Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rovinj was prosperous and well-fortified in the Middle Ages. It boomed in the 16th and
17th centuries, when it was flooded with refugees fleeing both the Ottoman invasions and
the plague. Because the town was part of the Republic of Venice for five centuries (13th to
18th centuries), its architecture, culture, and even language are strongly Venetian. The loc-
al folk groups sing in a dialect actually considered more Venetian than what the Venetians
themselves speak these days. (You can even see Venice from Rovinj's church bell tower on
a very clear day.)
Istrian Food and Wine
Foodies consider Istria the best part of Croatia. Though much of the rest of the coun-
try is arid and barren, Istria is noticeably greener—its fertile soil bursts with a cor-
nucopia of delicious ingredients. Like the Istrian people, Istrian cuisine is a mix of
various cultural influences, including Italian-style elements, farmer fare, game, and
seafood.Trufflesareusedliberally,andareabighitwiththemanytouristswhocome
here for their pungent flavor (see sidebar on
here
).
