Rab (town)


Rab is a town on the island of Rab in Croatia. Rab, the settlement, is located on a small peninsula on the southwestern side of the island.

History

The town has a long history that dates back to 360 BC when it was inhabited by the Illyrians. The island was the frontier between the regions of Liburnia and Dalmatia. From the third century BC to the sixth century AD Rab was part of the Roman Empire, and Emperor Augustus proclaimed it a municipium in 10 BC. It was the first town of Roman Dalmatia to be given the honorary title "felix".
Saint Marinus, the Christian founder of San Marino, was a native of Rab who is said to have fled the island under Diocletian's persecution in AD 301.
Among the signatories of the Second Council of Nicea was a bishop of Rab, namely Ursus.
The worst disaster in the town's history was an outbreak of the plague in 1456 that decimated the city's population.
In 2019, much of the old town was evacuated for 9 days because of a gas leak. At 17:07 on 24 June, the VOC Rab received a call from a resident of the third floor of an apartment on Put Kaldanca street about the smell of gas. Already at 17:15, the presence of an explosive gas at a concentration of 9% was confirmed, and part of the old town of Rab was evacuated. All night, firefighters searched for the source of the gas leak. The next morning, the DVD Rab under commander Milivoj Ličina confirmed the presence of gas throughout the wider area, and relayed the working assumption that the gas was leaked during the filling of the gas storage for Hotel Arbiana on the evening of the 22nd. Ventillation efforts began on the 25th and lasted day and night throughout the period.

Climate

Since records began in 1978, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station at an elevation of was, on 22 July 2015. The coldest temperature was, on 7 January 1985.

Demographics

In the 2021 census, the total population was 8,065, in the following settlements:
  • Banjol, population 1708
  • Barbat na Rabu, population 1140
  • Kampor, population 1030
  • Mundanije, population 402
  • Palit, population 1580
  • Rab, population 364
  • Supetarska Draga, population 937

    Attractions

There are many churches in the town. The largest is St. Mary the Blessed, which was built in the 13th century. The church of St. Justine is now a museum of sacred arts, while the chapel of St. Christopher is nowadays called the Lapidarium. The four church bell towers became the symbol of the town and island. The oldest dates back to the eleventh century.

Sports

The local HPS chapter was called HPD "Kamenjak", but it was liquidated on 3 March 1937.

International relations

Rab is twinned with:
Category:Cities and towns in Croatia
Category:Populated places in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Category:Rab
Category:Populated coastal places in Croatia
Category:Illyrian Croatia