Attractions of the island of Rab
Somewhat south of Krk and east of Cres, in the Kvarner Bay lies another beautiful island of Lijepa Naša – Rab, popularly called “Happy Island”. The area has a Mediterranean climate, which includes long, dry and warm summers, as well as milder and rainier winters. Moreover, with over 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, the town of Rab is one of the sunniest parts of Europe. The convenient location at the foot of Velebit and the Kamenjak hill makes it protected from strong and cold winds. Suitable climate, beautiful nature and crystal clear sea – it seems that your ideal vacation can begin!
BEACHES ON RAB
In addition to beautiful beaches and coves located in the bay Mel, Rab has a large number of beautiful beaches, and it is important that Rab is the Croatian island with the most sandy beaches. Here are some of them:
Suha Punta
Suha Punta, located on the wooded Kalifront Peninsula, hides pebble beaches and rocks from which you can jump. Along the beach you can find cocktail bars, restaurants, sand sports fields, rent a pedal boat or rent deck chairs and parasols and enjoy the joys of the sea. You can reach Suha Punta by car for which you have secured parking, by bike or by boat taxi from the town of Rab.
Paradise beach
This beach is the most famous beach on the island of Rab. It is located in Lopar 12km north of the town of Rab, and is 2km long. It is specific for its fine sand and shallow, clean and warm sea, which the youngest adore. On Paradise Beach you can find many restaurants, cafes, cocktail bars, but also many entertainment facilities such as pedal boats, aqua park, water sports and land and many facilities for children. If you have taken your pet on holiday, they are welcome on the southern part of the beach.
City beach Banova vila
The most famous town beach on the island of Rab, also a favorite beach of Rab, is located on the coastal part of the old town of Rab. This beach is partly pebble, concrete and rocky, so it offers its visitors a variety of experiences. On this beach there is a water polo court, you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas, but also kayaks and pedal boats to enjoy the water. For refreshment, we suggest you visit the cult beach bar Banova vila, which offers everything from hot drinks, smoothies, cocktails to sandwiches and salads.
Livačina
Livačina is located east of Paradise Beach and is especially popular among the younger population due to its cleanliness, shallow sea and facilities such as bars and restaurants. On this beach, visitors often play picigin – a fun ball game in the sea.
Pudarica
Pudarica is a beach where the most famous beach bar in Croatia is located – Santos. This pebble beach offers a beautiful view of the town of Rab and it is said that it experiences the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It is located in Barbat, which is 4 km south of the town of Rab.
Naturist beaches
There are also naturist beaches on Rab – Sahara beach, Ciganka beach and Kandarola beach. Each of them is specific in its own way.
Sahara Beach
It is located about thirty minutes walk from Paradise Beach, it is sandy and specific in that there are no tourist infrastructures that allow you to enjoy peace and privacy. You can reach it on foot or by bike.
Ciganka beach
It is specific in that it has interesting sandy rocky structures and the sea around it is emerald green. Find your place on the sunny sandy plateaus and enjoy the privacy. This beach is located in the northern part of Lopar and can be reached on foot or by car.
Kandarola Beach
It is also called the English beach, and it got its nickname because King Edward VIII of England also came to swim there. This beach is located on the Frkanj peninsula, and you can reach it by car or boat from Rab and Palit.
Cultural sights of Rab
Rab has a rich history and consequently bears many architectural and cultural remains that record traces of past times. The town of Rab is best known for its view with 4 bell towers, which is why many compare it to a sailing ship with 4 masts. These 4 bell towers are: the bell tower of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the bell tower of the Church of St. John the Evangelist (located next to the ruins of the church), the bell tower of the church of St. Andrew the Apostle and the bell tower of the church of St. Justine.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
According to records, this cathedral was first built in the 4th century as an early Christian church and was later remodeled in an architectural style corresponding to the Romanesque style. The last renovation of this church took place in the 15th century, which resulted in the ciborium above the main altar being characterized by a variety of architectural styles. In front of the canteen there is a marble statue depicting St. Christopher walking through the water with a child on his shoulders. In this church is the skull of St. Christopher, who is the protector of Rab because he saved the island and its inhabitants, but in addition to its skull, this church is a treasure trove of relics and reliquaries and precious paintings.
Bell tower and relics of the Church of St. John the Evangelist
Church of St. John the Evangelist is the only medieval sacral building on Rab that has a procession around the altar. According to the data, the basilica was built in the pre-Christian period, and during the renovation in the Romanesque period, it received the existing bell tower, which is 20 meters high. The church collapsed in the 19th century, and since then there are relics of that church that you can find in Rab today.
Monastery and Belfry of St. Andrew
Monastery of St. Andrew has existed since the early 11th century. The bell tower is part of a three-nave church that was renovated in the 18th century, which makes it a unique blend of Baroque and Romanesque styles. This bell tower is the oldest bell tower on the island.
City walls, palaces, towers and city clock
The old town of Rab is surrounded by walls built in the 12th century. On the walls there are two towers (Tower of St. Christopher and Tower of the Brave) which were built in the 15th century with the aim of strengthening the city fortress. Within the city walls there are also three palaces. The Dominis Nimira Palace dates back to the 15th century and was built by the Dominis family, who taught the people to read and write inside the palace. The palace was built in the Renaissance style and inside it you can find a portal with the coat of arms of the Dominis family. The Bakota Palace is a wonderful example of Gothic Venetian construction, which today contains a garden wall with a portal. The Rector’s Palace is the most important secular building in the town of Rab. It was built in the Gothic-Renaissance style, but in essence it is actually a set of palaces that were built at different times. The Rector’s Palace is dominated by a square tower with Gothic and Renaissance windows.
Franciscan Monastery of St. Euphemia
At the bottom of the bay of St. Euphemia in Kampor, the most picturesque bay on the island of Rab, there is a Franciscan monastery of the same name which is a specialty of Kampor. The name of the monastery and the bay comes from the name of the church of St. Euphemia, which is part of the monastery, and is mentioned as early as the 13th century. The monastery was built in the typical architectural style of Franciscan monks, and its stone views fit perfectly into the natural environment. The center of each monastery is its church, in this case a small beautiful church named after the patroness of the place. It is a single-nave, simple stone church. It has been rebuilt and restored several times, and therefore casts doubt on whether it is perhaps older than the 13th Century when it was first officially mentioned in records. Along the south side of the monastery today is the chapel of the Holy Cross.
On the wooden altar is a wooden crucifix that is truly impressive to see. In 1669, a ceiling tabula was placed in the chapel, containing painted scenes from the life of St. Francis and other Franciscan saints. In the cloister of the monastery you can find the crown of a stone well which, in addition to inscriptions and tombstones that testify to the founding of the monastery, also contains the sarcophagus of Magdalena Budrišić who was the founder of the Rab Franciscan monastery. The monastery also contains a library and a museum. In the monastery library you can find over 7000 books dating from the 15th century to the present day. It is necessary to mention the work “The Great Camphor Chronicle”, which is a handwritten work in six thick volumes, written by Fr. Odorik Badurina. The museum of the monastery contains extremely valuable paintings, parchment on the founding of the monastery, manuscripts, excavations from various periods, incunabula and a valuable collection of old money. In 1989, during the renovation of the Church of St. Euphemia, the permanent exhibition of Fr. Ambrose Testen became part of the church. Br. Ambrose Testen was a self-taught painter.
Gastronomic offer
Thanks to the Mediterranean climate and 150 sunny days a year, the soil on Rab is fertile and the sea is full of fish and seafood. After a whole day of enjoying the beach, engaging in the many activities that this paradise on Earth provides – you will surely be hungry. Rab’s traditional cuisine is full of specific flavors, aromas, colors, made from organically grown foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and Mediterranean herbs that are in abundance.
Rab restaurants offer you a unique gastronomic experience such as grilled fish, broth, black risotto, Mediterranean squid, octopus under the baking lid, but also meat dishes such as lamb, chicken stew or tingul and the most famous – Rab cake. Rab cake is a dessert whose recipe is as old as 800 years. As the saying goes – “Fish swim three times. In the sea, in olive oil and in wine ”so Rab offers excellent and quality local wine experiences with food. On the island of Rab, the most common wines are brajdica, plavina, plavac mali and pošip. Of the traditional dishes, we would definitely recommend you to try dried octopus with eggs and Rab lentils – old, traditional dishes that, along with the harmony of taste, bring a touch of what people from Rab ate in the Middle Ages.
