Rab

This small town is one of the most attractive tourist centers on the Adriatic, thanks to its position, climate rich vegetation, beautiful beaches, abundance of sun, clean sea and cultural and historical heritage. The tourism began long in the past: the oldest report on that is the work of Albert Fortis "Viaggionin Dalmazia" printed in Venice, in 1774, where he mentions "isola di Arbem nel Golfo Quarnero". However, people from Rab take 1889 as one of the most important years for the development of tourism, because in that year mister Schroeter, the doctor-balneologist from Vienna, and professor Frischau from Graz came to the island of Rab and made a written suggestion to the district administrator that tourism should be more intensively developed. Rab was also the first island in the Adriatic that introduced nudism. In the August of 1936, Edward VII and Miss Simpson visited Rab and with the permission of the town magistrate, took a nude swim in the Kanderola cove that is even today a nudist beach.
In the time of the first Roman Emperor Augustus, Rab was a fortified base of the Roman fleet. In the Middle Ages, It is the seat of diocese and the free commune. In the time of the crusades, the Benedictines came there and the cathedral was raised together with the monastery of St. Andrija and the prince's palace. At the same time different crafts and trade intensively develop. In the 15th century the plague destroyed the whole area. Till the end of the century, a new town has been gradually built while the old, deserted part was left in ruins. The economic progress was also stopped by the Napoleon's wars, and at the beginning of the 20th century Rab became a health resort and famous of its swimming beaches.
The old part of the town was encircled by the wall from the 12th and 13th century, that is even partly preserved. On the square you can see the Romanesque prince's palace from the 13th century, the Gothic church of St. Nikola, the Crnota Palace, the Gothic Cassio Palace, and the church of St. Andrija with the nunnery of the Benedictine nuns from the 11th century. The belfry of the cathedral is from the 12th - 13th century. On the opposite side is the Romanesque basilica with three naves and with the late Gothic Pieta, work of Petar Trogirarin from 1514. The most beautiful town park, Komrčar, is pride of Rab and its citizens. In the park there is also the Franciscan monastery with the church of St. Francis from 1491. There are also a few palaces: Nimira, from the 15th century (with a portal and arcades), Tudoein (the lion heads by the window), Kukulić (with Renaisance scenes) and Maričić - Galzigna. In the summer months many cultural and entertainment events and exhibitions take place in Rab.