Rovinj, Istria’s photogenic town

Perched on the edge of the Adriatic, Rovinj is easily one of Istria’s most picturesque escapes.

We stayed 3 nights in Rovinj, to explore what this town has to offer.

The town’s identity was shaped by over five centuries under the Republic of Venice, followed by a period as part of Italy in the early 20th century.

You can see the history today – many people speak Italian, and the street signages and restaurant menus have both Croatian and Italian words. It’s a place where ‘Rovinj’ (Croatian) and ‘Rovigno’ (Italian) exist in parallel.

Trg Marsala Tita

At the central square, there are many restaurants surrounding and overlooking the harbor.

The “Boy with a Fish” statue is created by the Dubrovnik born sculptor Marjan Kocković, and it commemorates the town finally receiving modern running water in 1959.

You can walk along the pier and watch the rows of docked boats bobbing gently in the tide.

Balbi’s Arch

This arch is the entrance to the old town and marks the spot where a city gate once stood.

Featuring two distinct stone heads – Venetian on one side and a Turk on the other, this symbolises the town’s position at the crossroads of empires.

Walking in the cobblestone streets in the old town (Stari Grad), there are many boutique shops and artistic streets here.

Stari Grad

Walking in the cobblestone streets in the old town (Stari Grad), there are many boutique shops and artistic streets here.

We came during Easter period, so many shops were not open that weekend, but it gave us a rare chance to wander the picturesque cobblestone streets without the usual crowds.

From the Old Town, you can walk up towards the St Euphemia’s church.

St. Euphemia’s Church

St. Euphemia’s Church is the town’s most iconic landmark. The bell tower, modeled after St. Mark’s in Venice, remains the tallest in Istria.

We visited during golden hour, and the sun was just about to set. The sunrays shining on the church gives it a warm yellow glow.

Food

For dinner, we had the seafood risotto and skampi (prawns) in red sauce that had just the right amount of kick.

Location: Il Faro (35€ spent)

Fish House

For dinner near the Old Town, we stumbled across this small dining house that served fish and burgers.

We had the fish and salmon burger – both were hits. The fish is very fresh, and the salmon burger is not too salty or overwhelmed with sauce.

Location: Fish House by Chef Jasmin

YouTube: Rovinj, Istria – Croatia’s charming coastal town

Here is a 2-minute travel vlog of my time in Rovinj.

Next city

After Rovinj, we headed to Motovun, where we did truffle hunting with two cute dogs.