Magical Rovinj – a little slice of heaven

Croatia Stage 16 – Fri 5th Jun 2015 – Pula to Rovinj (49 Km)

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Five days into summer and every day gets a little bit warmer, with today reaching a perfect 32 degrees Celsius (not Fahrenheit like Bathurst, which I believe was snowing yesterday).

Getting out of Pula at peak hour was no problem at all because an off-road bike path took me the whole 10 Km to the other side of town. Today I decided to take the “path less pedalled” rather than the busy highway, so I navigated through quiet country roads, laneways, sandy tracks, gravel roads, pebble roads, rock roads, boulder roads, camping grounds and even goat tracks. In consideration of my poor bike, which was taking a real buffeting, I had to get off and walk in places. But my trusty Garmin got me there in the end and I was rewarded with some spectacular scenery, particularly some of the fabulous little seaside villages I rode through.

While riding down one country laneway I stopped to talk to a nice old Italian man walking with his grandson. He was from Venice and didn’t speak much English but we still managed to have a good old chat.

It was amazing the number of camping grounds where campers are allowed to pitch their tents right near the sea near secluded beaches. Innocent country boy that I am, I had to avert my eyes at one of these beaches I rode near because I was embarrassed by the sight of all the ample bodies sun-tanned all over.

Arriving at Rovinj about 2 pm, I checked into a great apartment right in the heart of the “old town”. Now I can see why Rovinj is reputed to be the most enchanting town, not just on the west coast of Istria but possibly the whole of Croatia (perhaps with the exception of Dubrovnik).  As you can see from the photos it really is stunning.

Originally an island, in 1763 Rovinj was connected to the mainland and became a peninsula. The town’s showcase is the imposing church of Saint Euphemia, dominating the old town from its hilltop location in the middle of the peninsula. The photo I took of a marble tomb (behind the right hand altar of the church) contains the body of Saint Euphemia, Rovinj’s patron saint, who was tortured for her Christian faith by Emperor Diocletian before being thrown to the lions in 304. The 60m bell tower is topped by a copper statue of Saint Euphemia, which shows the direction of the wind by turning on a spindle.

On the way back down the hill from the church I walked through the cobbled street of Grisia, which is lined with galleries where local artists sell their work.

I am so glad I decided I decided to spend an extra day in this truly magical little town!