Novigrad has developed on the islet joined to the mainland only in the 18th century. The old town has maintained its medieval urban plan until today. The wider area of the town remembers the name of the Roman settlement Emona (Emonia) which became Neapolis in the 6th century and then Civitas Nova. The name of Novigrad is cited in documents for the first time in 599 which means that the town with its 12000 is about to celebrate the 1400th anniversary of its existance.

For some 1300 years, Novigrad was the seat of the bishopric of the same name which was abrogated in 1831.

The various masters Novigrad had had throughout its history - Byzantines, Franks, Germans, Venetians, Napoleon, Austro-Hungarians, Italians - all left their traces here. These traces can be found on each and every step in streets and squares of Novigrad - in its rich cultural and historical heritage - its Venetian Gothic mansions and the city loggia, residential palaces...

The parish church dedicated to St Mary, St Maximilian and St Pelagius, in spite of the baroque remodelling (1745-1775) maintained its Romanesque and even early Christian elements of original basilica. Under the sanctuary there is a Romanesque crypt with the exquisite treasury, unique of its kind in Istria. The church of the Virgin of Carmel (1450) used to shelter prayers and meditations of laborious Dominicans, Augustinians, and of the glagolitic branch of Franciscans. The cemetery church of St Agate from the 10th or 11th century is a typical triple-apse Romanesque sacral monument. The church of St Antony on the other hand, originally Gothic had also undergone a reconstruction during the 17th century.

The town walls fortified by two circular Renaissance towers protect the town since as early as the 13th century. The former town gate is fortified by even older quadrangular tower. The town loggia, the only one in Istria overlooking the sea, was most probably built in the 16th century.

On the northern side of the wider town area, on the Karpinjan peninsula, one can find the remains of the large stantia with the late baroque palace of the Rigo family. Not far from here, there is also the Roman site of Dajla - the remains of the settlement and harbour installations in the lagoon. On Roman foundations the early Christian basilica was built in the 5th century and the Benedictine monastery later on. In the 19th century, the monastery has been incorporated into a classicist complex consisting of the palace, church and accessory household buildings. Dajla is one of the rare Istrian stantias by the sea.

The patron of Novigrad is St Pelagius celebrated on the 28th of August.