With its picturesque harbor along the Adriatic Sea, it is easy to see why the pretty city of Rovinj in Croatia is referred to as the Venice of of Istria. A few centuries of Venetian rule has left its elegant mark on the city's architecture and its close proximity to Venice has led to a steady flow of ocean traffic between the two cities. The writer George Bernard Shaw said if you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik and given the city’s breathtaking views, it’s easy to see why. One trip to this picturesque Croatian coastal city, and you’ll understand why it’s often called the pearl of the Adriatic.