On St. Lawrence's Night, Rovinj's Big Pier enchanted numerous visitors with a romantic and intimate setting, along with a special event program presented by the Ecomuseum-Ecomuseo "Batana". For even when it speaks more softly and slowly—through candlelight, poetry, gentle melodies, and dreamy photographs—the voice of heritage speaks just as passionately and powerfully about the past and everything valuable left as a legacy to Rovinj-Rovigno.
And what did that special evening look like, filled with the sea, music, tradition, aromas, and people who cherish their town with all their heart?

It all began with a romantic dusk ride aboard 11 batana boats. Featuring experienced as well as young boatmen (barkajoli) and the beautiful voice of Alessio Giuricin set against the stone facades of Rovinj's houses, it created an unforgettable sight and experience. Every stroke of the oar was accompanied by melodies from the past that live in the memory of every boatman—whether those like Sandro, Pietro, and Mauro Venier, Edi Poropat, Remigio Bogešić, and Silvio Raponje, who dedicate their entire summer to rowing batanas, or those who joyfully answered the call for this occasion, such as Marino Budicin, Diego Giuricin, Ennio and Gabriel Cherin, and Marko Dragić.Thanks to the Deputy Mayor of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno, Gianfranca Šuran, the evening continued with a surprise: a visit to the tower of Rovinj's town clock and its old mechanism, whose ticking transported visitors back to another era.


 
In front of the Ecomuseum, the first small yet striking photo exhibition by young photographer and Ecomuseum associate Alessio Sponza was opened. Through his eyes, he showed the magical moments of Rovinj's St. Lawrence's Night, as well as Rovinj-Rovigno, its sea, its patron saint, and the batanas at the end of the day. Anyone so captivated by the photographs that they wished to purchase one will be pleased to know they can do so at the "ʃutalateîna" Gallery, located at waterfront Aldo Rismondo 2, where many Batana souvenirs and handcrafted items by local artists also await. 

On that starry Saturday evening, Riviera Square was filled with the scents of local Rovinj delicacies: fish, squid, fioka, fritule, and cookies. They were prepared in a slightly more festive mood than usual by members of the "House of Batana" Association, featuring aprons decorated with shooting stars designed by permanent Ecomuseum associate Mišel Tonkić from PrintStudio. Batana's sweet treats squad consisted of Jasna Bešker and Maja Toplak Farago, who quickly and skillfully demonstrated the preparation of crispy Rovinj fioki; Ester Melchiorre, who has become a trademark for delicious cookies (this time shaped like festive stars); and Dolores Smoljan, an experienced master in making the indispensable fritters. Anyone who wished to try making these traditional sweets themselves after tasting them could take home small cards printed with the recipe ingredients. Just like the Sweet House, the House of Good Bites also attracted visitors with its gastronomic offerings, thanks to Katja Dellabernardina Simmelink, Roberto Zaharija, Toni Popović, and Ivan Filić, who poured their effort, time, and love into the flavor of the fish dishes.


 
The musical atmosphere matched the romantic vibe of the evening. A special tribute to the old guard of Rovinj artists who preserved the town's music and dialect was written through verses and notes by the members of the band Le Cronache: Alessio Giuricin, Alenka Pužar, Teo Tiani, Manuel Fabris, and Pino Bartoli. Under the starry sky of St. Lawrence's Night, the audience listened to verses by Vlado and Libero Benussi, Ligio Zanini, Giusto Curto, Matteo-Uccio Benussi, and Riccardo Bosazzi, recited by Alessio Giuricin. Meanwhile, the music program featured rarely performed songs such as Quìla murièda (G. Curto – P. Soffici), Piccolissima serenata (A. Amurri – G. Ferrio), Malinkonija (Z. Runjić – O. Dragojević), and many others.


 
Reflecting on this evening, which showcased a different face of Rovinj's heritage, Nives Giuricin, Director of the Institution "House of Batana - Casa della batana", said:

"The entire program of our Romantic St. Lawrence's Night—through which we joined the event of the same name organized by the Rovinj Tourist Board—transformed the Big Pier into a place where, on the night of shooting stars, it was easy to make the most beautiful wishes. In addition to welcoming numerous visitors, that evening we also welcomed a new ornament to our square: a wonderful olive tree that has been carrying its own story for 25 years and gave our square the kind of shine we preserve on this occasion. It is the shine of something valuable and beautiful given to us by this region enduring over time. We live in a truly special corner of the world, surrounded by the beauty of the town, nature, the sea, tradition, and so many small miracles that, precisely because they are part of our daily life, we sometimes no longer notice as we should. All the efforts of the Ecomuseum 'Batana', its employees, associates, and Association members stem from the conviction that every place needs care, attention, and people who believe in its value, and that our mission is to appreciate everything valuable given as a heritage to our beautiful town as a small miracle and preserve it for upcoming generations. This evening, woven from small experiences of deep meaning, proved that we do not need to wait for big changes—sometimes it is the small things, good ideas, effort, and love that make the biggest difference. Like many of our other programs, we are turning Romantic St. Lawrence's Night into a tradition, and we are already looking forward to the next one!"