Island of Rab
The happy island
This pearl is hidden in the north of the beautiful Adriatic Sea, and its first mention can be found in the writings of Liburnian sailors who called it “Arba”, which literally means wooded, dark, green. This best describes the abundance of holm oak forests (Latin: Quercus Ilex) that adorn the flora of our island, although the most famous and over a hundred-year-old specimen is located all by itself, on Freedom Square in the old city center, and was planted in honor of the liberation from Italian occupation back in 1921. years.
The island of Rab is blessed with a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild winters and pleasant, but not too hot, summers, which helped in the development of the diversity of flora and fauna on the island, and throughout history the inhabitants knew how to use this by cultivating numerous plant and animal species, as well as engaged in fishing.
Get to know Rab !
Once the commercial and cultural center of the Roman Empire, it is now a popular tourist destination
The geostrategic position of the island of Rab was recognized at the time of the Roman Empire, which today we can thank for the rich cultural heritage and tradition, and the influence of the Italian people throughout history is also evidenced by the names of the settlements on the island that do not contain the usual Croatian suffixes: Banjol, Barbat, Supetarska draga, Mundanije, Kampor , Palit and Lopar.
Thus, Rab quickly acquired the epithet “Felix Arba”, which was given to rare Roman provinces of special importance, as well as the status of a Roman Municipium, and the status of the city has been maintained to this day. As the center of Christianity and the meeting point of goods trade between eastern and western maritime routes, we can conclude that Rab enjoyed its most historically significant period during the reign of the Roman Empire, and all this, along with rich gastronomy and natural beauty, has marked it today as an attractive destination for tourists and all over the world.
Why visit Rab ?
One of the more preserved and recognizable city centers
The island of Rab is widely recognized for the view of its old town core, which is adorned with four bell towers, and each of them indicates the average air temperature in each of the four seasons by its height. The influence of geometry and the passage of time in architecture can be witnessed by the structure of the core itself, which consists of four main streets (Riva, Donja ulica, Srednja ulica and Gornja ulica) which are intersected by twelve smaller side streets that symbolize the months of the year. The city center is “guarded” by one of the largest city parks in Europe, if we compare it with the area of the city center itself, which is the beautiful Komrčar forest park.
Natural beaches and numerous other natural beauties
When you think of Rab, it is impossible that your first association is not related to the numerous natural beauties that adorn this island. This mostly refers to more than 30 natural sandy beaches, of which the most famous is by far the Paradise beach in Lopar, which many world media have classified as one of the most attractive beaches in the world for years. The very name of the island, which historically has its roots in the word “Arba”, will point you to the wealth of forests, and it is especially worth visiting the Kalifront peninsula, which with its beautiful protected Dundo forest forms one of the largest holm oak forest communities in Europe.
Rich Mediterranean gastronomy and local cultivation
The mild and pleasant Mediterranean climate as well as the indentation of the Adriatic coast have greatly contributed to the development of numerous animal and plant species on the island as well as to the traditional fishing of marine species. All this has raised the bar in the gastronomy of our island, and in numerous places you can enjoy traditional delicacies prepared from fresh local ingredients. We especially highlight the buzara as a traditional coastal dish, the juicy black cuttlefish risotto that can only be eaten on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, and for lovers of sweets, we recommend that you try the world-famous Rab cake!
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