Krapanj

Infobox Islands
name = Krapanj

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native name =
native name link = Croatian
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location = Adriatic sea
coordinates = coord|43|40|20|N|15|54|50|E|display=inline,title
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area = convert|0.36|km2|abbr=on|lk=on
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elevation = convert|1.5|m|abbr=on|lk=on
country = Croatia
country admin divisions title = County
country admin divisions = Šibenik-Knin
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population = 237
population as of = 2001
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Krapanj is an island of Croatia in the central Dalmatian county of Šibenik-Knin.

Krapanj is the smallest inhabited island of the Adriatic Sea covering 0.36 km². It is also the most inhabited island (per square metre) and has the lowest elevation of 1.5 m above sea level. Krapanj is 300 m offshore at its closest point from the mainland town of Brodarica.

History

Krapanj was founded by Toma Jurić, a nobleman from Šibenik and a descendant of the Šubić family from Bribir. Jurić purchased the island in 1436 from the Šibenik County with the intention of building a Franciscan church on the uninhabited island. Realising their father's dream after his death, Jurić's 4 sons completed The Holy Cross Church and monastery in 1523 with blessings from Pope Eugene IV on one condition: only the Friars were to live and inhabit Krapanj.

Krapanj came under the possession of the St. Jerome's province of Dalmatia in the 16th century as the Ottoman Empire fiercely invaded neighbouring lands. The Franciscans allowed people living on the neighbouring mainland to build their own settlement, southeast of the monastery who then united to defend themselves against the Turkish attack.

Since the work of the Franciscan friars was closely connected to the inhabitants of the island, in 1652, the monastery was given a parish and the friars began offering spiritual and other assistance to parishes on the mainland. The remains of the old church walls, in part, can be seen by the front door of the cloister. The church was expanded in 1937, and the wall bearing the consecration date (May 15, 1523) joins the new church building with the cloister.

Art & Culture

The island of Krapanj's culture and traditions reflect the Dalmatian way of life. Hard work, good food and a healthy lifestyle embodies the seaside rock houses and tiny side-streets. Krapanj takes pride in its origins of deep sea diving and generally personifies a seafaring culture.

Krapanj is not on the tourist map and generally very few tourists visit the tiny island in the peak tourism months of June, July and August. A main factor to this is the no vehicles policy the island has enforced. As a result, the island has kept many of the old world traditions that add a unique charm to the island.

The art of producing wine ("vino"), olive oil ("maslinovo ulje"), rakija and sea sponge ("spužve") are traditions that date back to pre-history but are still extremely evident in modern day Krapanj. Food is generally seafood, caught by local fisherman and distributed locally.

Krapanj holds a host of cultural antiquities in the monastery including "The Last Supper" by the 16th century Italian artist Francesco da Santa Croce and a renaissance painting titled "The Black Madonna On The Throne".

The biggest event on the island's calendar is the annual Krapljanska Fešta. The day-long festival is held on 2 August and celebrates Gospe od Anđela (Our Lady of the Angels). Thousands of people gather on the island for the cultural feast of good food, good wine and centuries of culture. The locals annually proclaim "a night the island almost sank".

The divers of Krapanj

Krapanj has a rich history in the harvesting and selling of sea sponges. Antun from Crete introduced Krapanj's inhabitants to sea sponge gathering and processing over 300 years ago. For many years, diving for these sponges has been the major income for Krapanj families, earning them the title of "Spužvari" (sponge vendors).

Sponges from this area are extremely well received throughout the world for their high quality and aesthetic beauty. The cosmetic market has in recent years opened the market for Krapanj sponges on an international scale.

The traditions of sea sponge diving has in latter days given rise to scuba diving, free diving and spearfishing professionals from Krapanj.

The Krapanj monastery museum permanently exhibits a show on sea sponge diving.

Gallery

External links

* [http://krapanj.com krapanj.com Krapanj]
* Šibenik
* Dalmatia
* Croatia
* Illyria