Rovinj island - peninsula
The historic core of Rovinj is situated on a former island, and it still preserves a historical and social structure that is clearly popular and predominantly serves a residential function. Just as any other urban centre, Rovinj used to be encircled by walls that formed part of its defence system until the Late Middle Ages.
Rovinj is one of the rare towns that has almost completely preserved its medieval/Renaissance walls. However, the town walls are largely incorporated into the buildings that were built along Vladimir Švalba and St. Cross streets from the mid-17th century onwards, as a result of the development of settlements outside the former walls because of the need for new residential space.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the town continued to expand outside the town walls and onto the mainland, and the channel between the island and the mainland was filled in 1763. Thus, the old historic core no longer stood on an island, but a peninsula. Just as in the past, the old town core is entered through several gates, or the Balbi’s Arch if coming from the main square.
