mediterranean, with the average temperature 4.8°C in January, and 22.3°C in June.
The sea temperature is on average 22°C from mid June to mid September.
In the same time period, the sun in Rovinj shines up to 10 hours a day.
The Rovinj archipelago consists of 22 islands and islets, of which the biggest are St.Andrew’s Island and the Island of St.Catherine.
The old core of the peninsula is well known for its worn roofs, bathed in the sunshine, and for its countless chimneys and antennae.
Rovinj has so much to offer as a town of culture, with arts, historical and archaeological sites but it is also a town of contemporary events, sports and fun!
Recommendations what to visit during your stay in our magical town
1.St.Euphemia’s Church - the biggest monument in town, of Venetian style, reconstructed in the 17th century, with the gorgeous interior.
The tower is 62m high with the bronze statue of St. Euphemia on top, itself 4.70m high.
The statue of the patron saint rotates according to the wind direction.
2. The Franciscan monastery was built in the 17th century.
It combines areas for work, prayer, habitation and eating.
The monastery’s library has around 12,000 theological books and there is also a collection of more than 250 sacred exhibits.
3.St.Trinity Romanic church - dates from the13th century and is the oldest preserved building in the town.
It is built in the form of a heptagon with a circular interior and a dome.
4.Balbi Arch - Originally as an island, the town had seven gates, of which three are preserved today: Portica, St.Benedict’s gate and the gate of St.Cross.
Balbi Arch covered the main gate of the fortified town.
It was built on the site of an older gate called “Porton della pescheria”.
5.Heritage Museum of Rovinj - is a baroque palace of the family Califfi and dates from the17th to the 18th century. The museum was founded on the initiative of Rovinj’s Visual Artists.
6.Other museums and galleries:
-Eco-museum “The house of Batana” is a museum of the town’s specific boats called batanas, fishing equipment and tools.
It is a perfect exposition of tradition in picture, wood and sound.
-Adris gallery provides a series of exhibitions of eminent artists, e.g. Dusan Damonja and Oton Gliha.
-Visual Arts Centre Batana organises photographic exhibitions
7.Grisia-the street of artists. This paved stepped street is very famous for its one-day exhibition of the same name “Grisia, held every year in August, since 1967.
8.Town Clock - located on the tower which was built in the 12th century. The tower used to be on the southern angle of the town’s fortifications.
9.Town’s Palace - once this was a Praetorian Palace, built on 13th century foundations. Centuries ago, there was a prison in part of the ground floor, and the great hall of the town Council.
Today the Palace is the location of the municipal leaders.
10.Centre of Historical Research - from the 15th to the 18th century, this was the town’s granary, and in the 18th century it was the first tobacco manufacturer.
It has a rich library with around 80 000 written works.
The material of the European Council for human rights and the rights of minorities are stored here.
11.Aquarium - the centre of the maritime research of the Institute of Ruder Bošković, opened in the18th century. It is abundant with examples of local flora and fauna.
NATURAL BEAUTIES IN ROVINJ
FOREST-PARK GOLDEN CAPE
The Golden Cape is a protected forest in which around 1,000 domestic and domesticated plants live. Between the years 1890 and 1910, the Austro-Hungarian Lord Georg Hutterott arranged an agricultural landscape into a park with a free landscaping style.
The park is a favourite destination for athletes, recreation and nature lovers. Entrance is allowed to walkers and cyclists. On Golden Cape there is also an old quarry which today represents a challenge for rock climbers.
PALUD SWAMP
The Palud Swamp is a special ornithological reserve in Istria. More than 200 bird species live here. On the northern part of the swamp there is a real jungle.
The swamp can be visited walking or cycling in its full extent. Particularly interesting is a vantage point for bird watching. Visitors are asked to be quiet while at the reserve.
LIM FJORD
The Lim Channel, also known as the Lim Fjord, is a unique geological phenomenon with its diversity of vegetation and special ecological value. Near the Channel, there is Romualdo’s cave, 105 m long, with an average temperature of 12°C. The oldest remains of early man in Istria were found here.
The feature is a little longer than 10 km, 30m deep and 600m wide at the widest point.
The water is brackish, therefore suitable for fish and shellfish farming. Foxes, deer, hawks, badgers, wild boar and owls live in the forest on the Channel’s slopes, which is a mix of evergreen and deciduous.
The Lim Channel is protected as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
BEACHES IN ROVINJ
- Lone Cove - the town’s most visited beach
- Scaraba - beach with flat stones suitable for sunbathing
- Cuvi Cove - pebble beach with easy access to the sea
- Baluota - a rocky town beach situated it the centre of the old town
- St.Catherine’s island - rocky beaches with accessible coves
- Red Island (st.Andrew’s + Maskin) - pebbled and rocky beaches
- ”Dolphin” town’s swimming pool - Olympic-sized swimming pool with a beautiful view of the town
As well as the beaches listed, Rovinj has many regulated beaches at campsites, and some wild beaches located mostly on the northern part of the coast, e.g. the Saline cove.
