Croatia - Eastern Europe - page 170

The 1st-century Temple of Augustus at Trg Republike 3 (no phone; admis-
sion 4kn/70¢/40p adults, 2kn/35¢/20p children; open daily in summer 10am-1:30pm
and 6-9pm; closed in winter) is dedicated to Octavianus Augustus, the first emperor
of Rome. It is on a square that once was the city's Forum, and it was converted to a
church after Christianity became the religion of choice in Croatia. It also was used for
grain storage and was severely damaged during World War II. A small museum inside
has exhibit captions in English, Italian, and Croatian.
The Sergi Arch opens to Trg Portarata off Sergijevaca and stands in a busy
shopping area. Walk through the Sergi Arch and bear left until you get to Carrarina,
where you will encounter the Hercules Gate , dating from the mid-1st century.
It is decorated with a relief of its namesake mythical hero.
Historically significant finds from all over Istria are displayed in Pula's Archaeolog-
ical Museum at Carrarina 3 ( & 052/218-603; admission 12kn/$2.10/£1.10
adults, 6kn/$1.05/55p children; open 10am-3pm summer, Sun, and holidays; Mon-Fri
9am-3pm; closed Sat-Sun), which once was an Austrian secondary school. Be sure to
visit the outdoor sculpture garden decorated with scattered pieces of history. Also note
the Roman Twin Gates and the Roman Theater in back of the garden.
ROVINJ
Rovinj is one of the most photographed cities in Croatia because from the air, its loca-
tion on a promontory makes it look like a fairy-tale village suspended on a pillow of
bright blue sea. In fact, central Rovinj was an islet until the 18th century when the
channel separating it from the mainland was filled in. Today, Rovinj's Old Town is a
protected monument and one of Istria's most visited sites. The town has preserved the
best of its architectural and cultural legacy by allowing development but keeping
industry on the mainland, where a tobacco factory and cannery still play major roles
in the local economy. Old Town Rovinj is a tangle of steep pedestrian streets that are
paved with sea-salt-polished cobblestones and marked with signs in Italian and Croa-
tian. These narrow, winding passages are lined with galleries, quaint shops, and excel-
lent restaurants. Most lead to the town's highest point, where St. Euphemia Church
and the tallest campanile in Istria dominate the skyline. Add to that a strong Italian
personality, a thriving fleet of small fishing boats, a smattering of Venetian-style piaz-
zas and houses, numerous restaurants and cafes with atmospheric rock walls and
pounding waves, and you have a town that's both vibrant and historical.
GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND
Rovinj is half an hour or 25km (16 miles) north of Pula and linked by well-marked
roads if you are traveling by car. There is frequent bus service between Rovinj and
Pula; service to and from Croatian cities that range from Osijek to Dubrovnik, and
international service to select cities in Italy, Germany, and Slovenia. The main bus sta-
tion is at Trg Na Lokvi 6 ( & 052/811-453; www.tzgrovinj.hr).
Rovinj is a wonderful walking city. To visit the Old Town, you'll have to leave your
car in the city lot at the north end of town where fees are a modest 6kn ($1.05/55p)
per hour. You can rent a bike at the lot's exit for 100kn ($17/£9.15) per day or 5kn
(85¢/50p) per hour if you don't want to rely on walking or if you want to try Rovinj's
picturesque bike trail. Local buses serve areas outside the Old Town area, as do taxis.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Rovinj Tourist Information Office is at Pino Budi c in 12 ( & 052/811-566; fax
052/816-007; www.tzgrovinj.hr). It is open from 8am to 9pm daily mid-June to