Krapanj
Encyclopedia
Krapanj is an island of Croatia
in the central Dalmatia
n county of Šibenik-Knin
.
Krapanj is the smallest inhabited island of the Adriatic Sea
covering 0.36 km2. It is also the most densely inhabited island and has the lowest elevation of 1.5 m above sea level. Krapanj is 300 m offshore at its closest point from the mainland town of Brodarica.
Krapanj was founded by Toma Jurić, a nobleman from Šibenik and a descendant of the Šubić
family from Bribir. Jurić purchased the island in 1436 from the Šibenik County with the intention of building a Franciscan
church on the uninhabited island. Realising their father's dream after his death, Jurić's 4 sons completed The Holy Cross Church and monastery in 1523 with blessings from Pope Eugene IV
on one condition: only the Friars were to live and inhabit Krapanj.
Krapanj came under the possession of the St. Jerome's province of Dalmatia
in the 16th century as the Ottoman Empire
fiercely invaded neighbouring lands. The Franciscans allowed people living on the neighbouring mainland to build their own settlement, southeast of the monastery who then united to defend themselves against the Turkish attack.
Since the work of the Franciscan friars was closely connected to the inhabitants of the island, in 1652, the monastery was given a parish and the friars began offering spiritual and other assistance to parishes on the mainland. The remains of the old church walls, in part, can be seen by the front door of the cloister. The church was expanded in 1937, and the wall bearing the consecration date (May 15, 1523) joins the new church building with the cloister.
Krapanj is not on the tourist map and generally very few tourists visit the tiny island in the peak tourism months of June, July and August. A main factor to this is the no vehicles policy the island has enforced. As a result, the island has kept many of the old world traditions that add a unique charm to the island.
The art of producing wine
(vino), olive oil
(maslinovo ulje), rakija and sea sponge
(spužve) are traditions that date back to pre-history but are still extremely evident in modern day Krapanj. Food is generally seafood, caught by local fisherman and distributed locally.
Krapanj holds a host of cultural antiquities in the monastery including "The Last Supper" by the 16th century Italian artist Francesco da Santa Croce and a renaissance
painting titled "The Black Madonna On The Throne".
The biggest event on the island's calendar is the annual Krapljanska Fešta. The day-long festival is held on 2 August and celebrates Gospe od Anđela (Our Lady of the Angels). Thousands of people gather on the island for the cultural feast of good food, good wine and centuries of culture. The locals annually proclaim "a night the island almost sank".
Krapanj has a rich history in the harvesting and selling of sea sponge
s. Antun from Crete introduced Krapanj's inhabitants to sea sponge gathering and processing over 300 years ago. For many years, diving for these sponges has been the major income for Krapanj families, earning them the title of "Spužvari" (sponge vendors).
Sponges from this area are extremely well received throughout the world for their high quality and aesthetic beauty. The cosmetic market has in recent years opened the market for Krapanj sponges on an international scale.
The traditions of sea sponge diving has in latter days given rise to scuba diving
, free diving and spearfishing
professionals from Krapanj.
The Krapanj monastery museum permanently exhibits a show on sea sponge diving.
To see photographs of Krapanj Krapanj Gallery
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
in the central Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n county of Šibenik-Knin
Šibenik-Knin County
Šibenik-Knin County is a county in Croatia, located in north-central Dalmatia. Its center is Šibenik; other notable towns are Knin, Drniš and Skradin....
.
Krapanj is the smallest inhabited island of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
covering 0.36 km2. It is also the most densely inhabited island and has the lowest elevation of 1.5 m above sea level. Krapanj is 300 m offshore at its closest point from the mainland town of Brodarica.
History
Šubic
The Šubić were one of the twelve tribes which constituted Croatian statehood in the Middle Ages; they held the county of Bribir in inland Dalmatia.-Origins:...
family from Bribir. Jurić purchased the island in 1436 from the Šibenik County with the intention of building a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church on the uninhabited island. Realising their father's dream after his death, Jurić's 4 sons completed The Holy Cross Church and monastery in 1523 with blessings from Pope Eugene IV
Pope Eugene IV
Pope Eugene IV , born Gabriele Condulmer, was pope from March 3, 1431, to his death.-Biography:He was born in Venice to a rich merchant family, a Correr on his mother's side. Condulmer entered the Order of Saint Augustine at the monastery of St. George in his native city...
on one condition: only the Friars were to live and inhabit Krapanj.
Krapanj came under the possession of the St. Jerome's province of Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
in the 16th century as the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
fiercely invaded neighbouring lands. The Franciscans allowed people living on the neighbouring mainland to build their own settlement, southeast of the monastery who then united to defend themselves against the Turkish attack.
Since the work of the Franciscan friars was closely connected to the inhabitants of the island, in 1652, the monastery was given a parish and the friars began offering spiritual and other assistance to parishes on the mainland. The remains of the old church walls, in part, can be seen by the front door of the cloister. The church was expanded in 1937, and the wall bearing the consecration date (May 15, 1523) joins the new church building with the cloister.
Art and culture
The island of Krapanj's culture and traditions reflect the Dalmatian way of life. Hard work, good food and a healthy lifestyle embodies the seaside rock houses and tiny side-streets. Krapanj takes pride in its origins of deep sea diving and generally personifies a seafaring culture.Krapanj is not on the tourist map and generally very few tourists visit the tiny island in the peak tourism months of June, July and August. A main factor to this is the no vehicles policy the island has enforced. As a result, the island has kept many of the old world traditions that add a unique charm to the island.
The art of producing wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
(vino), olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
(maslinovo ulje), rakija and sea sponge
Sea sponge
Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera . Their bodies consist of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. While all animals have unspecialized cells that can transform into specialized cells, sponges are unique in having some specialized cells, but can also have...
(spužve) are traditions that date back to pre-history but are still extremely evident in modern day Krapanj. Food is generally seafood, caught by local fisherman and distributed locally.
Krapanj holds a host of cultural antiquities in the monastery including "The Last Supper" by the 16th century Italian artist Francesco da Santa Croce and a renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
painting titled "The Black Madonna On The Throne".
The biggest event on the island's calendar is the annual Krapljanska Fešta. The day-long festival is held on 2 August and celebrates Gospe od Anđela (Our Lady of the Angels). Thousands of people gather on the island for the cultural feast of good food, good wine and centuries of culture. The locals annually proclaim "a night the island almost sank".
The divers of Krapanj
Sea sponge
Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera . Their bodies consist of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. While all animals have unspecialized cells that can transform into specialized cells, sponges are unique in having some specialized cells, but can also have...
s. Antun from Crete introduced Krapanj's inhabitants to sea sponge gathering and processing over 300 years ago. For many years, diving for these sponges has been the major income for Krapanj families, earning them the title of "Spužvari" (sponge vendors).
Sponges from this area are extremely well received throughout the world for their high quality and aesthetic beauty. The cosmetic market has in recent years opened the market for Krapanj sponges on an international scale.
The traditions of sea sponge diving has in latter days given rise to scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, free diving and spearfishing
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks....
professionals from Krapanj.
The Krapanj monastery museum permanently exhibits a show on sea sponge diving.
Island Precincts
The Island has one main township with the island colloquially separated into precincts such as Porat, Donja Loža and Buta.External links
To see photographs of Krapanj Krapanj Gallery