The area of the island of Krk is 408 square meters. Krk is located in the Kvarner Bay and is connected to the mainland by a road bridge - Krk - which is 1430 m long.
History of the island of Krk
The island of Krk has been inhabited since ancient times, but the Slavs only settled there in the 7th century. At various times, the island of Krk belonged to Venice, Austria, France, again Austria and then Italy, and only after the First World War it became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which after the Second World War became known as the Republic of Yugoslavia.
In 1990, after the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the island of Krk became part of the independent state of Croatia.
Sights of the island of Krk
The island of Krk is considered one of main centers of Croatian culture.
On the island of Krk, in the resort town of Baska, the famous Bascanska slab / Bascanska ploca- one of the first written mentions of the Croats, one of the most ancient monuments of Glagolitic writing.
The main city of the island of Krk is eponymous city of Krk, leading its history back to the times of the Door Romans. There are also resort towns and villages on Krk: Baska, Malinska, Vrbnik, Omisalj, Punat.
The famous resort Baska of the island of Krk is known for its beaches far beyond Croatia. For guests of the city, there is an aquarium of sea fish in Baska.
The city of the island of Krk – Vrbnik – is famous for its excellent preservation fortified city of Vrbnik. The Vrbnik region is also known for its vineyards and local white wine Vrbnicka Zlahtina.
Near the town of Omisalj, the islands of Krk will be of interest to lovers of ancient architecture ruins of the ancient Roman city of Fulfinum.
The town of Punat on the island of Krk is located on the shore of a bay, in the center of which there is a small Kosljun Island with an ancient monastery and botanical garden.
The natural attractions of the island of Krk include Biserujka karst cave, discovered in 1834, is the largest karst cave on the island of Krk and one of the most famous and visited caves in Croatia. The cave amazes with its beauty and richness of stalactites and stalagmites.
Punat Underwater Park on Krk Island
Underwater park Punat is a unique entertainment on the island of Krk for children and adults.
You don't have to be a professional diver to visit the underwater park; this unforgettable experience is accessible to everyone, even non-swimmers. Every visitor to the Underwater Park will be able to see the life of the underwater world as closely as possible and get directly acquainted with marine flora and fauna.
Beaches of Kvarner and islands
The beaches of Kvarner are picturesque and varied, there are sandy, small pebble and rocky beaches.
The most popular beach in Kvarner Bay Beach paradise / Paradise beach on the island of Rab.
The beaches of Kvarner include the beaches of resorts and islands:
- beaches of the resort town of Opatija
- beaches of the resorts Crikvenice and Novi Vinodolski
- beaches of Rijeka
- beaches of the islands of Krk and Rab
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Hotels and apartments on the island of Krk
Getting to the island of Krk
The island of Krk is connected to the mainland road bridge.
Rijeka Airport is located in the city of Krk on the island of Krk. Omisalj Airport, which receives international flights as well as planes from Croatian cities.
The distance from the airport to the city center of Rijeka is 27 km. There is a bus from Omisalj Airport to the city. The bus arrives at the airport for each flight, the travel time to the city of the bus is approximately 30 minutes.
However, there are no direct flights from the Russian Federation and former CIS countries to Rijeka Airport on the island of Krk, so the closest International Airport for arrival is. The distance from the island of Krk to Pula Airport is 130 km.
Intercity buses run from Pula Airport to the island of Krk. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.
What is famous for Krk in Croatia - the largest island of the Adriatic. The best resorts in Krk, what to see and where to stay. Photos and reviews about Krk.
The island of Krk is the largest island of the Adriatic, covered with dense coniferous forests, generous vineyards and olive groves. It is located in the northern part, in the Kvarner Bay, and is famous for its sandy and pebble beaches, mild Mediterranean climate, diverse natural world, and historical monuments.
It offers luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and traditional konoba taverns, as well as tennis courts and diving clubs.
History and modernity of Krk
Until 1997, the arch bridge from Krk to the mainland was a masterpiece of engineering!
The island was already inhabited in the Neolithic era. During the ancient period, Roman legionaries founded many new settlements, which over time turned into cities.
The island received its unusual name, without vowels, in the 7th century, when the Croats came here and brought the Glagolitic alphabet. In the Middle Ages, the Venetians built many beautiful mansions and palaces in the towns of Krk. Everywhere you can see learned winged lions with books - symbols of the power of the Most Serene Republic.
Fashionable hotels, restaurants, konoba taverns, as well as tennis courts and diving clubs on the island of Krk await guests!
The capital of the island, the ancient city of Krk, was once called Kuriktarum. Here you can see ancient Roman fortress walls with mighty bastions and majestic gates. The entire continuity of European history is reflected in the building of the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. It is built on the site of an early Christian Byzantine basilica from the 5th century, which was built over the ruins of Roman baths.
White reigns on the streets of the city. The milky walls of houses with arches, steps and flowering verandas are pleasing to the eye.
Resorts on the island of Krk
In the photo: the city of Krk - the capital of the island of the same name
One of the most favorite resorts in Krk, Malinska , located in the western part of the island and protected from eastern winds by a picturesque bay. People come here for the clear sea, beautiful views and leisurely walks among the amazing Adriatic nature. Malinska smoothly flows into the Haluduvo resort, where there is a large selection of bars, discos, cafes and an incredibly beautiful beach.
Resort Baska famous for its two-kilometer pebble beach and priceless archaeological finds. Here they found the oldest written monument in the Glagolitic alphabet - a stone slab on which a legal document of the 11th century was carved. Glagolitic inscriptions can be seen in various churches of Krk. For example, in the Church of St. Donatus, which is considered an excellent example of ancient Croatian architecture.
Vrbnik , a snow-white town of romantics and artists, is located on the top of a high mountain. It is famous for the narrowest street in the world (only 43 cm) and the noble white wine of the nobility.
Main attraction Omišalya - These are perfectly preserved Roman baths from the 2nd century. In August, a colorful folklore festival takes place here. Not far from Krk there is a small island of Kosljun with a rich architectural heritage from different eras.
June 26, Saturday. Day 8 Planning an independent trip in Croatia, the main points of which are the largest Krk island, national and . So that all this does not turn into a race, but resembles a vacation, we are planning a trip with 1-2 nights (as it turns out).
9.00. We leave in a rented car from, which is located on the Istrian peninsula near the city of Porec.
9.20 we got to Pazina(Pasin). The town looks more modern than its coastal counterparts. Our main task is to fill up with gasoline and change money. WITH refueling no problems arise. The EuroSuper 95 we need is in stock, its cost is 8.45 kunas (1.2 euros, 47 rubles).
Refueling principle everywhere it’s simple: you drive up to the desired pump, insert the hose, and pour the required number of liters. After that you go to pay. At a gas station, girls wash the windshield. That's how they do it.
When this happened the first time, we got a little complex: maybe we need to give something. But the girls, having washed our car, somehow quickly switched to the next one. The same thing happened again at another gas station in Istria. From which we concluded that this is just such a service.
We have no local cash left, and change money I had to be at the bank before 13:00 today. Yesterday there was some kind of national holiday (so the banks were closed), and tomorrow is Sunday (also a day off). In search of a bank, we walked around the old part of the town.
It was a quiet early morning. Shops and cafes were just opening. We accidentally wandered into an Italian shoe store. Everything is so cute, it’s impossible to resist! We didn’t leave without buying something, and the purchased pair of sandals rode with us all over Croatia. J
10.20 we left Pazin, drove, then through Rijeka(Rijek). Soon signs began to appear to Krk island(Otoc Krk).
Krk is one of the largest islands in Croatia (according to some sources, the largest). It is connected by a huge automobile bridge with the mainland. The island even has a small airport, where many charter flights with tourists arrive.
Of course, we were interested in visiting this island. I was very attracted by the photographs of the huge bridge that must be crossed to get there.
11.40. Entrance to the bridge turned out to be paid: 30 kn (4.2 euros). For some reason, the bridge itself did not make a great impression. In our opinion, there were more beautiful and longer bridges on the Istrian peninsula. The only difference is that it is located above the sea.
The length of the Krk Bridge (oh, how hard it is to pronounce Croatian words without vowels!) is 1430 meters. The first “flight” over the sea is about 400 meters, and the second is about 250 m.
Immediately after entering the island there is a large Observation deck. Very beautiful views from here onto continental Croatia.
Some people immediately rushed to us with an offer of apartments. But we didn’t plan to spend the night here, so we refuse. We are heading along the only road to the capital of the island, naturally, also the city of Krk.
Along the island of Krk
We drove along a narrow two-lane highway, which was not of good quality everywhere. In some places it even looked very much like a Russian road.
The highway constantly winds, it is difficult to overtake, there are too many cars. We stretch out slowly, observing nature. A differences it's very significant.
They say that on some island special climate. It is not clear what this means, but all the vegetation is simply dwarf: low forests, small pine trees, low grass. Directly lilliputian island.
The “bald” hilltops are also visible. If on the mainland the mountains were all “fluffy” with greenery, then on the island very often rocky “bald patches” are visible through the vegetation. All nature looks somehow poor compared to the mainland.
Although the aroma of grass, flowers and pine is delicious!
IN 12.10 we get to city of Krk(Krk), we drive through it slowly. We see a beautiful ancient fortress wall on a hill.
They say that you can get there by boat in 5 minutes. On the island there is an ancient monastery and a forest where you can walk. That's how wonderful it looks from the air.
We reach the city Head(Baska) (mileage 170 km from the hotel) and, first of all, we are looking for beach.
Nudist beach in Croatia
You can take a dip right next to the parking lot, carefully descending the rocky blocks. But we see the sign " FKK" Studying different sources, we remembered what these letters mean nudist beach.
We decide to try (see) up close what it is. A huge number of nudist beaches is another characteristic peculiarity of Croatia. This one turns out to be a whole campsite for “naked people” (nudists).
Their cars with mobile homes are parked here, there are restaurants and cafes, and various sports and water activities are provided. Everything is located very well: on both sides the campsite is closely adjacent to high rocks, hiding nudists from prying eyes.
Beach entrance turns out to be paid: 15 kn per person. We pretend to be poor, so that we can only immerse ourselves, not live. In short, for this money we can go through together.
All the service staff are dressed, some of the kids are also wearing T-shirts, and one diver was wearing a wetsuit. 🙂
Well, the rest are in their natural clothes (leather). Some lie down sunbathing or read, some stand in small groups and chat, some drink something in a cafe. In general, it looks like an ordinary beach life. But from the outside it all bothers us a little.
But the money has been paid, and no one seems to be looking at us. We pretend to be “our people” and plunge into the sea. As soon as we set sail from this mass of people, we begin to feel a buzz, freedom and complete fusion with nature. This is beauty! Crowds of people: naked or in swimsuits clearly do not contribute to real relaxation.
Having swam enough (the water here is very good), we return to the parking lot.
Ferry from Krka Island
It remains to clarify one important question that hangs in the air all the time: “ Where is the ferry to the mainland?“No one remembers where we got this information from.
Many tourist maps of Croatia have a dotted line connecting the southern tip of the island of Krka to the mainland. The day before, we checked with the guide at the hotel whether there really were 2 options to get to the island: through the road bridge and by ferry on the water, she confirmed this information to us.
This is how we planned our route: we’ll go to the island of Krk along the bridge in the north, get to the south of the island, and from here we’ll take a ferry back to the mainland. But on the road maps that we had with us, we did not see such a crossing. Now we have started asking the local population about this. No one in the parking lot knew anything about the ferry.
14.00. We're going to Head. We decide that if there is a ferry, then it should be there. We stop near the blocked entrance to the center.
Immediately a local flies up to us, almost with a flashing light. police officer... on a bicycle, something is yelling fiercely, apparently it’s forbidden to park here. But we are very happy to see him, we smile warmly, which completely confuses the employee.
We get out of the car with the question: “Where is the ferry?” He also looks at the map and at us in bewilderment and says that there is none. Necessary come back back to the north of the island, since communication with the mainland is only possible through the only bridge. 😥
We drive away from Bashka and stop on the road to digest the information received. We sadly eat what we managed to take away from breakfast in the hotel restaurant and think about our future life. We are trying to find the answer to the main question “What to do?”
According to our plans, having moved to the south from the island by ferry, we would have ended up relatively close to Krka Nature Reserve(the next point on our route). And now we have to return, practically, to the beginning of our journey.
Weather gets upset with us: begins to drip rain. Sad we return back along the entire island. Let's cross Krsky Bridge, for some reason it turns out to be in the opposite direction free.
Toll roads in Croatia
To speed up our movement along the narrow Croatian roads, we decide to take a toll road. The nearest entrance to it is near Rijeki(Rijek).
IN 15.50 we're leaving for highway A6(in the Rijeka area). When entering it, we take a ticket on which the point of entry is written.
Main road- beyond all praise. Two lanes in each direction (on the A6 there were sometimes even places with 3 lanes), good markings, accessible signs. There are often safety islands with an SOS phone. The average speed according to the rules is 130 km/h.
The road winds between the mountains, there are often tunnels, in front of each there is a sign with the name and length. But we haven’t seen one longer than ours.
We're going to the side Zagreb(Zagreb), In the area Bosilyevo(Bosiljevo) turn on A1, we are going in the direction Split(Split).
Very interesting to watch weather. If on the coast the sun was shining and there were some clouds, then on the mainland everything changes very quickly and dramatically. The bright sun hides behind gloomy heavy clouds, the rain begins, smoothly turning into downpour. Then again the sun and beautiful cumulus clouds, then again rain and a rainbow all over the sky! The temperature also changes very sharply: sometimes +25, sometimes +18. And all around are mountains, hills, fields and forests.
How long is it short, just short of reaching the famous resort Sibenik(Sibenik), we turned onto Skradin(Skradin). Located near this city.
Going to the island of Krk, we knew only two things:
- the name of the island is similar to our last name, so we definitely need to get here,
- Numerous excursions “The length and breadth of Krk in one day” are offered here.
Therefore, we booked an apartment for a day to look around and decide whether it makes sense to stay here for a few more days.
The island of Krk for me is green, breathing the sea, with the most delicious octopus salad, the majestic Frankopan Castle and kilometers of beaches.
Krk: in a nutshell
You can’t help but compare each resort with others you’ve already visited. Before Croatia, our best vacation was on the islands of Greece, where we felt sooooo good in every way that it seemed like it would hardly be better anywhere. If you have been to Kos and Corfu or Italy and found it interesting, our tastes probably coincide. In Croatia at that time we had already visited Istria (antique, fabulous, cozy, the cities of the Kvarner Bay (industrial, colorful village of Volosko, luxurious). On Krk we sighed all the time: why, why is this region so underestimated by our fellow citizens? Reviews about Krk only foreigners write. Almost no Ukrainian and Russian languages were heard here, no cars with license plates of CIS countries were seen at all. While some 40 km away, in Opatija, there are many of ours. By the way, I have never seen -sea tours to the island of Krk – maximum one-day trip as part of the tour.
And how cool everything is here, absolutely everything!
The Krk Bridge is a 1,430-kilometer concrete structure that connects the paradise island with the “mainland.” This miracle of human engineering and one of the symbols of the region is beautiful both in itself and as a place for photo shoots. It is recognizable, the locals are proud of it - photo galleries of the island of Krk, the city of Krk and even apartments and hotels always add one of the views of the bridge. This is also the main way to get to the island of Krk. You can also go by plane, but tourist charters don’t fly here (I personally haven’t seen such information), or by ferry, but if you’re by car, it’s less convenient.
Attention! Plan to stop just over the bridge when entering from the mainland - this will make for some good selfies and plenty of convenient parking. This will no longer be possible on the road. We were dumbfounded, and the only memory we have left is this photo from the Krk Bridge in the spirit of “dunnafig, we’ll take a selfie on the way back”...
Entrance to the bridge is paid - 35 kuna per car. Cash and card are accepted for payment. Attention! At other toll sections there are two checkpoints: at the entrance you take a ticket and at the exit you pay for it. Here you need to immediately prepare to pay.
Departure is free (at least when we left the island, it was that way).
There were small jams on both sides of the toll booth both times (when we drove in and out). But we only stayed for 5-10 minutes.
Beaches. When coming to the island on an “all in one day” excursion, prepare to be disappointed: you can see all the beaches in a day only by driving around the entire coast and stopping for half an hour here and there. We were luckier, and we could afford to lie around for half a day on each of the largest beaches! And we remember that in addition to the areas officially marked as “beach”, kilometers of “unofficial” beaches stretch along the island. About the most basic ones.
City beach of the city of Krk. Small pebbles, a concrete pier, near the pier there are stones on which you can sunbathe and from which it is convenient to jump into the water. The entry into the water is gentle, so... The water is clean. The beach is located in a small bay, so the water warms up better than in the “open sea”; even in a storm, the water is calm. There is a small park area near the shore where you can sleep on a sun lounger, a towel, or even stay with a tent. The place is very beloved by tent campers - they are “savages” here and sing with a guitar. There are also locker rooms, restaurants, cafes. There is paid parking nearby, but if you walk a couple of streets away from the beach, you can leave your car for free. The beach is adjacent to the embankment, where it is always lively, all entertainment is within walking distance. The main highlight of the beach is a beautiful view of the sights of the city of Krk and the opportunity to hear the bells ringing every hour. After the perfectly clean beaches of Istria, we found it a little dirty here - there are still cigarette butts (not many, and this is not at all comparable to our domestic resorts). Well, the water, like everywhere else in Croatia, is clean, crystal clear, alluring.
From the city beach you can see the roofs and spiers of the city of Krk.
Beach in the town of Vrbnik. This is what locals recommend as the best place for swimming, and the Old Town for an evening walk and dinner with seafood and a glass of local wine. The beach is a picturesque cove with equipped parts (sunbeds, umbrellas, cafes, changing rooms) and a gentle pebble entry into the water.
If you move left and right, you find yourself in a more secluded area, where you can lay a towel on the stones and enjoy the solitude, sun, and clear water.
And all this with a view of the Old Town. Here you can rent an apartment or stay in a hotel if a vacation without fuss is your thing.And from here you can travel around the island.
Krk island, Vrbnik beach, pay attention to the color and clarity of the water:nofilter, no photoshop.
Beach in the town of Baška (not to be confused with Stara Baška, it is nearby, and with – near Makarska). This is a resort area with a large number of hotels, boarding houses, and apartments on the coast itself. This is both the largest beach in the region (one and a half kilometers) and not the best place for introverts and social phobes: there are a lot of people here - the density of vacationers per square meter is higher than in Vrbnik.
The beach here is small-pebble, with a gentle slope into the water and piers cutting into the water. The sea is rougher than on the beach in Krk; in a small storm it’s great to fool around here.
Adjacent to the beach is the historical part of the town with attractions, konobas, coffee shops and souvenir shops.
The most “authentic” and at the same time useless souvenir that can only be found in the city of Baska (Croatia, island of Krk) - beads, candles, figurines, pictures based on the “Baska plate” with Glagolitic letters.
And, of course, wineKatunar – more about them later.
The main attraction of the town and the best viewing platform is on the mountain near the church (visible from almost any point at the foot of the hill on which it stands).
It’s definitely worth the walk (40 minutes up and 20 down) or driving up for the view.
At the time of our trip in June 2015, the church was closed to tourists, but the main thing was the views.
Like any ancient church, this one has a cemetery. Sad, but well maintained.
And then we circled the coast in search of attractions, towns, wine and saw kilometers of beaches not marked on maps, but perfect for a secluded or organized comfortable holiday.
City of Krk worth exploring on your own. A map of attractions in hand - and off you go. Walk “for show” through all the places of “military glory”, get lost in the labyrinth of streets, climb the city walls. The sign “Climb at your own risk” is especially touching. What do they know about fear and risk!
A couple of steps away from the busy main streets and you find yourself in a “dormitory area”: here, in these houses, from the window you can watch a football match on your neighbor’s TV. Here you can clink glasses with a handsome young man who lives across the street without leaving home. Here they dry clothes on lines stretched over the street, lazy cats sleep on the warm steps, and the window sills are filled with potted flowers. In general, real people still live almost ordinary lives here.
Streets of the city of Krk, near the walls of Frankopan Castle
Croatia, Krk island, Krk city, Frankopan castle.
Want to see the city from a bird's eye view? Climb the stairs to the walls of Frankopan Castle.
The city of Krk, view from the walls of Frankopan Castle.
Excursion and beach holidays in Krk: all the pleasures on one island.
The tourist season and the most ideal weather for a beach holiday on the island of Krk lasts all summer. The velvet season closes at the end of October, when the last vacationers leave the island of happiness, the town becomes quiet and deserted. Locals love this time of year! I dream of visiting the historical cities of Croatia in early November, especially in.
Sightseeing tours of the cities of the island usually last 4–6 hours: Vrbnik, Baska, Malinska, Biserujka cave.
This is one ofmust-see points on the map of the island, as they say. According to legend, pirates hid pearls (beads in Croatian) obtained through painstaking robbery and extortion here.
Now there are no beads in the cave, but there are stalagmites, stalactites, steep descents and ascents of stairs.
Moments:
- the temperature in the cave is +15°C. The difference from +30 outside is noticeable; you are unlikely to freeze during a 10–20 minute walk, but for children it is better to take a sweater,
- For us personally it was not a wow spectacle, but families with children were delighted,
- the walk takes 15–20 minutes; going here just for the sake of it is not very rational. Combine with something else. For example, with a visit to Soline Bay.
Soline Bay is a beach with healing mud. Driving past, we saw crowds of “negros”, smeared from head to toe. “I wonder if it helps them?” – my beloved asked me. “I think they’ve just started,” I replied. I don’t know whether the therapeutic effect of the procedures has been proven, but people had a lot of fun and bright selfies.
Excursions from Krk: the cities of Istria, Venice, Trieste, Slovenia, islands (Lošinj, Cres, fish picnics, fishing), Rijeka, Crikvenica, Opatija and Volosko, Krka National Park (Attention! Krka National Park is located on the mainland, not on the island Krk), Zagreb. But why do you need to go somewhere when you are in Krk?!
Food on Krk. When describing other cities, we don’t dwell too much on the descriptions of the food: everywhere everything is the same as always, but in KRK it’s better.
I already wrote that we traveled with a guidebook in our hands, and he was godlessly talking about everything in the world. Therefore, the phrase “seafood in Krk is especially good” was reacted without enthusiasm... And then we decided to have dinner within the city walls, in an establishmentFrankopan: the best octopus salad of all time (quite honestly, a year later I still want the same), delicious tuna steak and aromatic, soft, warm bread crust - perhaps the same as your grandmother once baked. Mine baked.
Separately, about wines. There is a winery on the islandKatunar. You can ask for a tasting and do some shopping (you can take a maximum of two liters per person across the border) in one of the branded stores on the island. But the best thing you can think of is to go to the vineyardsKatunar near Vrbnik. There you can try wines and champagne, sweets, preserves, jams. We liked pink the mostBisermora. We were traveling in the summer, and we didn’t want to carry bottled wine in the hot trunk of the car. They believed the consultants that their products could be found in all major retail chains in the country and... it was a fatal mistake: not in the chainsPemo, neither inBilla, neitherKonzum winesWe didn't find Katunar.
It is most convenient to combine a visit toKatunar on the road to the city of Krk from Vrbnik - almost on the road.
VineyardsKatunar on the island of Krk.
Where to live? The best place is in the residential areas adjacent to the center. The historical center is also romantic and good, if you are not in a car (otherwise you may not be able to get to your apartment) and not with huge suitcases (several times one hundred meters) along the cobblestones, without the ability to park under the house - that’s still fitness.
- Krk is the most strategically correct place to be in the thick of things and conveniently get to all places of interest.
- Vrbnik – for a classic hotel holiday.
- Baska is for those who like to relax in a busy hotel area with a small historical center within walking distance.
Any other town on the coast is for clear seas and kilometer-long beaches.
If you prefer a hotel holiday, the most offers will be in the cities of Krk, Malinska, Baska, Silo, Njivice, Punat. Five-star hotels, as throughout the country, are few here, less than 25. But there are good, “strong” four-star hotels, family guest houses and numerous apartments.
There are very few hotels operating on an all-inclusive system, but why do you need them if, wherever you find yourself, within walking distance there will be kanobs where they prepare seafood from today’s catch, the freshest vegetables and fruits?
I continue to recommend staying in apartments: ratio of price, comfort, quality, space, stabilitywi-fi in Croatia it is better in apartments. In addition, we have checked and recommend two accommodation options on Krk: .
Bye, Krk! We didn't want to leave at all. Clean beaches, gentle sun, clear water, beautiful towns, delicious food and wine, hospitable people - what else do you need for a vacation?! But the most interesting things were ahead: Plitvice Lakes, must-see Sibenik, impregnable Trogir, crazy Zadar, ancient Split, sweet Makarska and, of course, the love of my life - Dubrovnik! Read on!
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
The capital of the island of Krk, bearing the same name - the city of Krk with its almost 2000-year-old ancient fortress walls (by the way, the third largest in Croatia), Frankopan Castle, the old city hall of the 16th century and the Krk Cathedral, whose towers proudly rise above the city, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. As, indeed, the whole island.
But I believe that the city of Krk should be considered separately from the island, which already has enough interesting places.
Krk is located in the southwestern side of the island, on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. The city has road connections with the mainland, with Rijeka. There, in the north of the island, a huge Krsky Bridge was built, representing a truly unique architectural structure. But it’s far away – 25 kilometers.
Historically, among all the cities on the island, the city of Krk has always been considered the main one, a status it had from the very beginning of the settlement of the island. Krk is a very ancient city, one of the oldest in the entire Adriatic, its history dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. In those days, this Roman city was called Curicum. The current name of the city is a very shortened version of its original name. Currently, the city is the cultural and historical center of the island.
Krk even today looks like a well-fortified city, with thick fortress walls along its entire length. City walls and are a characteristic feature of Krk, these fortifications were built at different times, but the beginning of their construction dates back to the beginning of our era. The city walls were repeatedly destroyed by conquerors, but were rebuilt; the fundamental construction of the walls dates back to the 12th century. It was then erected Kuplin tower- one of the most remarkable and ancient objects of the wall. Construction Frankopan Castle, which is also part of the Krk fortification, dates back to the 12th-14th centuries. After the city came under the jurisdiction of Venice (this happened in the 15th century), the fortress walls began to be strengthened even more. At this time (end of the 15th - 16th centuries) the most powerful sections of the wall, the city gates, as well as the characteristic for that era cylindrical tower.
The most important heritage in Krk, of course, is sacred religious complex, consisting of three churches: the Cathedral of the Ascension, the Franciscan and Benedictine monasteries with their churches.
Franciscan and Benedictine monasteries were built between the 12th and 13th centuries. There really is something to see there. You can see the life of the monks, look at household items. The monastery churches are decorated with ancient icons. Although, to tell the truth, the monasteries are not very noticeable against the background of another object more worthy of inspection.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in the 12th century on the remains of Roman baths. Although initially, in the 5th century, a small Christian basilica was built here. In its modern form, the Cathedral with its characteristic Byzantine dome is not only a decoration and calling card of the city, but also a magnificent monument of historical architecture. Two Renaissance chairs are simply masterpieces of art; they were once donated by the Frankopans. The bishops of Krk are also buried in the church. The bell tower of the cathedral is decorated with a figurine of an angel with a trumpet, which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
Not far from the Cathedral is Basilica of Saint Quirinus, built in the 12th century. This basilica has the oldest wall paintings on the island (X-XI centuries). By the way, this is the only two-level (two-nave) church in Croatia. I don’t really understand what this means; I didn’t go into this basilica myself. I read that there was also a third nave, but it was destroyed during work to expand the street.
In the same area of the city is located Museum of Religious Art.
In the very center of Krk is Vela Placa Square. The square is surrounded by steep hills, on the slopes of which you can see the traditional houses of the local residents. This is the so-called archaeological site of Volsonis.
Also in the city is ancient roman forum(more precisely, what was preserved from him). Here you can now see a stone well built during the reign of the Romans. During the reign of the Venetian Republic, the town hall and the city government building were built on this square.
Krk has a reputation as a day trip city. However, its port can serve as a starting point for many trips, such as nearby islands such as Rab or Cres.
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Krk Island is the northernmost island in Croatia and one of the largest islands in the Adriatic Sea, located in the Kvarner Bay, east of the Istrian peninsula.
Krk is the ideal place to learn about Croatia's heritage.
In addition to the capital of the island, ancient city of Krk, there are other objects that are no less interesting to visit. For example, on the island in many places there are floor mosaics preserved from the times of the Roman Empire, numerous ancient Croatian churches and other monuments of ancient architecture, including Illyrian culture.
1. Perhaps it’s worth starting with city of Vrbnik(Vrbnik), located on the top of a high cliff and surrounded on one side by fertile vineyards used in the production of the famous and high-quality wine Vrbnička Zlahtina (Žlahtina). On the other side - the Adriatic Sea. Vrbnik is a very small town, located just 6 kilometers from the city of Krk. It is now one of the best preserved walled cities in Croatia. But first of all, the city is famous for its vineyards and excellent wine.
Vrbnik is a city like you have never seen before. Walking past the old houses and heading through its narrow streets, you are transported hundreds of years back in time without noticing it at all. You don't need to know anything about the history of Croatia and the island of Krk, but as soon as you enter Vrbnik, you will immediately understand everything: here history comes to life at every turn. You will feel the traditional way of life, the connection between man and nature, because here life depends on the vines that feed the city (and this is not an allegory). Vrbnik graciously comes to life when the year is fertile and humbly passes in a less fortunate year. In the Vrbnik valley, zlahtina grapes are grown, from which dry white wine and champagne are produced. The name comes from the adjective “zlahten”, which means “noble” in Slavic dialect. This grape variety came to the island of Krk at the end of the 19th century, and to the Vrbnik valley approximately between the two world wars and is now cultivated only in the Vrbnik valley.
Leading a humble lifestyle, the city’s residents initially did not strive to make Vrbnik a particularly attractive place for tourism, but this happened naturally. Time has shaped the city as a travel destination, and now every visitor to the island of Krk simply must come here to try the Vrbnička Zlahtina wine along with other gastronomic features of the island.
After enjoying a great meal, you can stroll around this quaint clifftop town and get to know the island's culture and traditions. And at the end, do not forget to walk along one of the narrowest streets in the world, only 50 cm wide. It is called Klancic.
2. City of Omišalj(Omisalj) with a history dating back to the 3rd century AD.
This city is one of the oldest cities not only on the island of Krk, but also in Croatia as a whole. Exploring the town of Omišalj begins almost instantly after crossing the bridge connecting the mainland and Krk, as it will be the first town you encounter on the island.
The city itself is built on a cliff above the sea with a panoramic view of the Kvarner Bay, the top point of the cliff is about 80 meters above sea level. Omišalj has retained its medieval urban structure. The residential buildings have retained their original appearance of typical rural houses on the island of Krk - many houses have external staircases next to the arched entrance on the ground floor and a balcony above the arched entrance. The charming historical old center of Omišalj with its narrow streets is also mostly a pedestrian area.
On the main square of the city there is a large parish Church of the Assumption with a bell tower and Helena Chapel.
In addition, on the edge of the cliff there is an excellent walking path and an observation deck, all this is ideal for romantic evenings.
I think that history buffs will also be interested in visiting the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Fulfinum, they are located almost next to Omišalj.
It’s also interesting that Rijeka International Airport is located near Omišalj. Such is the paradox.
3. Scenic Kosljun islet with a museum inside the monastery located on an island.
Kosljun (Croatian: Košljun) is a small island located in the bay of the island of Krk. The island is really small, the length of its coastline is just over 1 kilometer! However, Kosljun is the most significant of the other islands belonging to the Krk archipelago, as it represents a natural and cultural phenomenon.
Here you need to understand correctly: on the island of Krk there is a town called Punat, which is located right on the shore of a large bay. Approximately in the middle of this bay is the island of Kosljun. The distance from the island of Krk is no more than 200 meters, there is a pier on the shore. And if the town of Punat itself is unremarkable, except for the production of excellent olive oil (but this is not an attraction), then there is a most interesting object on the island of Kosljun. This is ancient, but valid Franciscan monastery. It's definitely worth a visit.
The entire population of the island of Kosljun is made up of Franciscan monks, there are 5 of them. On the territory of the monastery there is the Church of the Annunciation of Mary with several chapels. There are three museums in the monastery buildings: architectural, ethnographic and church art. We can say that through the efforts of the monks the island has been almost completely ennobled. The monastery has its own small botanical garden and is surrounded on all sides by olive groves.
4. Church and monastery in Glavotoka(Glavotok).
Glavotok is a small fishing village on the western side of the island of Krk. The attraction of this village is the Franciscan monastery (Franjevacki samostan), built right on a sand spit. At the end of the 15th century, the Frankopans presented this scythe to the Franciscan Tertiaries, who at that time used the Glagolitic alphabet to write their texts. Therefore, if you are interested in writing in the Glagolitic alphabet, I recommend visiting Glavotok. The Franciscan monastery was finally built in the 16th century, having previously been rebuilt several times. Now the monastery houses numerous works by Italian masters. The most important, of course, is the archive of the monastery with its manuscripts in Glagolitic.
5. Head.
Baska (Croatian: Baška) is a famous seaside resort in Croatia, located in the south of the island of Krk. But this is not the only thing that attracts tourists here. There are many ancient churches in the village itself and its surroundings.
Here is a small digression. The island of Krk is considered the cradle of Croatian writing. This is due to the fact that not far from the city of Baska, in 1851 the Baschanskaya table was found. More precisely, in the village of Yurandvor in the Church of St. Lucia. The slab was built into the floor of an ancient church, where it was discovered.
Following the logic, it got its name from the village of Bashka. In fact, the table is a stone slab with entries in the Croatian language (Glagolic script). Until now, this table was and remains the oldest monument of Croatian writing. Truly worth exploring!
In addition, in the city of Baska there is a famous aquarium with sea fish in Croatia.
