The beginning of Rovinj tourism
CAP AUREO 1908
 Tourism,
as a social-economic phenomenon developed as the political situation
in the second half of 19th century calmed down after Napoleon wars
and, also, due to modernization of traffic that made journeys specially
long, railroad ones easier. Expending tourism and its mass character,
makes rivieras, summer and winter resorts and specially spa and
climate-health resorts well known.
Istra was quite popular for clients from the very beginning of
modern tourism because of mild and healthy climate and interesting
history. After installing regular trip-liners Triest-Rijeka by
Austrian Lloyd in 1844, ships regularly stopped in Piran, Novigrad,
Poreč, Rovinj and Pula. With building of railroad Divača-Pula
with an extension Kanfanar-Rovinj (1876), Rovinj tourism developed
more, although those were only individual visits without organized
groups.
We take 1888 as the official beginning of tourism in Rovinj,
when sea spa Mana Theresia Seehospiz for poor children with scrofula
and rachitis was opened. Children came mostly from Austrian-Hungarian
monarchy, but also from Germany, Russia and other countries. The
first meteorological measurements of air temperatures began here
and results were compared with those from Vienna.
In 1890 four islands : St. Andrew, Maškin, Šturag
and St. John were bought by knight Georg Hutterodt, an entrepreneur
from Trieste. In following years he bought several private properties
south of Rovinj in Punta Corrente, Montauro, Škarabe, Monvia
and Monte Mulini. Almost 90 ha of meadow, vineyards and olive plantation
were forested with carefully chosen Mediterranean and exotic plants
creating a true natural park.
Honorable guests came to the island as soon as they were bought,
testimony we can find in memory-book "Cissa Insel" and
carvings in stony walls along the walkway on the island. Inscriptions
from the memory book, dated in 1908, include prince and princess
Coburg Goth, princess Stephanie von Habsburg, arch-duke Ludvig
Salvatore, great duchess Maria Josef of Sachsen, princess Maria
Theresia of Bavaria, prince Hohenlohe with family, prince Johann
Liechtenstein and other representatives of European nobility, many
admirals and officers of k. und k. from Pula, like Maximilian von
Sterneck, Herman von Spaun, Rudolf Montecucciola, Franz von Minnutillo,
businessmen Arthur Krupp, Carl Escher, Paul Schoeller, E. Skoda,
scientists R. Virchow, R. Burkhardt and others. Islands were also
visited by royal heir Franz Ferdinand in 1910. Letter written by
estate guardian speak of that event. Guests came to the island
more often and stayed longer and soon trip resort grew into a place
of stationary tourism.
1 2 References |
