Rovinj is a picturesque town in Croatia that sits on the Istrian peninsula. This charming town is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, which makes it a popular destination for beach lovers. Rovinj’s Old Town is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets, and it’s easy to get lost in its beauty. The St. Euphemia Church is the town’s main landmark, and it’s worth climbing to the top of its tower for a stunning view of Rovinj and the surrounding area. The town is also known for its fresh seafood and delicious wine.
Rovinj is a charmingly picturesque town with narrow, cobbled streets, striking many visitors as being very Italianate in nature. It is famous for the St Euphemia Cathedral, the highest church tower in Istria at 61 meters high. The town was originally an island, but 250 years ago the narrow channel which separated it from the mainland was filled in. It is one of our favorite destinations on the Croatian Adriatic. It is so delightfully pretty, and also lively with its numerous cafes and restaurants, galleries, and an active fishing port. In fact, in the mornings you can watch the fishermen come in as you have your breakfast.
As with much of Istria, findings in the area show that Rovinj’s history stretches back to prehistoric times. The town was originally an Illyrian settlement populated by the Histri. Although Istria became part of the Roman Empire in 177 BC, Rovinj (Ruginium in Latin) was never a settlement of much importance.
Rovinj became one of the first towns in Istria to fall to Venice, which it did in 1283. Attacked several times over the next few centuries, the town fortified its walls. Rovinj also saw an influx in numbers in the 17th century. During this time, people chose to escape the plagues affecting neighbouring towns such as Porec and Pula.
At this point, the main part of Rovinj was still an island that was separate from the mainland, although the town had expanded onto it. For this reason, in 1763, the channel between Rovinj and the mainland was filled in.
