Biograd na Moru

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Biograd na Moru
other_name =
settlement_type = Town
motto =


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pushpin_map_caption = Location of Biograd na Moru within Croatia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Croatia
subdivision_type1 = County
subdivision_name1 = Zadar
government_footnotes =
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Darko Eškinja (HDZ)
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area_land_km2 = 35.5
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population_as_of = 2001
population_footnotes =
population_note = 6,259 (municipality)
population_total = 5,259
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=43 |latm=56|lats= |latNS=N
longd=15 |longm=27 |longs= |longEW=E
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elevation_m =
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 23210
area_code = 023
blank_name =
blank_info =
website = [http://www.biogradnamoru.hr/ Biogradnamoru.hr]
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Biograd na Moru (Italian: "Zaravecchia", Venetian: "Xara Vècia") is a city and municipality in northern Dalmatia, Croatia. Its population is 6,059 (2005). Biograd is administratively part of the Zadar county. It is located on the Adriatic Sea coast, overlooking the island of Pašman, on the road from Zadar and Sukošan towards Vodice and Šibenik.

The city of Biograd is a noted tourist resort with a long tradition. Its first tourists started arriving in the 1920s from the Czech lands and its first hotel was built in 1935.

Geography

Biograd na Moru is located 28 km south from county center Zadar. It is located on small peninsula surrounded by two little bays - Soline on south and Bošane on north, and in front islands Planac and Sveta Katarina. Average temperature in January is 7°C and 24°C in July. Biograd is the only settlement in the municipality.Fact|date=October 2007

History

The town's name means "white town on the sea". It was first mentioned in the 10th century as a town founded by Croatian kings. It became the capital of Croatian kings as well as bishops, and was the city where Coloman of Hungary was crowned in 1102, marking Croatia's joining the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1202, when the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade occupied the city of Zara (Zadar), many of its citizens took refuge in Biograd, after which the city was also referred to as "Zara vecchia" ("Old Zara").

During the 13th and 14th century the city was run by the dukes of Cetina, the Knights Templar of Vrana and the dukes of Bribir the Šubićes. It was acquired by the Venetian Republic in 1409 and would remain its property until its downfall in 1797.

During the Venetian-Turkish wars, the city was gravely damaged, and on two occasions, in 1521 and in 1646, it was destroyed and burned. In the 16th and 17th century, the Croatian militia formed in Biograd and had much involvement in the wars against the Turks.

In recent history, the Serbian forces inflicted considerable damage by long-range bombardment in the period 1991-1993 during the Croatian War of Independence.

Population

The town itself has a population of 5259, though there are 6259 people in the entire municipality (2001 census). Absolute majority are Croats (95%).

References

External links

* [http://www.biogradnamoru.hr/ Biograd na Moru official web site]
* [http://biograd.info/en Biograd.info]
* [http://www.biograd.com/biograd_sites_and_attractions.html Biograd.com]