{"id":14352,"date":"2016-07-16T20:16:07","date_gmt":"2016-07-16T20:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=14352"},"modified":"2016-07-16T20:16:08","modified_gmt":"2016-07-16T20:16:08","slug":"looking-labin-istria-croatia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/looking-labin-istria-croatia\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking at Labin – Istria – Croatia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Labin<\/a><\/p>\n

Through the happy medium of photography, I am taking you to Labin – which actually is really just an excuse to upload a few of the several thousand images I took of the place – it is truly bewitching…<\/p>\n

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Most people have heard of Rovinj (an hour and a bit further from here by car) – both Rovinj and Labin have a lot of similarities in that they were both ruled by Venice once upon a time (you can actually still pop across by Ferry today!), and long before that they were both under Roman rule, known as Albona (Labin) \u00a0and Ruvininium (Rovinj)…<\/p>\n

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Although Rovinj is surrounded by the sea, and Labin is a hill town, \u00a0from a distance they look pretty similar. \u00a0Both are fortified given that they have impressive town\/city gates, and the Venetian influence is massively evident in both – there are winged lions everywhere, and plenty of balconies and buildings to admire, harking back to that particular Baroque style…<\/p>\n

\"winged<\/a><\/p>\n

But that’s where the similarities end, as Rovinj is obviously much bigger and can cope with its masses of visitors each day, but Labin still has a distinctly sleepy feel to it. \u00a0You almost feel like tip-toeing around the ancient cobbled streets so as not to disturb it, or its many sleeping feline residents!<\/p>\n

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\"labin<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"labin\"<\/a>\"labin<\/a><\/p>\n

The old town is cobbled and has many small steps that eventually lead you to the top (yet somewhere else NOT to bring a pushchair!!), but the view out across the countryside to the sea on one side, and out and above the towns and villages below is well worth the short trek.<\/p>\n

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\"Labin<\/a><\/p>\n

Obviously if you like things a little more bustling, you should pay it a visit during the day. \u00a0But on an evening when the main square is full of locals and tourists alike, out to enjoy dinner and a few drinks, then you will find the streets of the ancient old town gloriously bereft of people, but with all the lovely galleries and craft shops still open, and all that perfect golden light as the sun gives its last for the day.<\/p>\n

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\"ancient<\/a><\/p>\n

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Keep looking up for some of the local faces of the past, and afterwards sit and have a drink with some of the local faces of today (just hopefully not headless ones!).<\/p>\n

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Incidentally, it’s also worth a look at the newer part of the town too, it has equally lovely views… \u00a0 Enjoy.<\/p>\n

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\"strange<\/a><\/p>\n

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