Hello my beautiful Hivers,
Before I begin writing about the city of Rovinj, I'd like to talk about the peninsula on which it is located.
For years, the combination of rich culture, natural beauty, hospitality, historical sights, and a rich gastronomic offer has drawn visitors from all over the world to the magical part of Croatia located in the west.
It is the largest Croatian and Adriatic peninsula, located in the Adriatic north of Istria. This Mediterranean region at the foot of the Alps is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea and is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty and rich history.
The Istrian peninsula got its name from the prehistoric Histri people, who were described by the Romans as infamous pirates who lived in Istria in the distant past. Because of its fantastic location and all of the advantages that this magical peninsula offers, it has been the target of many conquerors throughout history. This is evidenced by various landmarks left from those times, such as the Roman influence on architecture, Byzantine mosaics, medieval towns, many churches from various periods of Christianity, and Renaissance frescoes.
Rovinj
One of the most romantic locations in the Mediterranean is charming Rovinj, located on the lovely Istrian coast right below the Lim channel.
A city that got its start as a lovely place on a small island where people built compact homes and built streets and squares that were unaffected by modern urbanisation. The city is shielded from the sea by a high rocky coast and walls of buildings constructed on the cliffs.
On the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, the town of Rovinj, together with the town of Pore, serves as the region's tourism hub and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. The picturesque town of Rovinj, which previously served as both a port and a fishing community, has just under 15,000 residents today and offers a rare fusion of the traditional and the modern that draws a large number of tourists every year.
Slubeni jezik u Rovinju je, naravno, hrvatski, but stanovnici u velikom broju govore I talijanski, which is posve jasno s obzirom na veliki povijesni utjecaj susjeda.
Rovinj has a beautiful Mediterranean climate and is well-known among tourists.
This picturesque town is small enough to be easily explored on foot, allowing you to take your time and carefully examine each attraction. The significant Venetian influence is evident in the architecture, which, among other things, characterizes all of Istria.
Old Town Rovinj - The charming old town center of Rovinj is a great place to start learning about the area. Stone streets and vibrant buildings make up the majority of this town, which is situated on a narrow peninsula. In 1963, the city was designated as a national monument.
I know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but seeing something with your own eyes, rather than simply in pictures, films, or advertising, is actually even more lovely.
In Croatia, there are other locations like this, including Rovinj. Cities that are peaceful in the wintertime are full of residents who appreciate life's tranquility and beauty.
The situation is entirely different in the summer.
It is crowded with travelers from all across the world, music events, and concerts... The city comes to life once more.
I'm not sure if I prefer it when it's so calm and peaceful, as if I'm the only person in that small town and it only exists for me.
Or during the summer, when I cool off in the sea and ice cream while taking in the numerous languages spoken by the visitors to this enchanted town.
The Saint. Euphemia legend
We arrive at the church of St. Euphemia after wandering through lovely stone alleys, stone homes, and sea scenery.
It is first required to describe who St. Euphemia is and why she became the guardian of the city in order to better comprehend why such a massive and imposing church was built in Rovinj.
Euphemia, a little girl from the Asia Minor city of Chalcedon, was one of the many Christians who were imprisoned, persecuted, and slain under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
She was born in a reputable noble family in the year 290. She was taken into custody by Diocletian's soldiers when she was fifteen years old, and since she refused to forsake Christianity, they tortured her in numerous ways, including brutally on the wheel. Even after that, she continues to follow Christ, and when they give her to the lions to kill, they do not eat her flesh.
The saint's life is not well documented in history, although it is known that she passed away on September 16, 304. Until 620, when the city was taken over by the Persians, the martyr's remains was kept in storage by Chalcedonian Christians. The body of St. Euphemia was later transported to Constantinople and interred in a splendid church that the Roman Emperor Constantine had erected in her memory. When iconoclasts—those who oppose the veneration of images—take control in the year 800, Christians hide St. Euphemia's relics once more.
It is impossible to pinpoint exactly what happened next, but according to tradition, a marble sarcophagus floated on the shore in front of Rovinj before daybreak on July 13, 800, following a severe storm. Numerous Rovinj people attempted to move the sarcophagus to the Saint. Juraj church, but nobody was successful.
He is only a child, but thanks to St. Euphemia's intercession, he was able to move the sarcophagus and his two cows to the hill.
Residents of Rovinj considered the sarcophagus' arrival there to be a miracle, therefore St. They started to venerate Euphemia as their patron saint. On September 16, the day of St. Eufemije, visitors from all over the world go to Rovinj. A large festival with a rich schedule is organized in Rovinj's central square, and traditionally, mutton with sauerkraut (ovca z kapuzon) and fritule, a sort of Istrian dessert, are consumed.
Rovinj exudes the atmosphere of a small Mediterranean fishing village, as evidenced by the numerous fisherman's dinners and other similar events. This small town is a wonderful combination of modern and past, large and small, peaceful and interesting, due to its rich history, inhabitants full of stories about local legends, and rich gastronomic and hotel offer.
Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and look at my photos.
Thank you!
You can’t have everything you want, but you can have the things that really matter to you. – Marissa Mayer