Rovinj was already a settlement of Illyrian before being captured by the Romans. Roman called it Arupinium or Mons Rubineus and later Ruginium and Ruvinium. The old city was build on an island near the coast, and in 1763 the island was connected to the mainland by filling the canal.It is part of the Byzantine Empire, then in the 6. st the Exarchat of Ravenna and from the year 788 it was under the Franconian empire. Then for more centuries it was under the rule of different feudal lords. Since 1209 Aquileo Patriarch ruled.
From 1283-1797 Rovinj was one of the most important cities in Istria under the Republic of Venice. The city was fortified by two rows of walls with three gates of the city. The walls which can be seen today come from that period. Near the ferry, you can find the door of the ancient city of Arc Balbi dating from 1680, and a round later Renaissance clock.
After the fall of Venice and the Napoleonic Intermezzo, Rovinj was part of the Austrian Empire until the First World War. After the WWI it then belonged to Italy (1918-1947), when it was sold in the Croatia Republic in the SFR Yugoslavia.
