Krk Island is one of the more than 1,000 insular islands in the Republic of Croatia. Covering an area of 156.67 square miles (405.78 square kilometers) it is the largest island in the Adriatic Sea.
Location and How to Get to this Specific Site
The island of Krk is located in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, particularly in the Bay of Kvarner, and is situated near Rijeka, Croatia’s 3rd largest city, as well as its main seaport. Krk can be reached via land, sea or air; in the case of the latter, there is Rijeka airport, which receives both small and large planes. There is no railway station on the island; rather, the closest railway station would be in Rijeika, which is just 30 kilometers away from Krk. There are trains that travel daily to and from Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy. There are also coach lines in Rijeika traveling between European points like Munich, Trieste, Zurich, and others. If traveling by boat, Rijeika can be reached by ferry or private boat, which can be left for storage in any one of the marinas in the area. For those traveling by car, the distance to Krk Island from Trieste is 100 kilometers; from Ljubljana is 150 kilometers; from Zagreb is 200 kilometers; from Wien is 500 kilometers; from Milano is 550 kilometers; from Bratislava, Budapest and Munchen is 600 kilometers; and from Praha is 800 kilometers.
What to See There
Among the many sights in Krk Island is Biserujka Cave, which is said to be the site of a buried treasure. Whether or not the story is true, explorers would nonetheless be fascinated with the beautiful natural formations within this 110-meter cavern. Then there is Soline Bay, known for its nice, warm waters, and its rich mud which is said to possess natural healing properties. On the small island of Kosljun, located just 200 meters from the town of Punat, there is a Franciscan Monastery which boasts of an extensive library containing more than 20,000 rare volumes, as well as museum exhibits on natural history, ethnography (the study of human social phenomena), numismatics (the study or collection of currency) and sacral art. Kosljun is also home to over 500 species of plants. Krk Island has several beaches, such as the similarly named Krk, Malinska, Njivice, Porat, Silo, and Vantacici. The island also has many great diving locations, like Wreck Peltastis, whose depths hide the sunken remains of an ancient Greek cargo ship. Adventurous divers would want to explore Vrbnik Cave, located near the cove of the namesake town of Vrbnik. Other diving sites include Punta Silo, Tenki Reef, and Kamenjak, breathtakingly beautiful and teeming with exotic undersea life.
History
In ancient times, Krk Island was known as Insula Aurea (Golden Island) because of the wealth of natural products cultivated from the land and the sea. Control of the island had actually been passed down to many hands throughout the centuries, such as the Roman Empire, the Croatians, the Venetians, the Austrians, the Italians, and again under Croatia since the early 20th century.
Cost
Divers are required by law to have a diving license. Acquiring a license in a diving club costs 14,00 Euros.
