The area around Rovinj has many attractions worth a visit. Here is a list of our suggestions for a day out.
Lim Fjord
One of the most beautiful fjords of the Adriatic Sea is the old riverbed of an Istrian, karst underground river. After a few kilometers of walking, you can see it in the form of a 12 km long, 600 m wide and 30 m deep fjord. The mouth between the two capes, Trole and Križ, is 1600 meters wide. Just behind Cape Križ, the coast has four bays: Faborsa, Saline, Valalta and Sankt Felice.
Towards the north, the canal becomes narrower, and then flows almost 60-100 m eastward between a fairly steep, wooded shore in the southern part. In the steep cliffs along the bay you can find the 2 caves of St. Romuald, the small and the large one.
In the cave of St. Romuald, located in the Lim fjord area, has been discovered a large number of skeletal remains of more than 40 animal species, such as the cave bear, the cave lion, the leopard, the cave hyena, the wild horse, the great deer, the snowshoe hare and other animals, all of them caught by the prehistoric hunter. Tool finds point to the existence of the man from the Paleolithic period and the cave is an interesting speleological object with many cave attractions. The cave was named after St.Romualdo, who lived in the cave for prayers and meditations for three years, from 1001 to 1004.
Below the small cave were found traces from the Paleolithic period and in the large cave also skeletons of cavemen. The bay is today a well-known excursion destination and famous for its mussel breed, a very much appreciated specialty of this region.
Rovinj islands
The Rovinj Islands and the coastal strip are special landscape protection areas. Moreover, the entire coast around Rovinj is also a nature reserve, as well as the 22 islands that surround it: St. Katarina, St. Andrea, the two Figarola's islands (large and small), Šturago, Maškin, Pirusi, St. Ivan, Banjole, Two Sisters.
The Island Katarina is one of the closest and largest islands of the Rovinj archipelago. It is located opposite the town, only a hundred meters away. Its area of 16,000 square meters is covered with a lush vegetation, with pine, oleander and other typical plants.
South of Cape Montravo one reaches the island of Školj magaraca (Donkey reef), then on two islands connected by a breakwater, St. Andrea and Maškin. These are the remains of a peninsula, which once stretched to the south, and which, after an earthquake before the 6th century, fell in several places. This is how a group of 5 islands emerged: Školj magaraca, St. Andrea, Maškin, Šturago, St. Ivan and numerous reefs.
Forest Park Zlatni Rt (Golden Cape)
Rovinj is particularly proud of the „Golden Cape“, i.e. the "Zlatni Rt“ or „Punta Corrente", the first protected nature park in Istria.
On almost 70 hectares, one of the most important parks of our coastal area is of great aesthetic and botanical value, with the most diverse types of sparse cypresses, pines, firs, cedars, of which a group of cedars from the Himalayas (Cedrus Deodara).
Palud marsh ornithological reserve
The ornithological reserve Palud is an interesting marsh area about 10 kilometers from Rovinj. Sweet and salt water, as well as marsh vegetation, provide a unique refuge and retirement for many swamp dwellers, more than 200 bird species, turtles, eels, sea sows and others.
On the nearby islands of "Dvije sestrice" (Two sisters) nest numerous seagulls. The whole area of Cape Gustinja became a unique forest reserve due to the valuable holm oak (Quercus ilex).
Quarry Fantasy - geological park
The Fantazija quarry is located near the road leading from Rovinj to Pula, about 3 km from the town center, in the Monfiorenzo district. Nowadays, it is a major geological park. Renowned scientists describe this quarry as a karst phenomenon and as an important and significant natural monument. Like pages in an open book, the walls of the Fantazija quarry give us an insight into the development and remodeling history of the Earth's crust.
130 million years ago, the forces of the sea currents created numerous layers on the mainland, which mainly consist of petrification of blue-green algae and lime sludge. The attentive visitor to the Fantazija quarry will also be able to recognize the black and white dolomite layers.
Also visible are crevices and cracks, which have been caused by drowning water and the dehydration of the sludge in the existing sediment. The lower part of the fossil layers forms below the water level of a former sea, while the upper part has been created by the alternation of ebb and flood.
Ruins of Dvigrad
Dvigrad (ita. Duecastelli, Duecastelli) represents the ruins of a medieval town located in the Lim Fjord valley near Kanfanar. It is an important historical and archaeological site in the tourist offer of Istria. Thanks to its favorable position near the water and fertile soil, the area was inhabited from prehistoric times.
Today, the visible remains of Dvigrad are the ruins of the largest urban settlement in Istria and provide a unique picture of a well preserved typical medieval town, called „kaštel“ (castle). Double defensive walls, with three town gates, surround the city. As part of the internal wall are three towers, which were built in its present form during the 14th century. The Church of St. Sofia dominates the central part of the settlement, which is also its highest point.