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ROCK CLIMBING AT PUNTA CORRENTE FOREST PARK

A wonderful forest park Punta Corrente is located just a 15-minute walk from the old town. Today it provides relaxation, but it’s also popular cycling, jogging, and swimming spot. This park was constructed between 1890 and 1910.

The rock climbing site is made of sharp and hard limestone rocks. It stands only 20 m from the sea, in a former quarry. Routes are bolt-fixed and suitable for beginners.

A local agency, Adistra, offers guided climbing with all the equipment provided. A tour lasts 4-6 hours and costs 60 € per person.

ROMANTIC BATANA RIDE

Batana is a traditional small fishing boat. It’s a 4.5-8 m long wooden boat with a flat bottom, and a sail. Today, very few people go fishing in Batana, but a few enthusiasts try to preserve Batana, as a true symbol of the town.

In such an effort, a few years ago local museum House of Batana, started offering a program to visitors that includes a ride in a traditional Batana around the old town at dawn, and a traditional dinner in the spacio (tavern in a local dialect).

SCUBA DIVING

Scuba diving is a popular activity here due to the many shipwrecks that can be found in the waters around. The most popular shipwreck, the Baron Gautsch, is perfectly preserved and is the most visited shipwreck in all of Croatia. This steamer sunk in 1914. Today the wreck lies at depths of 28-40 m, 12,5 NM off the coast.

Many local diving centers offer organized dives on the Baron Gautsch site. A single dive with a boat trip costs 45 € per person.

EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN

The old town lies on a small peninsula, with houses tightly lined from one to another, some of them rising directly from the sea. The town is charming and full of hidden gems at every corner.

Cobbled streets lead up to the church of St. Eufemia, standing at the top of the hilly peninsula. Enjoy the views from the bell tower, Venetian-style architecture, artsy vibe, quaint little shops, and different alleys to wander.

GRISIA

The town’s most popular street, La Grisia is hard to miss. The widest of all cobbled streets leading up to the church of St. Euphemia, La Grisia is full of art, jewelry, and souvenir shops, as well as a couple of restaurants.

THE CHURCH OF ST. EUPHEMIA

There is a legend surrounding the town’s patron saint, St. Euphemia, or Fuma as locals call her.

Euphemia lived in Chalcedon, in Asia Minor, and was a devoted Christian. At the age of 15, she was captured, and after she didn’t want to give up Christianity, thrown to lions who eventually killed her but never devour her body. Long story short, as a martyr, her body was preserved and eventually, the sarcophagus was kept in Constantinople until 800. The legend says that the same sarcophagus with remains of St. Euphemia floated on the seas all the way until Rovinj where a small boy with a help of his two cows managed to get the sarcophagus up the hill. The sarcophagus is on display behind the main altar. St. Euphemia’s Day is on the 16th of September.

A church’s bell tower is an exact replica of St. Marco in Venice, but it’s smaller. You can climb the bell tower, and enjoy awesome views of the town and the sea from the top.

OLD TOWN

The old town is a little gem waiting to be explored. It’s located on a small, hilly peninsula, full of narrow cobbled streets, Venetian-style houses, interesting courtyards, art galleries, cozy restaurants, and buzzing bars.

BATANA HOUSE

A small museum devoted to preserving the town’s traditions is located near the Molo Grande. The name of the museum comes from a traditional wooden fishing boat typical for the area.

PUNTA CORRENTE FOREST

Punta Corrente is a protected forest park, located just a 15-minute walk from the old town. Set on a small peninsula, Punta Corrente offers many walking and jogging trails, rock climbing sites, a wonderful emerald sea, and small pebbly and rocky beaches.