Novalja
Encyclopedia
Novalja is a town
in the north of the island of Pag
in the Croatia
n part of Adriatic Sea
. In recent times Novalja became famous because of the Zrće Beach, which is one of the biggest summer party zones in Europe.
; traces of their settlement could still be seen around Pag. In the 1st century B.C. brought the arrival of the Roman
s, who left numerous archeological and cultural artifacts behind. The Croats
arrived in the 7th century along with the great migration and settled in the area. The island was for some time under the rule of the Croatian kingdom
. Yet the island was always fought over, and in the 11th and 12th centuries the whole island was split between the community of Rab
and the community of Zadar
. Novalja was given to the community and diocese of Rab by Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV
. From the 12th to 14th centuries, Novalja, along with other Dalmatia
n towns and islands were the subject of fierce fights between the Republic of Venice
and Croatian-Hungarian rulers. From the beginning of the 15th century and for the next four centuries, Venice ruled much of the island until Napoleon abolished it and Austria
and France
began battling for the Dalmatian area. Eventually, Austria won and the island was given back to the control of Venice.
The island would continue to pass through many different rules, from Austria to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
after World War I
, and then under Independent State of Croatia
rule (1941–1945), during which time the Croatian coast was divided with Italy. Island of Pag
, Island of Hvar
and Brač
were Croatian while Italy had Zadar
up to Omiš
and rest of the islands. After the war goes back to Yugoslavia, and then finally to new founded independent Croatia
. Unusually, the island is divided between two counties, with Novalja and Stara Novalja
being part of the northern Lika-Senj County
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the north of the island of Pag
Pag (island)
Pag is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea. It is the fifth-largest island of the Croatian coast, and the one with the longest coastline....
in the Croatia
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 ...
n part of 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...
. In recent times Novalja became famous because of the Zrće Beach, which is one of the biggest summer party zones in Europe.
History
The earliest settlers on the island were an Illyrian tribe that came to the region in the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
; traces of their settlement could still be seen around Pag. In the 1st century B.C. brought the arrival of the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
s, who left numerous archeological and cultural artifacts behind. The Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
arrived in the 7th century along with the great migration and settled in the area. The island was for some time under the rule of the Croatian kingdom
Medieval Croatian state
Medieval Croatia can refer to:* Principality of Pannonian Croatia - medieval duchy in existence between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D.* Principality of Littoral Croatia - medieval principality in existence between the 8th century and 925 A.D....
. Yet the island was always fought over, and in the 11th and 12th centuries the whole island was split between the community of Rab
Rab
Rab is an island in Croatia and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea.The island is long, has an area of and 9,480 inhabitants . The highest peak is Kamenjak at 408 meters...
and the community of Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
. Novalja was given to the community and diocese of Rab by Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV
Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia
Peter Krešimir IV, called the Great , was a notably energetic King of Croatia from 1059 to his death in 1074/1075. He was the last great ruler of the Krešimirović branch of the House of Trpimirović....
. From the 12th to 14th centuries, Novalja, along with other 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 towns and islands were the subject of fierce fights between the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and Croatian-Hungarian rulers. From the beginning of the 15th century and for the next four centuries, Venice ruled much of the island until Napoleon abolished it and Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
began battling for the Dalmatian area. Eventually, Austria won and the island was given back to the control of Venice.
The island would continue to pass through many different rules, from Austria to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and then under Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
rule (1941–1945), during which time the Croatian coast was divided with Italy. Island of Pag
Pag (island)
Pag is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea. It is the fifth-largest island of the Croatian coast, and the one with the longest coastline....
, Island of Hvar
Hvar
- Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7...
and Brač
Brac
Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, with an area of 396 km², making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. Its tallest peak, Vidova Gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 778 m, making it the highest island point in the Adriatic...
were Croatian while Italy had Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
up to Omiš
Omiš
Omiš is a town and port in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, and is a municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County. The town is situated approximately south-east of Croatia's second largest city, Split. Its location is where the emerald-green Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea...
and rest of the islands. After the war goes back to Yugoslavia, and then finally to new founded independent Croatia
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 ...
. Unusually, the island is divided between two counties, with Novalja and Stara Novalja
Stara Novalja
Stara Novalja is a village in the cove of the same name in the north-eastern part of the island of Pag, 5 kilometers north of Novalja in Croatia. The Economy is based on farming, wine culture, fishing and tourism....
being part of the northern Lika-Senj County
Lika-Senj County
Lika-Senj county is a county in Croatia that includes most of the Lika region and some northern coastline of the Adriatic near the town of Senj, including the northern part of the Pag island...
.