After checkout in Rijeka we were heading to our next Croatia’s city – Rovinj, which has very Italian looking streets in the old town. Rovinj in Croatia is a popular summer vacation destination known for its charming Mediterranean atmosphere, stunning coastal scenery, breathtaking sunsets, and rich Turkish and Venetian history. The town is also known for its local crafts such as lace-making and its delicious seafood. Rovinj has ancient origins, with its documented history beginning in the 7th century.
In the 11th century, Rovinj was founded as a trading castle and a defense system against the Venetian attack. After the fall of the Patriarchate of Aquileia in 1205 Rovinj became part of the newly established Venetian Republic and was included into the Istrian Stato da mar, becoming an important Venetian administrative center. Through the period from 1283 to 1797 Rovinj was one of the most important towns in Istria, which was governed by the Republic of Venice.
During the Middle Ages, Rovinj economy boomed, due to trading activities, especially the wine and fish trade which was very important to Istrian and Hungarian communities. The city was an important port of the Venetian trade network and a centre of shipbuilding and naval tactics. Venetian decoration was preserved in churches and palaces in Rovinj and the town’s population flourished, with many noble and bourgeois families as well as fishermen and traders staying there while passing through.
Rovinj originally was built on an island close to the coast, which became connected to the mainland only in 1763 when the channel separating from the mainland was filled up.
Rovinj was ruled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the 18th century until 1918, when it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. From 1945 to 1991 Rovinj was a part of Yugoslavia. In 1990 Rovinj joined the newly formed Republic of Croatia.
Today Rovinj ranks as 40th city by size in Croatia with 11,693 people.

We found a free parking not far from the marina in the town within 10 min walk.

We stopped at a Maestral Restaurant, which had an amazing view to the sea and Rovinj’s old town. Three drinks were only € 11.



I really liked those photo opportunity signs in Rovinj, which shows you from where you can take a really nice picture.
























It ithe 7th century, Rovinj was a fortified city, which later was strengthened further with additional towers. At that time, it had seven gates. Nowadays, only three remain: “The Gates Under the Wall”, “The Gates of St. Benedict” and “The Gates of the Holly Cross”. The exact spot where Balbi’s Arch is located today, the main gateway of the fortress, known as Porton della Pescheria, had once been situated and was demolished in 1678-1679 under the governance of the mayor Daniel Balbi. An inscription on a stone board commemorates the historical event, while the Balbi’s Arch is now the main entrance to the Old Town of Rovinj, recognizable by a “greeting Venetian Lion” and the Balbi family crest.


In June 1959, sculptor Marjan Kocković from Dubrovnik, constructed a large water fountain in with a boy and a fish. Even today, the fountain has drinkable water, which is safe to drink and tastes good.





The Clock Tower (Uhrturm) in Rovinj is prominently situated on Marshal Tito Square, formerly known as the Rovinj Square. It used to be situated on the south corner of the whilom old city walls. Built in the 12th century, it was regularly updated and now has a 14th-century clock situated in a red tower. This tower was previously transformed into a prison. With its prominent Lion of Saint Mark – a symbol of the Venetian Republic – the Clock Tower is impossible to miss.
We stopped for a lunch at Snack Bar “Rio”, which was an excellent choice and the food was delicious and great service. Total for 3 people was € 93.







Don’t miss out
Checkout local beaches and there is one next to old town.

Walk to the Rovinj Great Mall, where you will have a nice view of the old town.
Checkout Balbi’s Arch and Rovinj Town Clock
See Church of Saint Euphemia (Crkva sv. Eufemija) and enjoy views from there
Checkout Rovinj’s ancient history:

Checkout all the viewpoints in Rovinj and more tips in here: