Trogir Old Town, Croatia

Trogir – a small place with a great past

Greeks, Romans, Venetians, they all left their mark on Trogir in Croatia. Often destroyed, the city flourished again and again, often more beautiful and mighty than before.

Another time

A bridge from Roman times leads to the small island with the old town. The journey through time begins right behind the city gate. It’s still early in the day. Only locals liven up the narrow streets. Gallery owners exhibit their pictures, tables are set up in front of the restaurants. The smell of coffee beckons to a bar in a small square. Skinny cats sneak around, eyeing the people walking by suspiciously.

Discoveries in the old town

The narrow street opens up after a bend. The view goes to the place John Paul II. Here the visitor finds the most famous buildings of Trogir. The square is dominated by the St. Laurentius Cathedral with the high bell tower. Climbing up is worth it. From up here the view goes over the maze of alleys, the roofs of the old town to the many church towers. Opposite the cathedral, the Cipiko Palace with its beautifully decorated balcony has stood since the Middle Ages. The governor of Venice had his seat next door in today’s town hall.

To the concert in the fortress

A group of singers and musicians is standing in front of the sea gate. You are looking forward to a small donation for your folklore performance. The palm-lined promenade stretches along the harbor. Cafés and restaurants invite you to linger. After a little refreshment, we continue to the Kamerlengo fortress. While it used to be used for defense, it is now the setting for concerts and theater performances.

At the end of the day

Legs are heavy after visiting churches and monasteries. The walk along the harbor promenade leads to one of the numerous restaurants. They offer freshly caught fish and local specialties. The day ends comfortably with a glass of wine.

Rovinj old town

The old town of Rovinj lies in the deep blue Adriatic Sea, off the west coast of Istria in Croatia. It is located on a hill that juts out into the sea. The tall houses crowd tightly together in the limited space, a maze of narrow alleys in between attracts visitors on a voyage of discovery.

Picturesque coastal town with an eventful history

The checkered past of Rovinj has left its mark. Romanesque and Gothic buildings stand alongside influences from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicism.
We enter the old town through Porta Balbi. The stone lion, the heraldic animal of Venice, watches over the entrance and tells of the heyday when Rovinj belonged to the Venetian Empire. Venice was ruled by merchants from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The landmark of Rovinj comes from this time. The Church of St. Euphemia stands lofty over the city. On the top of the tower, 60 meters above the ground, a statue of the saint turns in the wind and watches over Rovinj and the Istria region. Artists from all over the world meet at their feet in the numerous galleries. The annual art exhibition Grisia turns into a lively festival in the open air.
In the Batana Museum, the past of the fishing village comes to life: wooden boats and objects from the fishing industry are exhibited here.
When strolling along the harbor promenade, the view sweeps far out to the Adriatic Sea. 22 islands lie off the coast of the city. The Franciscan monastery from the 18th century is enthroned on a hill opposite.

Traditionally Mediterranean and diverse: the cuisine of Rovinj

From a culinary point of view, Rovinj offers the finest Mediterranean cuisine. Aromatic herbs, fresh seasonal vegetables and the finest seafood are the basis of the light cuisine, which reflects the varied past of the region with its diversity. The Monte restaurant is an exclusive culinary discovery. It is the first restaurant in the Istria region to be awarded a Michelin star.

Cathedral of Saint Jacob

This cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A special feature of the cathedral, which was built in the 15th and 16th centuries, is the roof. The barrel vault was designed from self-supporting stone slabs. Due to a long construction period, elements of the Gothic and the Renaissance merge in this beautiful building. A stone sculpture of the Archangel Michael is enthroned high up in front of the large dome. 71 heads carved in stone decorate the cathedral.

The old town

The central square in the old town is the Republic of Croatia Square. Here is a prince’s palace built in the 14th century with the city museum and the town hall. The narrow streets of the old town invite you to visit one of the numerous bars or restaurants in good company on warm summer nights. During the day, visitors discover architectural gems here.

The old fortification system

The fortification system, built in the Venetian style, consists of four fortresses, which were gradually built from the 11th to the 16th centuries. The oldest is the fortress of St Michael, it received four towers in the 18th century. At 115 meters, the fortress of St. John is the highest.

Which excursions are possible?

Šibenik is a wonderful starting point for trips to the Kornati archipelago. Part of the archipelago has been declared the Kornati National Park. These are 89 islands and rocky knolls that jut out of the water in the archipelago. The karst landscape and the underground parts of the national park are subject to strict protection and are administered via the island of Murter, which is not far from the archipelago. Various ships, including hovercraft, call at the island of Kornat from the town of Šibenik.