About Rovinj

 

Basic facts about Rovinj

Rovinj is a town in Croatia, on the west coast of Istria, 45 ° 01 'latitude and 13 ° 38' longitude east of Greenwich. One of the nine towns in Istrian County that covers almost the whole Istrian peninsula, and whose area is 2815.09 km2, or 5% of  Croatia. City of Rovinj has, according to the census 1991st, 12,910 inhabitants, of which 1761 members of the Italian national community.
In Rovinj Archipelago there are 22 islands among which St. Andrew and Catherine Island, as the largest and most beautiful.
Valuable and protected parts of nature, special reserves in the area of Rovinj are islands and mainland from the island of Sv. John to two sisters, sea and underwater channels and part of the Lim Fjord, Park Forest "Punta Corrente", marsh Palud, Romuald's cave on the southern side Lim fjord and stone-Monfiorenzo a kind of geological monument of nature.

History of Rovinj

Surrounding of today city Rovinj, according to archaeological findings, was already inhabited in the prehistoric period - the Bronze and Iron Age, when culture flourished in Istria Histrians who had lived and traded with the Greeks.

Castrum Rubini located on the site of the present church of St. Euphemia, formerly the church of St.. George becomes Ruigno, Ruginio, Ruvigno and survives devastating attacks from land and sea: the Slavs (Domagoj 876.g.) Neretljana (865. and 887.g.) and Saracens (819th and 842nd).

After the Byzantine authorities Rovinj was first under the rule of Lombardy and then under Frankish rule.
In XIII.st. Rovinj is repeatedly confronted with the western towns of Istria, Piran and Koper. Rovinj is Istria, along with other cities said that the strong sea forces to be patron of his commercial and maritime interests, and, following the example of Porec, Novigrad and Umag, the 1283rd goes under Venice authority.And there begins a long time rule of Venice.

Venetian's economy was largely commercial, and in Rovinj, the growth of trade, there has been typical of urban change. In addition to the existing fishermen and farmers appear artisans, merchants, sailors. In XIV.st. Established the first Brotherhood: landowners and farmers, sailors, stone cutter, an association of fishermen, etc. Maritime has grown, there is a competition of cities and even armed conflict. Venice clash with Genoa, which 1379.g. ravaged and conquered Rovinj. They even took the coffin from the bone protector are 1,401th returned.

Central Istria is in the possession of the Counts of Gorica and the 1374th falls as the Pazin county, under the rule of the Habsburgs.

Middle age brings another great evil plague. Rovinj, however, because climate is partially spared.

Before the Turkish invasions coastal parts of Istria are populated with refugees from Central Istra, Bosnia, Dalmatia, and even from Greece and Albania, and the population is growing rapidly in Rovinj. A settlement was from northern Italy. City 1595th has 2800 inhabitants, 1650th around 5000, 1741st 7966 and the 1775th even 13788th Hence the typical architecture of the old town center: houses rise in sea level, close to one another, leaning on the city walls. In each room, which has a chimney, was living one family.

In 1650th decrease the risk of uskok attacks, the city expanded beyond the walls on the island and opposite it, on land, with the slope on which lies the Franciscan monastery. Channel and a small bridge became an obstacle in communication with the hinterland, and the channel 1763.g. Rovinj has become a cluttered city on the peninsula.

In the XVII. and XVIII.st. Rovinj was the strongest shipbuilding, fishing and maritime center of Istria (fleet of sailing ships), and the most important source for the extraction of white and gray stone.

During the Austrian rule of Rovinj has developed in the industrial, maritime and cultural activities. Development is manifested in the creation of better living conditions in the city, was built in the entire belt of hill st. Francis to today's tobacco factory.

Disintegration of the Austrian monarchy, Rovinj came under Italian rule, which lasted until the capitulation of Italy in September 1943rd and Rovinj, until the end of II. World War II, is under German occupation.
In 1947. Paris Peace Treaty is annexed, Rovinj along with other cities of Istria and the Kvarner islands, become Croatia within the Yugoslavia state.