Rab (island)

Rab is an island in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia, sitting just off the northern coast in the Adriatic Sea. It stretches for 22 kilometres (14 miles) and covers an area of 93.6 square kilometres (36 square miles). As of 2021, around 7,161 people live on the island.

The main town is called Rab, but the village of Palit has the most residents. The highest point on the island is a peak named Kamenjak, reaching 408 metres above sea level. The northeastern part of Rab is mostly open and rocky, known as karst, while the southwestern side is home to one of the last remaining oak forests in the Mediterranean area.

Ferries make regular trips from Rab to the mainland at Stinica and to nearby islands such as Krk and Pag. In the past, European Coastal Airlines also provided seaplane flights from Rab to Zagreb and to Rijeka, using Rijeka Airport on the island of Krk, but these flights stopped in 2016.

Name

The island of Rab was first mentioned in ancient times by Greek writers around 360 BC. Back then, it was called Arba by the Liburnians, the earliest known people to live there. The name Arba might have meant "Black island" because of the dense pine forests that covered the island long ago.

Over time, the island's name changed with different groups of people. In Medieval times, it was called Arbe by people who spoke Dalmatian, a language related to Latin. Later, when Croatian-speaking people began to settle there, the name Rab came into use, a name that continues to this day.

History

The island of Rab has a long and interesting history. People first lived there around 360 BC, during the time of the Illyrians. Later, it became part of Liburnia and the Roman Empire. The Roman emperor Octavian Augustus built town walls there.

Saint Marinus, who founded the tiny country of San Marino, was from Rab. He left the island to escape religious persecution.

During the Middle Ages, Rab was an independent city-state and later part of the Byzantine Empire. For a short time, it was part of the medieval Kingdom of Croatia. In the year 1000, Rab and nearby islands became part of the Republic of Venice. Later, it was ruled by King Louis the Great of Hungary.

In the Renaissance, Venice controlled Rab until the late 1700s, followed by a brief period under Napoleon. The island then became part of the Austrian Empire until 1918. After World War I, many Italian-speaking people left Rab when the island became part of Yugoslavia.

During World War II, a difficult camp was established on the island by Italian forces. Today, a memorial marks the site.

After the war, Rab was part of Yugoslavia until Croatia became independent in 1991. The island is now a popular place for tourists to visit, with beautiful nature, beaches, and many cultural events.

Twin cities

See also: Town twinning

Rab has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include:

• Sežana in Slovenia
• Königsbrunn in Germany
• San Marino in San Marino

Important Bird Area

Rab Island is part of the Kvarner Islands Important Bird Area. This special place was chosen by BirdLife International because it is home to many birds, including several types of birds of prey that lay eggs and raise their young there.