Krk Island - Island of Krk - Otok Krk - Insel Krk - Islands of Croatia

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Krk Island - Island of Krk - Otok Krk - Insel Krk

The Island of Kirk has a rich history, but wasn’t considered as a tourist destination until a bridge linking the mainland to the island was built in 80's. Kirk is located near enough to the mainland, so it made sense to construct a two arch bridge to help with commerce and tourism. At 1,430 meter long, that makes it one of the longest concrete bridges in the world. This bridge made the island of Kirk, also near the Rijeka airport, easy for tourist to get to. And since the temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius in the winter and 25 degrees Celsius in the summer, Kirk is a relaxed destination to visit all year round. So, tourists now travel to this historic island from as points of Europe including Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary etc etc.

The word Krk in Croatian means city, and the name was most likely given to the Island by the Italians. Kirk is approximately the same size as Cres Island, which makes it one of the largest islands in the Adriatic. Because of its size it has numerous towns and villages and has a population of about approximately 18,000 people.

The island history dates back to Greek times, a coat of arms was adopted in 1995 to reflect the history.

After crossing the bridge, the first thing you will notice is the splendid bay, the picturesque village of Omisalj, and the green pastures that roll gently behind it. Omisalj is a town rich in history because this territory has been inhabited since the ancient Romans founded it. The most famous piece of architecture in the village is the Parish church, built in the 13th century and was the first church in the area where the Pope allowed services to be conducted in Croatian. The main features are the original altar and the triptych by Jacobello del Fiore in the 14th century.

There are many other villages and historic buildings to visit and many festivals. For example, on August 16th the feast of the “Stomorina” is held, featuring all kinds of ancient songs, dances, and gests of great folkloric importance are recreated. This is a wonderful vacation for anyone interested in the folklore and history of the Croatian Islands.