Rovinj, Croatia

There are few more pleasant towns in Istria than Rovinj (in Italian, Rovigno). Delicately poised between medieval port and modern tourist resort, it has managed to preserve its character better than anywhere else along the peninsula's west coast, by keeping major development well away from its historic centre: the harbour is a likeable mix of fishing boats and swanky yachts, while the quaysides are a blend of sunshaded café tables and fishermen's nets. Spacious Venetian-style houses and elegant piazzas lend an overridingly Italian air to the town, and the festive mood the tourists bring only adds to the atmosphere. Rovinj is also the most Italian town on this coast: there's an Italian high school, the language is widely spoken, and street signs are bilingual.