Rovinj, Croatia

*Rovinj (Rovigno in Italian) is Istria’s star attraction. Yes, it’s touristy and residents are developing a sharp eye for maximising their profits, but Rovinj is one of the last of the true Mediterranean fishing ports. Fishermen haul their catch into the harbour in the early morning, followed by a horde of squawking gulls, and mend their nets before lunch.

Prayers for a good catch are sent forth at the massive Cathedral of St Euphemia whose 60m-high tower punctuates the peninsula. Wooded hills and low-rise luxury hotels surround a town webbed by steep, cobbled streets. The 13 green, offshore islands of the Rovinj archi­pelago make for pleasant, varied views and you can swim from the rocks in the sparkling water below Hotel Rovinj.