Batana Eco-museum Rovinj

Search for an apartment, a room or a house for rent in Rovinj and leave its narrow streets to lead you to the small places full of heart and soul. Ecomuseum `Batana House' is just such a place, a place which managed to unifie city government and citizens, the Italian minority and majority Croatian population, along with over a hundred volunteers. Unique in the Mediterranean, not only for its highly specialized exhibition, but also for the involvement of the community through a number of colorful projects and events. Batana is a traditional wooden boat with a flat bottom and mainsail usually. The unique construction and durability of this boat is typical of the Rovinj coast, which provided it the protection of UNESCO and the establishment of its own museum. The museum exposes traditional fishing tools as well, along with multimedia exibits where texts are interwoven with photographs and video recordings, museum objects and drawings with sounds of bitinada, traditional songs of Rovinj fishermen. A special feature of the museum lies in the fact that over 90% of the exhibits are donations of citizens of Rovinj who participated in the preparation of the House of Batana. Since 2004, when the Ecomuseum began inviting visitors a quater waving from its window, it is the initiator and participant in many events that raise hot atmosphere in Rovinj and spread the story about Batana. Museum Batana can be seen in several thematic stages. The permanent exhibition is in the heart of Rovinj on the peninsula and it can be only a starting point for an unforgettable journey into the history of the city and its fishermen who sailed the seas.
The permanent exhibition of the museum is in the open, you can see the small Rovinj pier which was built in the Middle Ages. It has always been the center of the maritime life of Rovinj. All the Rovinj batana, 30 of them or so, are moored at the small pier and along the Rovinj waterfront. Do not just watch – take a short but magical, ride to Spacio Matika, taverns that gives you a unique welcome with traditional culinary specialties and musical program of Ecomuseum. Travel around the peninsula with cheerful sailsman at sunset. The story of Batana would not be complete if there were no shipbuilders and craftmen, masters of the art of building batana, who passed their skill on from generation to generation. The traditional ritual of constructing new batanas can be seen on the square in front of the House of Batana, from the middle of June till late August. Several new batanas were built here in cooperation of Eco-museum and local authorities, but also corrected a significant number of old, before the eyes fascinated audience. Here you can enjoy the culinary and musical treats, as well.
Batana comes to life when it is launched into the sea, and you will revive the spirits of the past by taking a part into the story of Batana and tasting Rovinj's tradition. Ecomuseum Batana House has won several international awards. It cooperated with a number of creatives, fostered traditional cultural and musical expressions, as well as educational and entertaining workshops for adults and children. More info on +385 (0) 52 812 593 or batana@rv-batana.t-com.hr.