Croatia, Rovinj

We ended our visit to Slovenia and northern Croatia in the beautiful coastal town of Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula. Istria is unique from the rest of Croatia, and its people have an independence and spirit all their own.

Rovinj

After World War I and the fall of the Habsburg Empire, unlike the rest of Croatia, Istria became part of Italy, not joining Yugoslavia until after World War II.

Across the Adriatic from Venice, Rovinj’s strong Italian influences shine through, particularly in its architecture and food. Pasta and risotto will appear on the dinner table next to fresh fish from the Adriatic, beef from local cattle and wines from nearby vineyards.

We stayed at a terrific B&B, Villa Dobravac, just outside the city center but within an easy walk to the water and to town. Our room was modern and large with a good sized bathroom and walk-in rain shower. As an extra bonus, we had a balcony with a lovely view of town. We could only stay one night and had an early ferry to Venice the next morning. Because we missed breakfast, they packed up a lunch bag filled with sandwiches, fruit and pastries for us to take with us … so very nice.

Church of St. Euphemia

Like Piran in Slovenia, the attractive hilly town is topped by an oversized bell tower. One of the prettiest towns from afar, Rovinj seems to have sprouted right up from the water like Venus from her shell. Also like Venus, she is beautiful and it is a joy to wander about her twisted streets and harbor promenades.

Charming Streets

The hilltop Church of St. Euphemia looks small compared to its 190-foot tall bell tower. Baroque in style, the church dates back to 1754 and is worth a visit, not only for the pretty interior, but the nice grounds and views.

The bell tower is a replica of Venice’s St. Mark’s tower. Those hardy (and crazy) enough to climb the rickety 192 wooden steps, are rewarded with magnificent vistas. For us, the views from the grounds were good enough.

The, narrow streets that wind down to the water are delightful with nooks and crannies, colorful paintings, fun shops and lots of whimsy.

Heading to the Water

The harbor is lined with cafés, restaurants and bars; some perched right on the rocks. The market, also near the water, is brimming with produce, treats and souvenirs.

We enjoyed lunch across the harbor from town with a great view of the boat-filled docks, the town and its bell tower; and that night we had a pleasurable seafood dinner on the water among the wave smacked rocks and shimmering lights.

Rovinj was delightful. There aren’t any real sites, the town is the draw and is a place to relax, enjoy, and soak up some of that wonderful Adriatic ambiance.