The pearl of Rovinj, an ancient and charming Mediterranean town, is its old city centre. Often called Little Venice because of the impact that the rule of Venice had on the town, Rovinj is a remarkable example of renaissance architecture.
While walking the narrow alleyways and squares of Rovinj, you will be amazed by the beauty of its tall and slender houses that stand supporting each other on the hill with the Venetian style church of Saint Euphemia. The church houses the sarcophagus with the body of the saint that is the protector of the town. The bell tower with its 62 meters of height is the tallest in Istria. Once you’re done sightseeing, you can visit the Red Island and Saint Catherine’s Island just of the coast of Rovinj.
Some of Rovinj highlights are:
Castle on the Red Island
The castle on the Red Island is a Benedictine monastery from the 6th century, which is today in use as a hotel and decorated by works of the official painter of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Alexander Kircher.
Rovinj Aquarium
This over 115-year-old building is located inside the Maritime Research Centre of the Ruđer Bošković Institute. Here you can get an inside in the diversity of the underwater world (sea anemone, sea snails, sea stars, lobster etc.) and the typical communities that live in the Adriatic undersea area.
Grisia street
This beautiful street is one of the most recognizable trademarks of the city of Rovinj. This street is most famous for its one-day art competition exhibition, which has been organised continuously since August 1967. Also, it is the most famous open-air exhibition in Croatia and the most famous exhibition in Rovinj.
Mini Croatia
If you would like to see all the most important sights of Croatia in just one day – no problem! Visit Mini Croatia and take a walk through Dubrovnik, Split, Osijek, Zadar or walk by Pula’s amphitheatre, visit the Pazin cave, the Lim channel or the church of St. Eufemia in Rovinj. Visitors are able to stroll through different landscapes and cities of Croatia within just a few minutes and explore many regions of Croatia within an area of 5500m2.
Baron Gautsch
An 85-meter long ferry named Baron Gautsch sunk at the beginning of the First World War near Rovinj with about 250 passengers. The shipwreck is very well preserved and today it is a diver’s attraction worth seeing.