Rab

Infobox Islands
name = Rab

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image caption = Map of Rab
image size = 250px
locator

native name =
native name link = Croatian
nickname =
location = Adriatic sea
coordinates = coord|44|46|N|14|46|E|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = 93.6 km²
highest mount = Kamenjak
elevation = 408 m
country = Croatia
country admin divisions title = County
country admin divisions = Primorje-Gorski
country capital city =
country largest city = Rab
country largest city population = 9,480
country leader title =
country leader name =
population = 9,480
population as of = 2001
density = 101
ethnic groups =
additional info =

Rab (Italian "Arbe", German: "Arbey") is an island and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea, today in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county.

The island is 22 km long, has an area of 93.6 km² and 9,480 inhabitants (2001). The highest peak is Kamenjak at 408 meters. The northeastern side of the island is mostly barren, karst, while the southwestern side is covered by one of the last oak forest of the Mediterranean.

Ferries connect the island of Rab with the mainland port of Jablanac and with the neighbouring islands of Krk and Pag.

Name

The island of Rab was first mentioned in a Greek source Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax (360 BC) and then by other Greek and Roman geographists by the name "Arba". That name belonged to the Liburnians, so far the oldest known inhabitants of the island. Arba was also the name of the Liburnian settlement in the modern city of Rab. It is not certain how old this name is; it may be as old as the settlement, which means from the beginning of the Iron Age, since the Liburnians did not build the city walls on the island. The Illyrian-Liburnian word "Arb" meant 'dark, obscure, green, forested'. Therefore name Arba should be comprehended as a toponym meaning "Black island", due to the rich pine forests that once grew on the island.

After the 1st century AD it was recorded by many other Greek and Roman authors by the names "Arba" and "Arva".

Its Medieval Dalmatian speaking population used "Arbe", "Arbia", "Arbiana", "Arbitana" and most frequently "Arbum" in the documents written in the Latin language.

Arbe became also the Venetian name of the city in the 15th century when it fell under the authority of the Republic of Venice. In the Croatian language it became "Rab", a form which probably goes back as far as the 7th century when the Slavs began to settle on the island. However the first record of name Rab is preserved only in the middle of the 15th century (in a Latin document relating to the establishment of the Franciscan monastery of St. Eufemija), since the major establishment of Croatian inhabitants in the city did not occur before the 10th century, unlike the rest of the island and region.

History

The island is first heard of under the Illyrians in 360 BC. It was part of Liburnia and then part of the Roman Empire. The emperor Octavian Augustus built town walls and gave Rab the title of Municipium.

Saint Marinus, the founder of the mini-state of San Marino, originated on Rab, whence he fled during the religious persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian (this ancient tie is commemorated in the present twin-city agreement between Rab and San Marino).

During the Middle Ages Rab was part of the Byzantine Empire, then, for a short time, part of the Kingdom of Croatia, then in 1358 the island came under the rule of King Louis the Great, the Angevin ruler of Hungary.

During the Renaissance it was ruled by Venice from 1409 until the 18th century followed by a brief interlude under Napoleon. It was eventually annexed by the Habsburgs in 1815 and remained under Austrian rule till 1918.

Since a majority of its residents were Italian-speaking, the locals sought to be annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, but Italy eventually decided to cede the island to Yugoslavia in 1921, and many of its Italian-speaking residents subsequently left for Istria and the rest of Italy.

During World War II, the forces of Fascist Italy established the Rab concentration camp on the island. A memorial complex built in 1953 commemorates the site of the former camp, located in the village of Kampor.

After the Second World War, the island was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until the Croatian independence referendum in 1991.

The island of Rab is rich in cultural heritage and cultural-historical monuments that make it a popular vacation destination. Rab is also known as a pioneer of naturism after the visit of King Edward VIII and Mrs Wallis Simpson.

The island is nowadays very popular with tourists and families for its beautiful nature, beaches, heritage and many events, particularly the Rab arbalest tournament and the Rab Medieval festival - Rapska Fjera.

Twin cities

* Sežana, Slovenia
* Königsbrunn , Germany
* San Marino

External links

* [http://www.tzg-rab.hr/ Rab tourist office]
* [http://www.rab.hr/ Rab city web site]
* [http://www.kristofor.hr/ Kristofor travel: website with tourist services and accommodations]
* [http://www.numero-uno.hr/eng/index.php Accommodation in Rab and Lopar]
* [http://www.burger.si/Croatia/Rab/360Rab_ObalnaPromenada.html/ Virtual Tour of Rab]