About island Rab
The name of Rab is first time mentioned in the year 1446, in a
foundation document of the monastery of the Holy Euphemius in the
village of Kampor. The old origin word was ARB which means dark,
green, wooden and was translated into the antique names Arba, Arva,
Arbia.
The emporer Octavian Augustus ordered to built walls for defense
and fortresses to protect the city and their colonies. So the city
of Arba (today Rab) became a roman municipium called “Felix
Arba”. The epigraphics tell about fortresses, water canals,
halls and therms. To use the word “Felix” before the
name of the city were only allowed provinces and cities of the roman
empire rewarding for special earnings or to emphasize the fame and
glory of the city or a place. This statement is confirmed by a 15
cm high amfora which was found 1896 in a grave in Nin next to Zadar
on which is standing “Felix Arba”.
During the whole Middle Ages the town keeps his tradition of a municipium
(as a roman community at the time of byzantian dominion over dalmatia,
Beginning XI. Century), and 1107 her privilege was confirmed by
the King Koloman. During approximately 400 years of venican domanian
(til 1409), peace and wealth was established and the city was working
like a community. During the long occupation of different monarchs,
beginning with romans followed by the byzantian and venicians, to
the hungarians and croatians, Rab was always spared out of immense
devastation.
As the italian normans, after a quite long occupation of the city,
turning around their ships and going away after fighting, on the
highest tower of the town the relics of the Holy Christopher, the
protector of the city of Rab, were exhibited. Still today in Rab
tradition and history is taken care of. Every year in May and July
knight games, which were already founded 1364, are hold. The attraction
in those games are the antique cross-bows with which in the Middle
Age the town was defended to the attackers. These games are held
in memory to this win and in honour to the protector of the city,
the Holy Christopher. For lovers of history and culture the island
of Rab is a big amazement.
If you for example stroll through the streets of the old town you
can admire a lot of buildings of the roman style, gothic portals,
baroque altars and windows of the rennaissance with wonderful ornaments.
Rab is also very famous for his four bell towers. Tis is why Rab
is also called the “town with the four bell towers”.
The bell tower of the basilca is dominating over the city and is
one of the nicest buildings of the latest romanticism.
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