Zlatni Rt Forest Park

Zlatni Rt is the Croatian name for the Golden Cape, the wooded headland that closes the bay of Rovinj on the south, and the forest park that covers it is the town's largest green space. Two other entries in this guide describe the same peninsula under the names Punta Corrente and Golden Cape, and this one looks at it as a place for exercise, picnics and day-to-day outdoor life, which is how most Rovinj residents use it. The park lies a short walk from the old town along the waterfront, past the marina and a line of hotels, so it is easy to include in any day.

The park owes its existence to a planting project of the late nineteenth century by the entrepreneur Georg Hütterott, who turned a barren, rocky peninsula into a wooded landscape, and it was later placed under protection as a forest park in the twentieth century. The effect of more than a century of growth is a mature woodland that looks entirely natural, with tall pines, cypresses and holm oaks, together with laurel, cedar, ginkgo and other trees brought from other regions. In places, the trunks are huge, and the canopy gives deep shade, which is a great relief in the hottest months. Between the wooded zones are open meadows and clearings, which are used for picnics and games.

The network of paths is one of its strengths. Broad, level tracks run through the trees and along the coast, closed to motor traffic, and they are used by joggers, cyclists and families with pushchairs, so the park has a lively but relaxed atmosphere in the morning and evening. A circuit around the peninsula can be done in an hour at a gentle pace. Marked benches and picnic tables are scattered through the woods, and the shore alternates between rocky points and small pebble bays, where people swim and sunbathe. Simple kiosks and beach bars operate near the main bays in summer, and toilets are available near the entrance. The park is free and open at any time.

Birdwatchers will find warblers, tits, woodpeckers and jays in the trees, and the pine woods hum with cicadas in July and August. In spring, the undergrowth is full of flowers and the scent of the Mediterranean scrub, and in autumn, the park is peaceful, with mild weather and fewer visitors. It is a good place to walk in winter too, when the old town is quiet.

Bring water, sun protection and insect repellent in summer, and wear shoes with grip on the rocky shore paths. Take care with fire, since the pine forest is flammable in dry weather, and take your rubbish with you. The neighbouring Lone Bay, listed in this guide, can be reached by the same path. The park suits runners, cyclists, families and anyone who wants shade and sea together. Allow one to three hours.