Rovinj: The Gem of Istria
Last summer, we had the fabulous opportunity to visit friends in Northern Croatia (the island of Krk to be exact) and decided to make a 2 night stop along the way in what I would consider one of the county’s most charming villages, Rovinj. I am clearly not the only person who thinks this based on the mid-July crowds (and a cruise ship or two), BUT it’s deserving. The old town is situated by the sea, on a hilly peninsula, with the tower of St. Euphemia Church marking its highest point. It doesn’t get much more picturesque!
The old town is mostly pedestrian cobblestone paths with colorful buildings filled with cafes, bars, art galleries, some decent shops and several great restaurants. It’s main street is called La Grisia and not to be missed! The port continues its old world charm (rustic fishing boats) with a mix of glamour (several gorgeous boats and yachts decided to stake their place here as well).
About a 15 minute walk outside of the old town you will find wonderful rocky, and pebbly beaches as well as Lone Bay beach, through beaches of Golden Cape forest, across Punta Eva, all the way to neighboring area called Bale, you can enjoy many lovely beaches. The sea is incredible clear and clean and the most gorgeous shade of turquoise (just look at that photo below!).
We stayed at one of the rather large and looming resorts nearby which had its pros and cons. It was a lovely property (and yes, I would send clients there), but one of the few “concerns” about Rovinj is just how built up it might become. There are several of these BIG hotels that for the most part are done tastefully (including creating a lovely seaside promenade and sunbathing terraces), but I can’t help but ask myself when is enough, enough. The old town stands in tact and full of beauty, but look in one direction and you will see a non-stop construction site.
But back to just the good…the food! There is an excellent choice of restaurants in Rovinj. In our case, we enjoyed a traditional, casual and filling meal at Kanobo (tavern) Kantinon, located waterfront, overlooking the old town. The dishes are based on fresh, local produce and meats/fish. They also serve fantastic local wine (FYI, there is GREAT wine tasting nearby by, but will save that for another blog!) made from a white grape variety, called Istarska Malvazija. Yum!!!
Rovinj is also a great base for exploring the Istrian peninsula including the lovely medieval hilltop towns of Motovun and Groznjan, the islands of Brijuni, and for course, the incredible Roman ruins of Pula – one can even truffle hunt in the area!
The best time to visit Rovinj is spring, fall, early and late summer. Like most places on the Med/Adriatic and Aegean, avoid July and August if possible. We did visit in July (due to friends being there!), so I can attest to the crowds and heat. From what I hear, the perfect time to visit is in September when there are far less people, the sea is still warm and prices are more affordable.
I have fallen for Istria and would love to help you plan the perfect vacation in this truly special place. Get in touch if you’d like to experience this lovely corner of Croatia and more!
