It rises up on a small peninsula and is a witness to times gone by and diligent hands of domestic artisans. Narrow space dictated the crammed construction of narrow houses, streets and small squares. Of particular interest in the old town centre are the characteristically designed chimneys. Rovinj was declared a cultural monument in 1963.
By the 7th century Rovinj was already surrounded by town walls, and later strengthened by the construction of towers. The town had seven gates of which three still exist today: the St. Benedict Gate, The Portico and the Holy Cross Gate. A Baroque archway called the Balbi Arch (Balbijev luk), which today serves as the entrance into Old town.
It is the most imposing structure and the patron saint of the town dominating the whole of the old town centre. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century while its façade in the Venetian-Baroque style was added in the middle of the 19th century. At the top of the sixty metre high bell tower stands the copper statute of St. Euphemia which turns according to the direction of the wind...
Links
More information about Rovinj, its history and sights you can find at
www.rovinj.com
www.rovinj.hr