Rovinj, Croatia

Rovinj is a seaside resort town on Croatia's Istrian peninsula.  Originally, the city was on an island.  In 1763, the channel separating the island from the mainland was filled in.  The Rovinj Archipelago has 22 islets that you can get to by tour boats.

Rovinj is only 36 km (22 miles) from Pula.  Its history is pretty much the same as Pula's.  It too was an Illyrian settlement before becoming a part of the Holy Roman Empire.  Later it was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then a part of Italy, before finally become a part of Yugoslavia in 1947.



Rovinj is one of Croatia's most popular tourist spots.  The town's population is around 15,000.





The Old Fisherman's gate was built from 1678-1679.  It marks the entrance to the old town.



St. Euphemia is the town's patron saint.  The St. Euphemia basilica is in the center of the old town.  The Baroque church was built in 1736 and the façade dates back to 1883.

The bell tower was built from 1654-1680.  A statue of St. Euphemia serves as a wind vane on top of the 60 meter (197 feet) high tower.  The tower can be seen from almost everywhere in town.












The "Memorial for Freedom" was unveiled in 1956.  It honors the partisans who died during WWII.