A recent trip away from the office for a few days took us to Rovinj, Croatia. A beautiful old city dating back to 6th Century (or even earlier), it is a maze of cobbled streets where you can happily get lost in, stopping here and there for a gelato or cold beer in a small unassuming bar.
Gardens are almost absent within the old city. Narrow streets and towering old buildings, jostling together, leaning on one another and limiting any sunlight to the cobbles below would make you think the city would be a start stony environ to live. Instead, window boxes festoon walls, pots and plants are clustered on steps and small squares are lovingly decorated with seating and potted plants, climbers and wall hangings. Washing is like white bunting looped between neighbours.
Always remember to look up, as these are where most of the gardens are!
Tiny window box adding to the greening of the old city.
Lovely table and chair detail at the sea edge
Tranquil courtyard garden – one of the larger private spaces in the city.
No need for plants here, just some vintage stools and whitewashed walls with cool stone floor makes for a calm area for gossip.
Sun beams on a bistro table….
…being made the most of by a cat!
Pink is the colour of choice in this area, and the brighter the better.
Tirelessly decorated with shells, these planters and the steps have been maximised, making for a unique city garden space.
Climbers AND skulls, with lanterns at night – the inhabitant of this narrow street has used the vertical space as their garden.
A bistro table and hand-made bench sits beneath the shade of a Campsis vine.
The small heart details on the white washed bench is a lovely touch.
Window boxes make this little dead-end street a pretty vista.
The narrowest of streets doesn’t escape the desire to garden!
Here someone has clearly made the most of the open square and has encroached into the space with a series of plant pots, recycled plastic pots and tubs as planters.
