Rovinj
The town of Rovinj - Rovigno is the right destination for all those longing for a sentimental atmosphere of the times long lost. Due to the lack of space, houses are closely built, streets are narrow and squares are small, still untouched by modern urbanism. The rest is nature’s work. The entire coastline, with its twenty-two islands, is an area of protected natural heritage.
A walk through these lovely little streets will take you to a distant past, so be sure to bring your camera. From the seaside, Rovinj is protected by the high rocky coast and walls of the houses built on the cliffs, and from the landside it is sheltered by solid bulwarks. All of it is still preserved! Once you step through the Balbi Arch and enter the old town, you will find yourselves in a different time dimension. All its lovely little streets will take you to the top of a small hill, where you will find the biggest and most significant monument in town - the church of St. Euphemia (pop. Fuma). This baroque building made in Venetian style was dedicated to the saint and martyr whose sarcophagus, according to a legend, was miraculously washed ashore somewhere around 800. The holiday of St. Fuma takes place in the middle of September and is one of the most important and greatest spontaneous folk assemblings in Istria.
Rovinj-Rovigno is then filled with pilgrims from Istria, the littoral and other parts of the country. If you happen to be in town at that time, take the opportunity to experience this traditional holiday, because it is truly delightful.
The coastal area between Rovinj-Rovigno and Lim canal, the islands of Rovinj-Rovigno and its hinterland - it is a landscape filled with enchanting holly-oak and pine woods. The Golden Cape is the most significant public garden surface on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Palud swamp is an ornithological reserve with more than 200 bird species, while the Monfiorenzo quarry is a protected valuable geological monument. However, this is just the beginning, there is much more for you to see.
Dvigrad, today an uninhabited place dating from the Bronze Age, is enclosed with a veil of mysteriousness and sacred rites of past times that circle the narrow streets and pass quietly through the churches painted with frescos done by a painter known as “Šareni Majstor” (Colorful master). Very close, in the picturesque Kanfanar, you can enjoy the numerous traditional taverns, flavours and scents of the sea salt melting with the aroma of the rich Mediterranean vegetation.
Its surroundings offer immense possibilities for recreation: biking, horseback riding, jogging. But, owing to the sea and what it has to offer, ranging from sailing to discovering the underwater world, and its therapeutic properties, today Rovinj-Rovigno is the destination for tourists from all over the world.
While in Rovinj-Rovigno and its surroundings, enjoy the magical nature and learn about its incredible heritage. The experience will fill your heart with love and your memory with a genuine romance still preserved only on this green corner of the Mediterranean.
On the beautiful west coast of Istria, just underneath the Lim canal, there is the most romantic place in the Mediterranean!