History
The city of Rovinj is mentioned for the first time in a work named «Cosmographia» by an anonimous inhabitant of Ravenna, who wrote about «Castrum Rubini» from the 5th century. It is very likely that it is much older, emerging somewhere at the turn of the 3rd and the 4th centuries, and maybe even at an earlier period. «Castrum Rubini» was certainly located at today's site of the church of St.Euphemia. During this period, Istria was occupied by the Romans who stayed there until 476, when the invasions of the Huns, the Ostrogoths and in 539 of the Byzantine started.
Istria experienced a very turbulent period between the 9th and the 11th century, the cities started their struggle for autonomy and founded a municipal structure in opposition to Istria's church and feudal ruler – the Aquileian patriarch. Under the power of Venice, a strong maritime republic, Rovinj fell in 1283. At that time Rovinj was developing into a strong shipbuliding, fishing and maritime center, especially in the 17th and 18th century when they had the precedence over Istria.
In the middle 18th century Rovinj had high number of inhabitants and pilgrims, because of that it was built today's parish church St. Euphemus. In 1797 the Venetian republic lost its power and for a short time Istria is first under Austrian (until 1805) and then under Napoleon's rule. From 1809 to 1813 Istria was a part of Napoleon's Illyrian provinces.
In 1813 the Austrians took their power back and a period of industrial and urban development started.
In 1890 one of the islands of Rovinj's archipelago, today's Red Island, was bought by the Japanese consul in Trieste, J.G. Huetterott. Many inhabitants of Rovinj went to Pula in the 19th century, which at that time was the biggest naval port in the Austria-Hungary monarchy. Nearby Rovinj the most well-known wreck from Austrian times is located – Baron Gautsch.
When the monarchy fell apart, Rovinj fell under the fascist Italy at the end of WW I (1914 – 1918) and remained under that rule until the capitulation in 1943, and by the end of WW II the town remained under German occupation. In the second half of the 20th century Rovinj and whole Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia, which lasted until 1991, the year of big political changes, when Croatia started its journey towards independence and the acknowledgement of which followed in January 1992.
In the past 40 years Rovinj has developed into in a biggest tourist center in Istria, thanks to its nature, pleasant Mediterranean climate, cultural-historical values, tourist attractions and variety of accommodations. All of this makes Rovinj an ideal holiday destination.
The most important sites are: The Old Town, Church of St. Euphemia, Franciscan Monastery, Baroque Municipal The Chapel of St. Trinity, The Castle on the St. Andrews Island and many more.
The priceless historical monument are the Gate of St. Benedikt, The Gate under the Wall and The Gate of St. Cross. This three gates are preserved the original shape.
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