Punta Corrente (Golden Cape) Park

Punta Corrente, known in Croatian as Zlatni rt and in English as Golden Cape, is the green peninsula just south of Rovinj's old town, and for the people of the town it works as a combined park, beach and back garden. The protected forest park covers roughly 90 hectares and is easy to reach on foot from the centre, along the coast road past the marina and the headland beaches.

Its character comes from a nineteenth-century planting project. The land was bought by Georg Hütterott, an entrepreneur who wanted to create a leisure and health resort on this headland and who planted the peninsula with a wide range of trees. Whatever became of his grander resort ideas, the trees remained and matured. Today the park is a mix of Mediterranean species such as holm oak, pine, cypress and laurel together with introduced trees that Hütterott brought in from other parts of the world, including cedars and ginkgo. Walking among them, you can notice how the planting changes from tall conifers on the higher ground to lower scrub and rocky shore near the water.

The coast is the main draw in warm weather. Rocky capes alternate with small pebble bays, and flat limestone slabs make easy places to lay a towel and slip into the sea. Several beach bars and kiosks operate in season, so you do not have to carry everything. The shoreline near Lone Bay, a short distance away, is another popular spot, and the park's paths are well suited to families with pushchairs and to anyone who prefers shade to sun.

Away from the water, the broad, traffic-free paths are used for walking, jogging and cycling, and there are shaded benches and picnic spots among the trees. Early morning is a good time to come if you want the park quiet, and early evening brings a glow over the sea toward the islands off Rovinj. Climbers sometimes use the natural rock around the shore, although most visitors come simply to stroll and swim.

Sibling attractions such as the Punta Corrente Forest Park entry describe the same peninsula, so treat this as the main introduction. A visit can last an hour for a loop walk, or a whole afternoon if you add a swim and a drink. Wear walking shoes with some grip, since the paths near the water can be rough, and bring water in peak summer.