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CRIKVENICA, a town in the
region of Vinodol in the Croatian Primorje, 37 km southeast of Rijeka,
population 5,763.
It is located in the
vicinity of the confluence point of the Dubracina brook, whose valley
connects the town with the interior part of Vinodol. Sand deposits form
the Crikvenica beach.
The town was named after
the church (crkva, crikva) of a Pauline monastery, erected by Nikola
Frankopan in 1412 at the confluence point of the Dubracina into the
sea.
It has very favourable
climatic conditions; an average annual air temperature is 13.2 °C, in
January 5.4 °C and in July 23.3 °C.
Economy is based on
farming, vegetable growing, livestock breeding, fishing and especially
tourism.
Crikvenica is located on
the Adriatic main road (M2, E65).
Crikvenica has a
hundred-year-old tradition in tourism and is today one of the leading
tourist centres of the Kvarner Gulf. Foreigners got interested in
Crikvenica as early as 1890, when they started to visit the town on
their excursions from Opatija. In 1891 the first hotel was opened, owned
by Ivan Skomerza. The owner named the hotel Erzherzogin Clotilde. In the
same year, Archduke Joseph bought the Pauline monastery and turned it
into a military seaside resort and then into a children's summer resort;
today it is a hotel. The rapid tourist development initiated the
construction of a public beach and the arrangement of a public park
(1891). The foundation-stone laying ceremony was also attended by the
Croatian viceroy Khuen Hedervary. The magnificent Hotel Therapia, which
still ranks among one of the most beautiful hotel buildings on the
entire Croatian coast, was built in 1895 and in accordance with the
concepts of those times served as a health resort. In 1906 Crikvenica
was officially recognized as a sanatorium.
The tourist development
of Crikvenica is still going on and its nice riviera, which stretches
from Jadranovo in the north to Selce in the south, offers exceptional
opportunities for rest and recreation. Crikvenica has retained its
original character of a health resort until today and the well-organized
medical institution Thalassotherapia is a renowned sanatorium
(respiratory disorders and diseases, rheumatism).
Particularly interesting
are the beaches equipped with various entertainment and recreational
opportunities for children, which make Crikvenica one of the most
popular seaside resorts for families. Offered are also many sports
grounds and facilities (tennis, ball games) and the equipment for water
sports (rowing, yachting, windsurfing). Mild climate provides good
opportunities for sports training during winter months.
Since the hinterland of
Crikvenica offers a variety of hiking and hunting opportunities, the
season does not end at the end of summer. The Huntsmen's Club Srndac is
active in the town. There is also an aquarium with the Adriatic flora
and fauna and tropical fish (Vinodolska Street 8).
Crikvenica has plenty of
interesting cultural programs and events, the Easter Concerts being
especially known. Traditional feasts include Crikvenica Days (in August)
and the Fishermen's Week (in September). The exhibition Days of Croatian
Produce offers tourists Croatian products of high quality (5th-12th of
July). |
