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Rab 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 in Rab began long in the past. 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 on Rab 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.

Today Rab offers a variety of holiday accommodation facilities (hotels, bungalows, apartments, marina), as well as various sports and recreation opportunities. Numerous restaurants offer local specialities (mussels, fish), while summer terraces and night clubs provide entertainment programs. The luxuriant island vegetation invites for a walk.
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Rab is one of the island of the Kvarner Bay archipelago in the north of the Croatian Adriatic Sea. In addition to the ancient town of the same name, there are seven other idyllic places scattered over the island: Barbat, Banjol, Palit, Kampor, Mundanije, Supetarska Draga and Lopar. Some 9000 people live there, mostly by agriculture, fisching, shipbuilding and tourism. Our tradition of organised tourism is today already 112 years old.

The island of Rab has pleasant and mild winters and hot summers. An average air temperature in summer reaches 26°C and in winter 10°C. Hilly chain of Kamenjak (400 m) protects some parts of the island from cold northeast winds. That is the reason that area temperature almost never lowers under 0°C. Numerous churches and bell-towers and Gothic and Renaissance palaces, of respected patricians, characterize this beautiful island. That ancient stone construction method makes a unique environment while richly decorated portal and narrow streets fill with admiration every visitor.

During summer nights, on numerous terraces perform various dancing orchestra, folk dancers, and harmony-singing groups with authentically dalmatian and littoral melodic expression.

Numerous coves and marinas are suitable for sailing and nautical tourism. With ideal nature conditions there is opportunity for various sport and recreational activities.

The town of Rab also boasts a long recorded history that dates back to the year 10 BC, when it is mentioned in an old Roman document by which the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus proclaims it a muncipium and grants it independence. Before long it was given another rare honorary title, that of FELIX (happy); it bears witness to the fact that Rab was already a fully developed and civilised at the time, providing amenities such as running water, baths, temples, a theatre, and a network of streets, to mention just a few.

More than 17 centuries ago a boy by the name Marin was born at Lopar. He later learned the craft of stonemason and in search of a job left his home, crossed the Adriatic Sea and landed at a place near today’s Rimini on the Apennine peninsula.

His diligence and virtue soon earned him the sympathy of the Christian community he was living in, so eventually bishop Gaudentium made him his deacon. Presecuted because of his propogation of Christianity, Marin fled to the hardly accessible hill Titan and built a small church there. It was to become the foundation of a new city and state – San Marino – in which the remains of the saint are still kept. The small case with the relies St. Christophorus, the patron saint of the island of Rab.


Holidays of Rab - Rapska fjera

It’s medieval time. It’s time for the "Rapska fjera"

Discover the Middle Ages. Where? On the island Rab - at time of "Rapska fjera" We revived those old times to honour St. Christopher. And to let you experience how bread has been maken, stones had been cut, flour has been extracted, wool has been disentangled and biscuit ware has been fired. Be a part of these once lost and now recovered days of our ancestors. Found out how they lived and loved, worked and earned money, what made them happy or what made them sad.

This festival culminates in an extraordinary spectacle: the crossbow-shooting. Accompanied by medieval courts.

"Rapska fjera" - an amazing experience in the ancient city of Rab, amongst archaic buildings, facades and lanes. Handed down history, so near you can even touch it. Literally.


Crossbowman

Among numerous historical events, the inhabitants of Rab have reintroduced the old knights games, established in Rab as far back as 1364. Since their reintroduction in 1995 the games have become the central cultural event of this island.

The knights' competition is preceded by a medieval ceremony, announced the day before by a herald by means of proclamation and drums. The ceremony starts in the overcrowded town with the arrival of the Prince and his escort to the town loggia where they are welcomed by cross-bowers, musicians and ensigns. Accompanied by strong drum beating, by the sound of fanfares and bell- ringing the participants pass through the streets of the town towards the Cathedral, to get the blessing.

On St. Christopher's square, before the Town gates, the Games are solemnly opened by the Prince. The town's flag is hoisted on the mast accompanied by sound of fanfares and at the sign of the "honouRable judge" the knights start their competition. By predefined order twelve knights draw the cross-bow, directing the arrow to the target. The winner is the competitor whose arrow hits the point nearest to the centre of the target. The Rab Prince proclaims the winner of the Games and hands the prize "Felix" over to him. The Rab knights games conclude with the musicians' and ensigns' program and with the solemn march-past of all participants, in Renaissance costumes.

The antique cross-bow - nowadays still used only by the "balestrieri" from San Marino in their games - is a peculiarity of the Rab knights games. In the Middle Ages it was used by the Rab people to defend their town from attackers , so that the games were introduced in honour of this defence and of their patron, St. Christopher. They games used to be held twice a year: on May 9 (Dies Victoriae) and on July 27 (Dies Natalis). These were the biggest celebrations which lasted for seven full days. The re-established games are also held on May 30 and July 27, while a solemn march-past in the town is organised on Assumption day, too. On these occasions Rab offers to its visitors a whole series of programs worth seeing.

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Rab Marina: ACI Rab, it is located on the eastern side of the inner part of the harbor, right behind the break-water. It has 150 places for yachts that have draught up to 5 meters, and that are not more than 15 meters long.

Rab Middle Street offers a special tourist and cultural atmosphere with its street painters in summer, when the whole centre of the town turns into a huge gallery, and the Rab Cultural Events in the "Knezev dvor" Gallery represent another important event. The Rab Musical Evenings, organized in the church of the Holy Cross (June to August), offer concerts performed by Croatian and international musicians. The most attractive summer event in Rab is the Rab Tournament (reintroduced in 1995), which used to take place as early as 1364, commemorating the defence of the town by the knights in the past. A special attraction of this picturesque mediaeval ceremony is the ancient crossbow, which is used at the tournaments only by the arbalists from San Marino. The tournament takes place twice a year (9th of May and 27th of July). [...]