We headed north and left the Dalmatian Coast and headed into the Istrian Peninsula. The landscape changed dramatically from rocky limestone cliffs and arid land dotted with olive trees, to lush green slopes with many vineyards. Our first stop was the town of Pula which is very industrial, but we were on a mission to see the first century Roman Amphitheatre. It was the 6th largest in Europe, which sat over 26,000 spectators, and now the most intact and was completed about the same time as the Colosseum in Rome. Traffic was insane and parking even worse. Apparently there was an Iron Man Competition which ended inside the arena and the crowds to cheer them on along the streets were fun and a great source for people watching.
As we came around a corner I had my first view of the amphitheatre. It literally took my breath away. Truly it felt like I had stepped back in time….from a distance I could imagine how it looked 2000 years ago. Upon entering it was a little disappointing to see all the electronics and the Iron Man venues, however we learned that the arena is used for exhibitions and concerts and I think I would pay pretty much any price to experience a concert here. The architecture is amazing and wandering up and down the spectator area, the arena and down into the lower levels where the gladiators and animals were kept.
After spending several hours in Pula, we hit the road again onto our destination for the night, the city of Rovinj. Rovinj is a seaside town that feels like it rises up from the Adriatic with twisty winding narrow cobblestone streets and lanes. Located close to the Italian border, there is definitely a feeling of marrying both the Croatian and Italian culture. It is located on a peninsula and you enter through Tito Square and have a wonderful view of the Old Town peninsula with its fishing harbor and colorful buildings. The Hotel Adriatic met us, parked our car off site outside of Old Town and we set about exploring. The streets can be steep but well worth the journey up to the Church of St. Euphemia. The center square has a fountain with a little boy holding a sprouting fish and from there we headed out to the end of the Mali Molo (Little Pier). Dinner consisted of Octopus Salad for me, which was delicious and again we encountered friendly chatty locals who were more than happy to share in conversation and curiosity. In the morning we took to the streets to explore the old town and I was enchanted by the colors, architecture, cleanliness, homes, shops and people of Rovinj.
Definitely one of the favorite places to visit and only wish we had more time to explore and relax in this beautiful town.