incroatia where to go, what to see with nautical charts, north part

LIVING
ARCHIPELAGO
I
N
C
R
O
A T
I
A
W H E R E T O G O , W H AT T O S E E
W I T H N A U T I C A L C H A R T S , N O R T H PA R T
Project by Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia - Split in cooperation with
Croatian Ministry of Tourism, Croatian Tourism Board and Croatian Chamber of Commerce
l i v i n g
a r c h i p e l a g o
I am to be your guide through the incredibly beautiful and
fascinating Croatian archipelago. During the last fifteen years
I have sailed round the Mediterranean and depicted my
experiences in the books ”The new boatlife”, ”Sail in the
Mediterranean” and ”Sailing in ancient waters.” At the end
of the `80s, my wife and I sailed for a few years in the
archipelago of Dalmatia, and were captivated by its beauty,
culture and history. I wrote several articles on this topic, and began
collecting material for a book, but then the war intervened and I
postponed my plans. We sailed east for Turkey, which is also a land
rich in history and culture. Since peace and a belief in the future
have returned to Croatia, we have returned to this land which
more than anything else can bring to life what a living archipelago is.
No country in the Mediterranean, has as rich an archipelago
with its 66 islands, 652 islets, 389 rocks and 78 reefs. It is one of the
best sailing areas in the world. In a questionnaire in the American
”Cruising World”, a group of renowned long-distance sailors
thought the Croatian archipelago equal to the Caribbean Islands,
as the two most beautiful sailing areas in the world. In this land of
the thousand islands, powerful experiences await you in a pure,
untouched environment and of islands with tradition and history,
which can be traced back to the ancient world.
Don´t rush! Give yourself time to savour the unique islands, the
hospitable population, the magnificent traditional clothing, the songs
and the dancing! Enjoy the scent from the lavender fields, the old olive
trees´ knotted beauty, the vineyards strict simplicity and the local
wines!
Look beyond the technical information about hotels, museums and
such given in the tourist brochures, and give the Archipelago a deeper
dimension - get to know the genuine, Living Archipelago.
Mr. Ebbe Gustafsson, Sweden. Former headmaster of People´s College. Journalist: editor of
”Skeppsrådet”, the magazine of the officials of the Swedish Cruising Club. Author of three
books about sailing in the Mediterranean. Member of the board of the Swedish Cruising Club
with 36 000 members. Former commodore of the Mediterranean Sailors of the Swedish
Cruising Club.
A D R I AT I C THE
CLEANEST
SEA IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN
I have experienced many beautiful landscapes in different countries during my sailings
round the Mediterranean. However, my very strongest experience of beautiful and
magnificent nature has been in Croatia.
The reason is, I believe, that Croatia’s beauty is so intimately associated with the cleanness and freshness of
the nature of the country. It must have been clean and
undestructed like this several generations ago before the
pollution began to gain ground.
The Adriatic with its thousand islands and its coast with indented bays is not only
charmingly beautiful; the sea has also a purity and clearness which makes it so special
and which increases the enjoyment when you take a swim in this tepid water, that can
reach a visibility of 50 metres.
To walk on the paths of the forests in Gorski Kotar and arrive at a brook, slake your
thirst in the murmuring water, inhal the ozonic, fragrant forest air and experience the
silence, gives you a strong feeling of the real freshness of this virgin country.
The authorities of Croatia are aware of the great values which lie
in the natural beauty of the country. Consequently, they concentrate
on the care and the protection of nature.
Now Croatia plays a leading role among the states of Europe
when it comes to the question of protecting nature. More than 7.5 %
of the area of the country is protected in national parks or in other
forms of conservating measures. There are also plans for doubling this
particular area. It is pleasant and hopeful to notice that there is such a
large region of unpolluted and fresh nature in the middle of Europe.
That which powerfully promotes to the cleanness of the Adriatic is that there are so
few industries along the coast and that the authorities have issued detailed regulations
about water protection. For ten years, annual sampling of the quality of water is accomplished on many places along the coast and on the islands, according to stipulations of
WHO.
In some districts it has been noticed that the
water is polluted by discharges from earlier industries. Therefore, one has started extensive projects of
cleaning the bottom and improving the quality of the
water.
REFRESHMENT ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF KRK
Beaches and marinas strive to be awarded the Blue Flag, a distinction for well
accomplished water conservation; many succeed in winning the coveted flag and put it
on a visible place in the harbour.
There rests a comfortable tranquillity over the many islands. When I go ashore on an
island I often get a strong feeling that there is another rhythm of life than on the mainland. The stress of the cities has not yet reached the islands. Few cars disturb the peace,
the air is free from exhausts. Everything is so genuine: the
food with fresh products produced in the district and the wine
from the islanders’ own vineyards.
I wish to stay here, I think, take lodgings in the house of a
family so I can have the opportunity of experiencing that
Europe which is about to disappear.
THE BLUE FLAG CAMPAIGN
The Blue Flag Campaign in Croatia is handled by the Nature Friends Movement ”Lijepa naπa”, an organization with several years of experience in
the field of environmental education. ”Lijepa naπa” has been a member of the FEEE since June 1997. Many beaches and marinas have shown interest
in joining the Campaign.
Croatia has adopted all the necessary legislation to ensure the protection of coastal and marine areas, but the issue of enforcement still
needs to be more comprehensively addressed.
Monitoring of bathing water quality in Croatia is done by the Public Health Institutes. The water quality data is public information and is
broadcast on the national TV network, published in newspapers, and available in all tourist agencies and bureaus.
The Blue Flag Campaign in Croatia has been identified as an opportunity for promoting national guidelines for the protection of coastal areas
and is seen as a valuable assistance to the completion of the effective enforcement framework.
In the years to come, the Campaign will focus on the intensification of environmental information and awareness raising activities at national
and local community levels. The 1777 kilometres of the Croatian coastline and 4000 kilometres of island shores demonstrate that the number of
2000 Blue Flag candidate beaches and marinas present just a small percentage of the actual Croatian potential.
The European Jury decided that the following marinas and beaches should be allowed to fly the Blue flag in 2000:
Marinas: ACI Umag, Marina Veruda Pula, ACI Opatija, ACI Cres, ACI Vodice, ACI Jezera, ACI Split, ACI Milna, ACI Vrboska,
ACI KorËula and ACI Dubrovnik.
Beaches: Baπka, Brela, Rovinj, Punat, Crikvenica, Plava laguna PoreË, Hotel Galijot, FKK Ulika, Hotel Laguna Materada,
FKK Koversada and Autocamp Valkanela.
H OW TO G E T TO C ROAT I A
Italia
d
LONDON
Vrsar
Labin
Rabac
TRIESTE
LYON
NE
AR
KV
CRES
Iù
Rab
Jablanac
a
UNIJE
LO'INJ
M. Lo„inj Novalja
PAG
SILBA
OLIB
Silba
Ist
J
'IN
O
.L
IT
- M SPL
AR
N
D
E
A
V
-Z
A
I
EZ
CROATIA
Virsko
more
You can reach Croatia’s nine airports
- Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula,
Rijeka, Zadar, Mali Loπinj, BraË
Karlobag
Pag
and Osijek - in a few hours
Starigrad
from the destinations
in Europe.
UG
ZADAR
LJ
AN
TRST 135 62 233
AN
VELA LUKA 100 245
d
Biograd n/m
'M
PA
K
TO
IO K
UG NI
- D 'IBE
A
N
R
CO DA
AN ZA
-
ZADAR
VENEZIA 147
Zagreb
an T
Sali
Murter
KORNATI
Tisno
Vodice
'IBENIK T
Primo„ten
41 186 65 174
RAB
46 135 144 123 86 118 114 42
PULA
81
72 179 58 120 152 74
54
R
tP
lo
RIJEKA 84 120 183 108 126 159 113
69
'OLTA
103 54 201 32 142 174 83
76
91
26 148 72
OPATIJA
MALI LO'INJ
46 158 147 146 87 121 133 66
86 128 184 116 127 160 112
45 107 146 95
88 120 88
114 257 28 245 79
KOPER
131 60 229
KOMIÞA
78 219 32 207 46
HVAR
92
91 142 114 148
8
5
54
44
31
91
95
79 223 19 211 46
SVETAC
63 127 55 326 53
29 199 187 148 178 55 221 200 137 150 215 189 150
57 214 198 159 191 68 234 213 143 164 184 200 161 33
170 202 107 104 119 54 176 91
Splitska vrata
Supetar
Milna
Stari Grad
Sumartin
Jelsa
HVAR
Hvar
PLOË
28 197 142 410 112 91 228 241
36 165 161 122 153 35 196 175 90 123 208 162 124 49
23 176 164 124 157 35 200 179 110 126 208 165 126 34
NA
BI'EVO
CO IS
AN - V
AD
GR A
RI LUK
A
ST - V.
Vela Luka
Kor ula
PELJE'AC
KORÜLA
Trstenik
Ston
Lastovo
53 203
SU'AC
34 207 23
LASTOVO
zH
49 289 97
82 102
BRINDISI 243 382 155 375 218 192 318 334 295 321 206 342 343 208 288 45 333 286 185 145 371 168 169 81 123
BARI
ANCONA
BRINDISI
DUBROVNIK
HVAR
DURR”S
KOPER
KOMIÞA
KORÜLA
MAKARSKA
OPATIJA
MALI LO'INJ
PAG
80 110 310 109 72 156 169 125 121 133 303 213 272 216
OTRANTO
98
PORE¨
PRIMO'TEN
PORTOCORSINI
80 107 75
PULA
RAB
RIJEKA
SPLIT
Distances are given in nautical miles.
RIMINI
TRST
'IBENIK
VELA LUKA
ZADAR
VENEZIA
86 121 149 129 109 131 49 111 90
PESCARA
BARI 194 329 111 322 162 145 263 278 239 267 151 289 289 152 237 101 277 232 146 113 313 120 125 120 108 62
ANCONA
Slano
Sobra
MLJET
Pr
ola
160 305 72 293 127 105 258 244 206 239 116 282 261 175 207 152 246 208 82
nT
Trpanj
DURR”S 260 402 172 390 226 202 352 347 305 336 215 379 358 248 304 83 349 307 181 148 386 190 181
DUBROVNIK
Makarska
a BRA¨
Komi; a VIS
52 130 112 74 172 68 373
41
T
Omi„
n
LI
Vis
JABUKA
283 421 190 414 249 228 356 374 335 359 237 382 382 246 335
MAKARSKA 100 244 47 232 66
KORÜLA
27
A
ON
P
-S
C
AN
PESCARA 126 198 117 202 109 116 128 177 142 148 103 152 169
OTRANTO
Roga
27 148 129 89 126
PORTOCORSINI 130 62 223 95 163 195 30 114 122 72 169
PAG
SPLIT
a
RIMINI 117 86 195 111 149 174
45 192 54 180 12
a T
RogoznicaTrogir
SPLIT 72 218 40 206 38
PORE¨
International
train connections are
good; it is easy and
comfortable to come
to Croatia from the
countries in Europe. The railway network
extends over 2400 km and goes to all bigger
cities with the exception of Dubrovnik. Travel
by rail can easily be combined with travelling by
ship or by coach.
Novigrad
Preko
DUGI OTOK
PRIMO'TEN
There are
also regular connections with the Italian
ports of Venezia,
Ancona and Bari.
MOLAT
Bo; ava
'IBENIK
ZAGREB
ATHINAI
RAB
ER
Rt Kamenjak
RN
a Medulin
n
Malinska
KRK N.Vinodolski
Krk
Punat
SENJ
Cres
Ba„ka
Sv. Juraj
K VA
PULA
BRIJUNI
VENEZIA
ROMA
a
R
Rovinj
BUDAPEST
LJUBLJANA BUCURESTI
MILANO
Crikvenica
If you go by car, it is easy to come to the
Adriatic and to Croatia’s 28 000 km of public
roads. And there are no difficulties to take your
car by ferry to the islands. If you want to make a
voyage along the Adriatic coast and do not wish
to part with your car, you can put it aboard the
swift coastal liners, docking at many cities and
islands on their passage to Dubrovnik.
WIEN
GENØVE
ti
Pore
PARIS
WARSZAWA
PRAHA
M; NCHEN
Bakar
Kraljevica
n
I S T R A
Croatia’s thousand islands are
the closest
archipelago to
the countries in
central Europe.
The Adriatic cuts so deeply into the
European continent and comes so closely
that the sailors from these countries often
look upon the archipelago as their home
waters.
FRANKFURT
po
Opatija
AMSTERDAM
Zagreb
RIJEKA
Novigrad
BERLIN
d
T
Umag
ar
Rt Savudrija
PALAGRUÞA
GALIJULA
RI
BA
DU
N
OV
BR
IK
DUBROVNIK
n
a
Cavtat
H Y D RO G R A P H I C I N S T I T U T E O F T H E R E P U B L I C O F C ROAT I A H OW TO G E T I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T S A I L I N G I N T H E A D R I AT I C
1
HISTORY OF THE
HYDROGRAPHIC
INSTITUTE OF
THE REPUBLIC
OF CROATIA
Rt Savudrija
Umag
RIJEKA
R
MOLAT
11
SAFETY OF NAVIGATION
Novigrad
Bo; ava
Preko
ZADAR
Nowadays when man has discovered as much as
possible, having flied up in the space and walked
on the Moon´s surface, the only place where one
can find solitude and adventure is the sea. You cannot put to sea without feeling awe of a huge mass
which breathes and lives in its own rhythm, and
cannot be brought under control.
AN
DUGI OTOK
Sali
KORNATI
Biograd n/m
AN
Murter
Tisno
Vodice
'IBENIK
14
Primo„ten
RogoznicaTrogir
15
SPLIT
a
13
'M
PA
Safety of navigation
Marine cartography
Hydrographic survey
Oceanographic research
Cartographic reproduction
Publishing of nautical publications
9
LJ
18
Omi„
Roga
'OLTA
16
Splitska vrata
Supetar
Milna
Vis
JABUKA
Komi; a
VIS
SVETAC
BI'EVO
20
Makarska
BRA¨
Stari Grad
Sumartin
Jelsa
HVAR
Hvar
22
19
Trpanj
Kor ula
Vela Luka
17
PLOË
PELJE'AC
KORÜLA
Trstenik
25
Ston
Lastovo
26
ti
MLJET
po
LASTOVO
24
ar
23
Slano
Sobra
zH
21 SU'AC
Pr
ola
•
•
•
•
•
•
In 140 years of work, this institution has developed its particular, recognizable style in production
of charts and nautical publications. In recent years,
efforts have been made to improve the classical
offer of products by a new design, and make it suitable to the new users - non professional mariners.
Jablanac
UG
Basic activities of the Hydrographic
Institute of the Republic of Croatia:
8
RAB
Rab
lo
NE
Iù
UNIJE
LO'INJ
Hydrographic Institute of Republic of
Croatia is a special institution of the
Republic of Croatia to carry out
hydrographic activities in the
Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea,
including the research of the sea for
navigational safety.
SENJ
Sv. Juraj
In the Croatian part of the Adriatic, AustroHungarian Navy among the first in Europe, established the hydrographic service (1869) which has
been maintained to the present day, continually
improving the research methods and technology
of measurements.
On the basis of his survey, the atlas was produced, containing fifteen charts and plans, and two
panoramas. Austro-Hungarian navy carried out the
10
M. Lo„inj Novalja
PAG
first systematic survey of the eastern
Karlobag
Pag
SILBA
Adriatic waters between 1822 and 1824,
OLIB
Starigrad
Silba
12
and published twenty four charts and the
Ist
Virsko
more
pilot ”Portolano del Mare Adriatico”.
ER
6
4
N.Vinodolski
Ba„ka
RN
CRES
Rt Kamenjak
3
7
Punat
Cres
AR
PULA
Hydrographic activity
on the eastern Adriatic
coast dates back to the beginnings of the 19th century, when the first survey was carried out from
1806 to 1809 by Charles Beautemps-Beaupré, ”the
father of the modern hydrography”.
Crikvenica
Malinska'ilo
KRK
Krk
Rabac
Ra„a
KV
BRIJUNI
DIRECTOR:
Dr. sc. Zvonko GræetiÊ
Tel: +385 (0)21 433 344
E-mail: dhi-office@dhi.tel.hr
M. Draga
Rovinj
2
Omi„alj
tP
Pore
K VA
21000 SPLIT
Zrinsko - Frankopanska 161
Tel: +385 (0)21 361 840
Fax: +385 (0)21 347 242, 347 208
Telex: 26-270 HIRH
5
Bakar
Kraljevica
Opatija
I S T R A
R
Novigrad
HYDROGRAPHIC INSTITUTE OF
THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Hydrographic activity was made institutional
on 27 April 1860, and since then it has been carried
out with continuity, except for the breaks during
the world wars.
DUBROVNIK
Cavtat
PALAGRUÞA
GALIJULA
HYDROGRAPHIC INSTITUTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
For a safe navigation, besides a good knowledge of specific characteristics of the navigable area
and weather conditions, it is necessary to be supplied with adequate handbooks and charts for navigation.
Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of
Croatia publishes and keeps up to date about one
hundred charts, of different purposes and scales,
and publications important for the safety of
mariners to whom the sea is profession, and those
to whom it is a hobby. This publication endeavours
to bring the traditional rigid patterns of maritime
profession closer to the people to whom the sea is
just a hobby, to the lovers of adventure.
This institution and its members live with navigation and for it, being available to the users of
their products for any question, request or suggestion.
Many mariners use their charts, relying on
those who have produced them, because even
though it is not necessary to live, to navigate is
necessary.
SALES OF CHARTS AND
NAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS
1. PLOVPUT - Split
Obala Lazareta br. 1, 21000 - SPLIT,
Tel: +385 (0)21 355-900,
Fax: +385 (0)21 585-782
• Navigation area of Pula
Harbour Master’s Office Pula, 52000 - PULA,
Tel: +385 (0)52 23-147
• Navigation area of Rijeka
Senjsko pristaniπte br. 3, 51000 - RIJEKA,
Tel: +385 (0)51 213-590
• Navigation area of Zadar
Jurja Bijankinija br. 8, 23000 - ZADAR,
Tel: +385 (0)23 433-134
• Navigation area of ©ibenik
Obala osloboenja br. 8, 22000 - ©IBENIK,
Tel: +385 (0)22 212-186
• Navigation area of Dubrovnik
Gruπka obala br. 25, 20000 - DUBROVNIK,
Tel: +385 (0)20 418-789
• Navigation area of Dubrovnik
Branch office KorËula
Vinka Paletina br. 176, 20260 - KOR»ULA,
Tel: +385 (0)20 711-179
• Navigation area of Split
Lighthouse station PloËe,
Neretvanskih gusara br. 1, 20340 - PLO»E,
Tel: +385 (0)21 679-271
2. NAVAL-ADRIA, d.o.o.
Budicinova br. 7, 51000 - RIJEKA,
Tel/Fax: +385 (0)51 267-635
Shop NAUTIKA, 51222 BAKAR
Tel/Fax: +385 (0)51 761-730
3. University of Rijeka
Faculty of Maritime Studies,
Nautical Department,
Studentska br. 2, 51000 - RIJEKA,
Tel: +385 (0)51 338-411, 331-520,
Fax: +385 (0)51 336-755
4. INVENTING, d.o.o.
A. Pomoraca 7/V, 10000 - ZAGREB,
Tel/Fax: +385 (0)1 6523-921
5. MARINERA
Obala kralja Petra Kreπimira IV br. 11,
23210 - BIOGRAD NA MORU,
Tel: +385 (0)23 384-882
6. MEHANIC NAUTIC, d.o.o.
Marka MaruliÊa 12, 22243 - MURTER,
Tel: +385 (0)22 434-908, 435-062,
Fax: +385 (0)22 434-763
7. TRINAESTICA-13
Ulica kneza Domagoja 3,
23210 - BIOGRAD NA MORU
8. ADRIATIC CHARTER, d.o.o.
Zlatna luka, 23 206 - SUKO©AN
9. BORI LIBRA, d.o.o.
Trg Slobode 2, 54 470 - UMAG
10. NAVIGATORE
Riva Amfora 7, »ervar-Porat, 52 440 - PORE»
11. ZARA MILA, d.o.o.
Obala kneza Trpimira 4, 23 000 - ZADAR
12. BASIC
KukuljeviÊa 20, 21 000 - SPLIT
Charts and publications are sold by authorized sales
agents only.
C ROAT I A N A D R I AT I C C OA S T
North part
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA
North Adriatic includes: the County
of Istria, insular and littoral parts of
both the County of Primorje-Gorski
Kotar and the County of Lika-Senj
Area: about 6100 km2 not including
the sea area, or 10.8% of the area of
Republic of Croatia
Population: about 510 000 or 10.5%
of the population of Republic of
Croatia
Island population: about 44 500
Towns and municipalities: Bakar, Bale,
Barban, Baπka (isl.), Brtonigla, Buje,
Buzet, Cerovlje, Cres (isl.), Crikvenica,
Dobrinj (isl.), GraËiπÊe, Groænjan,
Kanfanar, Karlobag, Kostrena,
Kraljevica, Krk (isl.), Krπan, Labin,
LaniπÊe, Liænjan, Lovran, Lupoglav, Mali
Loπinj (isl.), Malinska (isl.), MarËana,
Medulin, MoπÊeniËka Draga, Motovun,
Novalja (isl.), Novigrad, Novi
Vinodolski, Omiπalj (isl.), Opatija,
Oprtalj, Pag (isl.), Pazin, PiËan, PoreË,
Pula, Punat (isl.), Rab (isl.), Raπa, Rijeka,
Rovinj, Senj, Sv. Nedelja, Sv. LovreË, Sv.
Petar, SvetivinËenat, Trnjan, Umag,
Viπnjan, Viæinada, Vodnjan, Vrbnik (isl.),
Vrsar, Æminj
T
he described region includes North
Adriatic or entire three counties, covering an area of about 13 000 km2. The sea
area embraces several units, each with its
specific geographic, oceanographic and
meteorological characteristics: the west
coast of Istria, Kvarner, KvarneriÊ and
Velebitski Kanal.
Favourable geographic position enables
direct and quick access by air or land, major
traffic junctions being Rijeka and Pula.
Through Zagreb, the capital of Croatia,
North Adriatic is well connected with other
parts of the world by air traffic. Adequate
arrangement of maritime and land border
crossings also facilitate arrivals and departures.
A comparatively small geographic area
is a genuine treasury of cultural, historical
and natural sights. A number of archaelogical sites with preserved settlements have
their origin in the age before Christ. Items
and documents which have been preserved
and exhibited in museums point at rich cultural heritage and maritime tradition of this
area.
Many spots are distinguished by intact
nature, so that some parts of the sea or land
are protected as national parks, nature parks,
reserves, parks-forests, protected landscapes,
or monuments of natural architecture. Most
important among them are the national parks
of Brijuni, Paklenica and Risnjak, and a special marine reserve, the inlet of Limski Kanal.
Numerous animals and plants have been
declared the protected species.
In a very small area one encounters a
great variety of gastronomic offer. A lot of
delicacies are prepared from natural food in a
traditional way. Particularly distinguished in
the rich offer of culinary delicacies are all
kinds of sea specialties, truffles, meat specialties prepared from animals bred on ecological
pastures, as well as exquisite wines made from
native sorts of grapes.
Tourist resorts: Baπka, Cres,
Crikvenica, Krk, Labin-Rabac, Lovran,
Mali Loπinj, Malinska, Medulin,
MoπÊeniËka Draga, Novalja, Novigrad,
Novi Vinodolski, Omiπalj, Opatija,
PoreË, Pula, Punat, Rab, Rijeka, Rovinj,
Umag, Vodnjan-Brijuni, Vrsar
Marinas: Baπka - local harbour, Cres,
»ervar Porat, IËiÊi, Ilovik - anchorage,
Krk - town harbour, Mali Loπinj, Novigrad, Opatija, Plava Laguna, Pomer,
PoreË, Pula, Punat, Rab, Rovinj, Silba local harbour, Supetarska Draga, Umag,
Verudela, Vrsar
Number of islands: 327 (islands 45,
islets 189, rocks and reefs 93)
Length of the coastline: 2133 km, land
655 km, islands 1478 km
Inhabited islands: Cres, Ilovik, Krk,
Loπinj, Mali Brijun, Olib, Pag, Premuda,
Rab, Silba, Srakane Male, Srakane Vele,
Susak, Sv. Andrija, Sv. Katarina, Sv.
Nikola, Unije, Veli Brijun
Economy: tourism and catering industry, transshipment, railway and road
transport, trade, shipbuilding, manufacturing industry, shipping, viniculture
and wine production, olive growing
Tourism: accomodation capacities
about 400 000, hotels and pensions
115 000, rooms, apartments and campsites 285 000, berths in marinas 4540
Rovinj - Pula MK 3
KEEP SEA CLEAN
It is most striking,
no doubt, to arrive
at Rovinj from the
sea. The indented
coast with green
islands and
numerous coves
is very charming
with the houses of
Rovinj gleaming in
the background.
A WIEV OF ROVINJ
THE ARENA IN PULA
ARRIVAL IN ROVINJ
SV. IVAN NA PU»INI
THE SARCOPHAGUS OF ST. EUPHEMIA
SVETI ANDRIJA
T
BRIJUNI - ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
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Rovinj
NE
and parks where we see deer, cows and
muflons and also, in a fenced safari park,
zebras, camels, antelopes and Somali goats.
The train gives us possibilities to reach
the more distant parts of Veli Brijuni - to
the archeological remains of a Roman summer residence in the Veriga bay. The
ground-plan arrangements of the castle
complex follow the coastline in more than
one kilometre long line. The complex comprises a pier and several breakwaters, as
well as harbour protection equipment, but
above all there are hundreds of the ruined
walls of this big two thousand years old
castle. ”Can you imagine how it looked like
at that time?” I asked my wife. ”How hundreds of people were working! How they
gathered at the temples, dedicated to
Venus and Neptune, and honoured the
gods.”
- ”Oh, I love it,” - I said when we stood
in the 2000 years old amphitheatre of
PULA. ”It gives me the creeps of excitement when I look at it. - One of the best
preserved arenas in the world! Fantastic!” ”You are a ruin abuser, darling”, my wife
commented and shook her head. - ”But
wasn’t our sailing into the harbour fantastic!
The enormous amphitheatre rose above the
mass of the houses as a striking background for all the boats of the Pula ACI
Marina. You must admit it is exciting to
berth three hundred metres from such a
wonder!”
AR
St. Euphemia, is made from white marble.
Behind, the walls beside are covered with
two large pictures: one showing the saint
and the lions, the other the arrival of the
coffin on the shores of Rovinj. The steep,
narrow street of Grisia, where artists exhibit
their pictures and where art galleries are
situated very closely, leads to the harbour,
where we visit the Town Museum which
keeps a valuable collection of paintings
from the period between the 16th and the
18th centuries. We proceed our walk to the
Rovinj ACI Marina and take a glass of beer
in one of the bars, from which we enjoy
the sight of the many hundred yachts, of
the classically beautiful Hotel Park surrounded by a green, fragrant forest.
We are on our way from Rovinj to the
BRIJUNI ISLANDS. After 15 kilometres
we make a detour to the little town of
BALE to study its medieval urban structure
of fortifications, towers and gates. Half an
hour later we arrive at the town of Faæana,
the departure point of boats for the Brijuni
Islands, and take a boat over.
The archipelago of BRIJUNI, national
park since 1983, consists of two bigger
islands - Veli Brijuni and Mali Brijuni - and
12 smaller islands. Owing to its mild
Mediterranean climate and extremely rich
vegetation, the islands have been used as a
holiday resort since ancient times.
A mini train takes us round Veli Brijuni
which is a charming island with meadows
Brijuni island
Pula
KV
he 1500 years old town with its stone
houses, narrow streets, vaults and
staircases is shining so temptingly in the
afternoon sun. ROVINJ is dominated by
the church of St. Euphemia. On the top of
the bell-tower there is the statue of St.
Euphemia which, revolving on its axis, has
been showing the weather prospects to the
fishermen for more than three centuries.
Rovinj is really a beautiful town. We
enjoy the magnificent view from the church
of St. Euphemia towards the sea with its
numerous islands, before we enter the
beautiful baroque edifice to meet St.
Euphemia.
Euphemia was born in Khalkedon near
Constantinople and was given a Christian
upbringing. When the Roman emperor
Diocletian exiled the Christians, he ordered
the young girl to be thrown to the lions.
They killed Euphemia but did not tear her
to pieces. Her body spent three centuries in
the Khalkedon church; after that, her marble sarcophagus was removed to
Constantinople. But one stormy night in the
7th century her sarcophagus disappeared
and was washed ashore at Rovinj. The citizens tried to move it but did not succeed,
until St. Euphemia spoke to a little boy,
saying: ”I am Euphemia of Khalkedon, who
through her blood was dedicated to Jesus
Christ. You will with a pair of heifers pull
the stone coffin with my body.” Thus the
little boy pulled the sarcophagus to the
church at the top of the hill.
The legend is still alive in this old, idyllic town of narrow streets. People believe
that the saint has the power to ward off
evil, and that it is to her we must turn for
intercedence in the future. The altar of
Marina Veruda
FROM ROVINJ TO PULA and cape
Kamenjak leads a direct route of
about 25 miles.
Interesting spots are the islets south
of Rovinj and archipelago of the
national park Brijuni, the area of Pula
harbour and the indented coast to
the cape Kamenjak, the lighthouse of
Porer and the shallow protected wide
expanse of Medulin Bay with excellent tourist offer and historical sights.
Istrian hills and river valleys are noted
for their beauty and greenery.
Following the flow of the Mirna river,
one can discover hidden jewels of
Istria, meeting people and places
which offer an atmosphere of peace
and delight.
Pula is several thousand years old. How
did the first settlers come here! - Maybe you
have heard about Jason, Medea and the
Golden Fleece? Jason and the Argonauts,
having stolen the Golden Fleece from
Colchis, fled to the Adriatic pursued by the
Colchians. The Colchians however gave up
the pursuit and settled down in the bay of
present-day Pula and called it Polai, ”The
city of Refugees”. According to the famous
ancient geographer Strabo, Pula was founded in that way; it happened about three
thousand years ago. In the first century
B.C., Pula acquired the status of Roman
Colony. Many impressive buildings from
that period are preserved in the town. We
walked along the embankment until we
arrived at the parts of the old town wall.
We followed it and came to the Twin Gate,
so called because of two beautifully arched
gates, and to the Hercules Gate, on the top
of which Hercules’ head is carved. We
passed the Triumphal Arch of the Sergi,
until we came to a large square, the Forum,
which is located on the former Roman
forum. At the far end of it is the Town Hall,
and beside it the Temple of Augustus from
the 1st century with a portico comprising
six Corinthian columns. My wife and I visited the Forum later in the evening when the
temple and the Town Hall were flood-lighted and the square was filled with people.
In our opinion the Forum is the place we
liked best in Pula.

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