Rab
welcome to rab
The Happy Island
the pearl of the northern Adriatic
a unique combination of natural beauty, rich history and gastronomy
Rabska Fjera – The Central Event Of The Season
Get To Know Rab
The island of Rab is located on the northern part of the Adriatic Sea in the Kvarner archipelago. Besides the town of Rab, there are 7 other towns on the island: Lopar, Barbat, Banjol, Palit, Kampor, Mundanije and Supetarska Draga. About 9500 inhabitants live on the island. The residents have been involved in organized tourism for more than 120 years, but also in supporting activities (fishing, agriculture, olive growing, viticulture, shipbuilding…).
The development of tourism on the island is primarily due to the pleasant Mediterranean climate, the main features of which are warm summers and mild winters. The average number of hours of sunshine is 2497 hours per year. The average summer air temperature is 26°C, and the average sea temperature from May to October is above 23°C.
The first associations with the town of Rab for many are certainly the four famous Rab bell towers and the imaginary image of the town as a ship with four masts. The bell towers include: the bell tower of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the bell tower of the Church of Saint John the Evangelist (located next to the remains of the church), the bell tower of Saint Andrew the Apostle and the bell tower of the Church of Saint Justina.
The turbulent and glorious history of the island, and of the city in particular, has left a rich cultural and historical heritage. This is reflected in the architecture of the sacred buildings, the architectural heritage, the archaeological finds, the tradition and the customs. The spirit of bygone times can still be felt walking through the streets of Rab. During the summer months, it swarms with tourists and souvenir vendors.
In the direction of Kampor, at the foot of the Bay of St. Euphemia, there is the Franciscan monastery of St. Bernard with two churches (St. Euphemia and St. Bernard) and a museum in which there are paintings, valuable old books, ecclesiastical works of art , an ethnological and a numismatic collection.
Saint Christopher is the protector of the island of Rab. According to legend, through his intercession, the island was saved from invaders several times. The saint’s head reliquary (shrine) from the 12th century is kept in the sacral collection in the Rab Cathedral.
One of the biggest cultural events on the island is “Rapska fjera” (translated: Rab Festival), which is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year. During Fjera (July 25-27), the streets of Rab become a stage where performers in medieval costumes present ancient skills and crafts. On the last evening, a big knight’s competition takes place on St. Christopher’s Square, where the crossbowmen compete in crossbow shooting and prove their skill, good eye and sure hand. The Rab Crossbowmen make several appearances throughout the season.
Rab has won numerous awards. For example in 2004 for the best tourist destination in Croatia, as well as the “Silver Flower of Europe”.
Pleasant Mediterranean Climate
The Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm but not too hot summers and mild and pleasant winters, make the island of Rab an attractive tourist destination for most of the year. The average annual air temperature is 17°C, even 26°C in summer, while we can boast of 2,600 sunny hours per year as well as an average sea temperature of 22°C.
Numerous Gastronomic Delicacies
The favorable climatic conditions are the main reason that numerous agricultural crops, as well as fishing and livestock breeding, have been developed on Rab throughout history, and a large part of these activities has been preserved even today. So here you can enjoy traditional gastronomic specialties made from fresh local ingredients.
A Wealth Of Natural Beauty
The island of Rab is widely known for its numerous natural beauties, which include, among other things, a wealth of natural beaches and coves, large forest communities of holm oak, a uniquely large number of natural sources of drinking water and many others.
Great History & Tradition
The rich history of this island can be attributed to the favorable geographical conditions, which the Romans recognized very well and who granted Rab the status of a Roman municipium and the epithet “Felix Arba”, which further confirms the value of the island for the Roman Empire. That time is considered the most successful part of the island’s history, and apart from the religious center of its region, Rab was also the strategically most important point that connected eastern and western maritime trade.
A Recognizable Sight Of The Old Town
Rab is widely known in the world for the beautiful view of one of the best-preserved city centers from the Romanesque era. The view is adorned by four bell towers and as such is unique in the world, and each of them represents the average air temperature for each of the four seasons with its height. If we add to that that the old city center has four main streets, Riva, Donja, Srednja and Gornja, which are intersected by twelve smaller streets, it is a true proof of the influence of the science of chronology in the architecture of that time.
The Biggest Medieval Festival “Rabska Fjera”
The Rab Fair is the central event of the summer season on the island of Rab, the oldest and largest medieval festival in Croatia, and its roots date back to 1364. It is held every year from July 25 to 27, and if you take a walk through the old town during those days, you will be able to get to know the medieval way of life on the island, attend knightly archery games and try traditional gastronomic sweets from the island of Rab.
The Most Famous & Recognizable Dessert
When we talk about traditional Rabian delicacies, the most famous and recognizable in the world is definitely sweet – Rabska Torta will enchant you with its unique combination of maraschino, orange peel extract and the softness of ground almonds. This dessert, which is prepared according to the original recipe for three full days, has been prepared since the 12th century, when it was first served to Pope Alexander III in 1177. during his visit to the island. Although it used to be reserved only for the most distinguished noble families, today it is an integral part of numerous ceremonies and holiday tables, and it is available to you too!
Protected Nature Reserve – Dundo Forest
The Kalifront peninsula with its Dundo forest forms a protected nature reserve and the largest holm oak forest community in Europe. Rab owes its name to the abundance of holm oak forests – namely, in the first records in which our island is mentioned, the Liburnians, as the first inhabitants of this area, called it “Arba”, which means “dark, wooded”. Also, next to the old city center is the Komrčar forest park, which is several times larger than the urban part itself, which makes it a unique forest park in Europe.
travel safe
How To Get To Rab ?
Like the vast majority of tourist destinations on the Adriatic Sea, the island of Rab is also a popular car destination.
Here you can find all possible routes as well as useful information about arriving on our island in one place.
