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south harbor and Trg Marsala Tita in cove
Front of the info center
Pieces on the main floor
Two bells at top of tower
My wife and I are heading to Croatia and are planning our time between Split - Rovinj - Venice.
We have roughly 5 days set aside for time in and around Rovinj, but have not booked or confirmed anything.
My biggest questions are about how to maximize the time while there. We are avid travelers and like to move, as well as relax.
Based on what I've read, it would seem like Rovinj could be a great base-camp where we stay in one hotel or apartment, and either use travel services or a rental car to do day trips.
We like nature, as well as good food/wine, museums, history, etc.
These are my big questions:
Do we want to stay in one place - like Ravinj - for 4 or 5 nights, or do we want to move around?
If there are 3-things we must see (or could see while in that area) what are they - I am getting all the basics from the internet and books, but I wonder about those little secret places, or gems in the area that are not to miss?
Is it worth renting a car in Split and driving to Ravinj and keeping the car, or is it better to use guides and local services?
Thanks for any input you can provide.
Mike
Hi,
For Rovinj itself one day is enough. On my trip there I also visited Montovun (picturesque Medieval town on a hilltop) and Porec (beautiful Medieval coastal town), and I recommend both.
You can cross the border into Slovenia and visit the Venetian-style coastal towns of Piran and Koper.
A rented car is the best option in my opinion.
Venice can be reached by ferry from Rovinj.
Best regards, Ilan
Hi,
if you want to be on your own and do your own research on the area I would just keep the car. Driving is easy in Croatia, roads are good.
I'd suggest you also vist Pula for a day, there's a lot of historic architecture to see, including Roman amphitheather. And some nice beaches, then as well National Park Brijuni
http://www.brijuni.hr/Home.aspx?PageID=1&gohome=true
Rovinj - 1 day is enough. Motovun: leave the car on the foot of the hill and walk the way till the top, it's very nice settlement - no wonder it homes film festival :)
You may also find Pazin enjoyable place - has scenic and deep rock wall, castle, cave and it's small, not so crowded town inside Istria. Some people call it gem and I think that's true. A little different place than coastal towns.
Perhaps you could also go to Cres island by ferry (short ferry ride - from Porozine) and have a day or two there. It's one of the nicest islands in this part of Adriatic sea. Had sheeps, protected vulture and very scenic landscape.
http://www.tzg-cres.hr/
I think you could use Rovinj as a base for 2 nights (if you see Rovinj for one day, next day Motovun and Pazin), then go to Pula for third day, maybe Brijuni next day and then move further by car on where ever you want direction (islands? maybe straight towards Split and choose somewhere else to stay?) - you cad drive through inland (not so scenic but faster, Pula - tunnel Ucka - Rijeka) or by the east coast of Istria (nicer, slowlier upon the sea, Pula - Labin - Opatija- Rijeka), then ... islands or maybe further along the Jadranska magistrala road.
Rovinj is a charming Venetian-style town; although quite commercialized, it retains an authentic look and atmosphere.
On a sunny day, at sunset time, take the winding lanes uphill to the church at the top of the hill. The sunset over the Adriatic sea is truly amazing!
Park wood Zlatni Rt developed between 1890 and 1910. Count Georg Huetteroth arranged an agricultural landscape of the free landscaping style simultaneously introducing numerous evergreen exotic plants. Towards the end of period of arranging the park, count Huetteroth publicly announced the project of the climatic-beach centre Cap Aureo "The Sunny Coast of Istria", which was supposed to become an exclusive resort. Villas for the accommodation of the guests were supposed to be built in the Iobe bay, on the meadow near Skarabe, in the bay near Punta and on Montauro. The organization of the space, communications and the vegetation follow the accurately arranged plan for the hotel construction, which, by the time of its creation, size and the type of construction, is a rarity in such a type of Mediterranean environment, especially due to shapes and richness of the introduced cultures.
Namely, rare trees in European terms were brought to Punat through sailors all the way from Mexico, America, and Japan, and the especially valuable cedars were planted in the shape of the Star of David. Thanks to its arrangement, Zlatni Rt became one of the most famous park woods in the Mediterranean, side by side to Dubrovnik's Lokrum and Monaco's Hamburg. The project remained unfinished because of Huetterrodt's early death in 1910.
World wars and big social transformations changed the original intentions, so that Zlatni Rt became a protected object of nature of the park wood type intended for holidays and relaxation. Zlatni Rt was one of the generators of the tourist development of Rovinj but it was not properly maintained. The whole surface was neglected, the space was covered in macchia and the recognizable elements of the landscape style and arrangement were lost. By the physical plan and the General physical plan of the town, the renovation of the historical nucleus of the park wood was planned, as well as its enlargement southward towards the Cuvi area, also systematically arranged. Parks shaped in such a way turned out as the highest potentials for sunbathing and recreation on the lawns. Zlatni Rt used to be the most frequently visited beach in Rovinj. Since the lack of care caused the near disappearance of the lawns, wood borders and the valuable exotic plants, as well as sunny surfaces, the bathers increasingly keep choosing other beaches.
It is worth mentioning that Zlatni Rt became a park wood and a protected object of nature as early as 1961 by the resolution of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Nature. It occupies the space of 52,4 hectares, and 12,5 hectares include beaches and 4,5 hectares are fields. There are approximately 5.000 metres of coastal line, while the continental part is bordered with 800 metres of high dry wall. It is interspersed with walking alleys hiking paths. The walking alleys with a solid foundation take up 20.000 square metres of the surface, and the wood trails take up the surface of 5.000 square metres. Of the facilities on Punta, a watchtower and a horse stable were built. The stable was later turned into a catering point. By the same token, a pier for the mooring of boats was built next to the catering point. Park wood Zlatni Rt is the habitat for the game, especially deer, rabbit and pheasant for which special water-holes were built.
It was surprising enough to find the contemporary art collection here but given that Rovinj is just a small town on the Istrian Peninsula, discovering a collection of Venetian paintings from the 15th-19th century was just amazing. Maybe not when you consider how long Rovinj was under Venetian rule but generally speaking you do not expect to come across a collection of Old Masters in a small-town museum. This collection even claims to have one painting by the 'School of Bellini' but not being familiar enough with these artists I couldn't identify which one it was.I did find ' The Journey to Emaus" by Marco Ricci and some work by the school of Guido Reni though. One room is devoted to portraits, which according to the blurb, are of central European origin. Thes portraits are luminescent with a finish reminiscent of that achieved by the Flemish painters of the Northern Renaissance. The paintings are hung with flair in rooms furnished with occasional pieces of antique furniture. Both this gallery and the one metioned in the previous tip are on the first floor of the Rovinj Heritage Museum, where you can also see some archeological remains and a room filled with huge model ships. For a small regional museum, this is an impressive collection and not to be missed.
Opening Hours are 9-12 and 7-10 in summer and 9-1 in winter. It's closed on Sunday and Monday in winter and Sunday in summer. Admission is 30 Kuna ( less than EUR 3 ).
The Regional Museum is on the main square and the phone number is + 385 52 816 720
The photographs show the museum from the outside, the Old Masters Gallery and one of the ships from the maritime exhibition.
Through a cul-de-sac alley that climbs towards the top of the hill, appears suddenly Sveti Euphemia cathedral. If you click to enlarge the picture, you will even see that Sveti Euphemia herself is standing on top !
Not so long ago, most of the houses used to have bunar (the well) for the water supplying, which were situated in the inneryards. This one is can be seen in the courtyard of the restaurant in the old core of the town, right beneath the cathedral.
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