Rovinj
Rovinj is another Croatian walled town built on small peninsula. Architecturally it looks very similar as Korcula , Dubrovnik or Porec - located on small peninsula, surrounded by sea with its historic centre modelled on Venice). Rovinj is very popular among visitors and travellers to Croatia and is one of the top Croatian tourist destination. (Check Top Ten Croatian Places).
Rovinj used to be Istrian fishing port , and once was also the principal town of the Istrian peninsula. Nowadays, it's maze of narrow streets leads to a harbour full of fishing boats as well as sailing boats and yachts. As a town, Rovinj was first mentioned in the 7th century, as Ruvignio-Ruigno. It changes rulers throughout the history . IMportant part of it's history was period when it was under Venetian rule. From 1283 until fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Rovinj got the majority of it's architectural marks. After fall of Venetian Republic, it came under Austria-Hungarian Empire rule, and from 1918 under Italian rule. After Second World War, Rovinj joined Yugoslavia (Croatia).
Rovinj is a classic model of a town of the Mediterranean form. It was fortified by walls in two rows as early as the Middle Ages, with town gates later incorporated into new layout. In late 18th century, the islet where Rovinj was originally built, was connected with the mainland. At that time, the rest of the town started to develop too. Rovinj is one of the most developed seaside resorts in Croatia, offering a whole range of visitor opportunities in a picturesque ambience of the ancient town, surrounded by dense pine forests.
History of Tourism in Rovinj:
The beginning of tourism was marked by the introduction of a steamship line between Rovinj and Trieste (1845) and the construction of the railroad to Vienna (1876). In 1896 the town had a well-maintained public beach, Val di Lone, and several boarding houses (Alla citta di Trieste, Al Miramar, Alla porta antica and Al vecchio albergo). The year 1888 may be considered the official beginning of tourism in Rovinj, when the health resort Maria Theresia was opened in the town.
This oldest institution of that kind on the Adriatic coast was established by the Viennese society for the establishment and development of maritime health resorts and asylums for poor children and scrofulosis and rachitis patients. The health resort was visited by children from the entire Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and other countries.
The development of tourism was continued with the construction of Hotel Jadran, which was built before the First World War by the Society for the Construction of the First Hotel in Rovinj, to meet the needs of an increasing number of tourists and eminent persons who spent their vacation in Rovinj.
The Polish count Ignac-Karol Korwin Milewsky bought the island of Sveta Katarina in 1905, carried out its afforestation and built two castles. In 1890 Baron Georg von Hüterodt purchased the island of Sveti Andrija and turned its former monastery building into a hotel; the island thus became the favorite seaside resort of the Austro-Hungarian clientele (memorial book Cissa-Insel).Between the two world wars the construction of hotels stagnated. After the Second World War many deserted buildings were transformed into workers' rest homes, and the island of Sveta Katarina has been frequented by children from Zagreb since 1947. An important date in the development of tourism in Rovinj was 1959, when the problem of potable water was finally solved by connection to the Istrian Waterworks from Buzet.( (c) www.croatia.hr ) Also, see Rovinj Hotel Jadran Old Luggage Label
Rovinj Accommodation, Arrival and Departure:
Nearest airport Pula - Rovinj distance from Pula is about 36 km . There is a regular bus service to Rovinj from Rijeka and Pula as well as from Zagreb, croatian capital. Also, one can easily reach Rovinj from Venice or Trieste in Italy. There are numerous accommodation options in Rovinj - various hotels as well as privately owned apartments and rooms - all offer clean and comfortable place to sleep and rest . For more info about Rovinj offers check our Rovinj Travel Directory - collection of travel links from Rovinj or Rovinj Tourist board website: http://www.tzgrovinj.hr/ |
