The Istrian Peninsula, in the northwest corner of Croatia, is an inviting mix of pungent truffles, Roman ruins, striking hill towns, and pastel coastal villages, with a breezy Italian culture (left over from centuries of Venetian rule).
While the wedge-shaped Istrian Peninsula has many tacky and forgettable resort towns, the seafront port of Rovinj – like a little Venice on a hill – is one of my favorite small towns on the Mediterranean.
Rising dramatically from the Adriatic as though being pulled up to heaven by its grand bell tower, there’s something particularly romantic about Rovinj (roh-VEEN). Some locals credit the especially strong Venetian influence here – it’s the most Italian town in Croatia’s most Italian region. Rovinj’s streets are delightfully twisty, its ancient houses are characteristically crumbling, and its harbor still hosts a real fishing industry….