Pag Island

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General

An island in the north-Dalmatian archipelago, third largest in Kvarner, situated between Kvarneric and the Velebit Channel, with a northwest-southeast extension; area 284,5 sq km; population 7,969 (around 60 km long, between 2 and 10 km wide). The south-western coast of the island is low, and the north-western is steep and high: the Pag Bay (with the large Caska Cove) and Stara Novalja Bay; the southeast of the island features three capes. The climate is Mediterranean. No surface water streams are found on the island; there are springs near Metajna, Novalja, Povljane and Pag. Most of the island is rocky; smaller areas are covered with Mediterranean shrubs. The southeast of the island contains karst lakes Velo Blato and Malo Blato. The island's highest peak is Sveti Vid (St. Vitus, 348 m).

History

In the past Pag was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe called Liburnians (the ruins of a fort and a necropolis near Kolan, in Mihovilje near Novalja, in Dabor and Vidasov Kant); fields with tumuli from the Bronze Age lie between Kosljun and Simun. At the beginning of the 1st century at the latest, the Ancient Romans constructed a fortification system to defend themselves against Illyrian tribes: a large castrum Cissa (Caska), a port castrum Navalia (Novalja) and smaller forts: Kosljun above the Novaljsko field, Svetojasnica on the cape of the karst Zaglava. Apart from the forts, there were also larger (Pagus) and smaller Roman settlements (the ruins of a town in Tovarnele near Lun, in the fields Brbonovica and Lesandrovica, etc.).

The Croats inhabited the island early; their major settlement after their population of the island was Kesa (a part of which is included in today's Novalja). King Petar Kresimir IV donated (1071) the northern part of the island to the church of Rab; the southern part of the island became the property of Zadar. In the Middle Ages Pag was very often the scene of frequent clashes between the inhabitants of the island of Rab and those from Zadar. At the end of the 12th century, after the fall of Kesa, the old town Pag assumed the leading role on the island. - From 1409 to 1797 Pag was under the rule of the Venetian Republic, afterwards shared the same destiny as the rest of Dalmatia under the Austrian rule. After the German-Italian occupation in 1941, it fell under the Italian rule, afterwards occupied by the Germans. In 1945 the island was annexed to Croatia.

Approaches

STARA NOVALJA

(44° 36'N; 14° 52'E), village (pop. 234 in 1991) in the small bay of the same name on the NE coast of the island of Pag.

Landmarks: the quadrangular white tower on a base (white light) on the N entrance of Deda point, the hill of Veli vrh (131 m) opposite Deda point and the buildings on the NE coast of the bay.

Sights: Ruins of walls dating from ancient times, a necropolis dating from the late Roman period, ruins of the Pre-Romanesque church of Sv Kriz (Holy Cross).

PAG

(44° 27'N; 15° 03'E), town (pop. 2,421 in 1991) and harbour on the SE coast of Paski zaljev (Bay of Pag). Paski zaljev is entered through Paska vrata passage (between Kristofor and Sv Nikola points). There are several coves in the bay: Slana, Rucica, Metajna, Caska and the harbour of Pag. The bora in the bay is strong and most frequent in Paska vrata passage and Slana cove; in the NW part of the bay it blows from the E and in SE part from the N. With a strong bora blowing, spindrift and a turbulent sea make it difficult to enter the bay. With the sirocco blowing the sea sometimes floods the coast around the salt-works. Currents caused by the tides attain a rate of 4 knots; their direction is changeable.

Landmarks: the white tower (white light) on Kristofor point; the red tower (red light) on Sv Nikola point. In the bay: the green tower with a column and gallery (green light) on Zaglav point; the belfry of the church in the town, the large salt storehouse at the head of the harbour and the hotel buildings on the SW coast, the red tower with a column and gallery (red light) on the head of the mole reserved for the carferry, the red tower with a column and gallery (red light) on the head of the S pier.

Sights: The development of the town began in 1433 and was planned by the builder and sculptor Juraj Dalmatinac. Parts of the town wall with the clock tower (after 1433), the Rector's Palace (1467, unfinished), Uzasasce Marijino cathedral (Assumption of Our Lady, 1443-88), the churches of Sv Juraj (St George, Renaissance) and Sv Margareta (second half of 15 C). Stari Grad (the centre of the island before the development of the present-day town; 14 C church, next to it the ruins of the Franciscan monastery) 3 km SE. Climb to the summits of Sv Vid (348 m) and Sv Juraj (263 m) panoramic view of the area.

Pag has an eight-century-old tradition of lace-making; the lacemaking school was established in 1906.

METAJNA

(44° 31'N; 15° 05'E), village (pop. 272 in 1991) and cove in Paski zaljev (Bay of Pag).

Landmarks: Mt Zaglava (117 m), the green tower with a column and gallery (green light) on Zaglava point, the church with the belfry in the S part of the cove and the ferry pier can be easily identified.

NOVA POVLJANA

(44° 21'N; 15° 06'E) A village and cove on the SW coast of the island of Pag.

Landmarks: the red round iron tower with a column and gallery (red light) on Dubrovnik point, the hotel complex and the chapel of Sv Nikola on the E coast of the cove.

KOSLJUN

(44° 22.8'N; 15° 05'E) A village and small harbour in Kosljunski zaljev (Bay of Kosljun), on the SW coast of the island, between Tihovac and Zminka points.

Landmarks: the quadrangular white iron tower with the white light on Zaglav point and the white round tower with a gallery (sector light) at the head of the breakwater.

Zminka and Tihovac points are fringed by shoals; by night the green sector of the light at the root of the breakwater indicates the safe passage.

SIMUNI

(44° 28'N; 14° 57'E) A village and small bay on the W coast of the island of Pag in Maunski kanal.

Landmarks: Conspicuous landmark is the round white tower (green light) on Simuni point. On the port side of the bay there are submerged rocks and Simuni shoal (depth 1.3 m) and while entering the bay steer clear of the points on the left side of the bay.

NOVALJA

(44° 33'N; 14° 53'E) A town (pop. 1,912 in 1991) and harbour in the small bay of the same name on the NW coast of the island of Pag.

Landmarks: the belfry and the tall white pole of the HPT relay; the red tower with the column and gallery (sector light) on the S end of the pier. When entering the harbour by night, steer for the green sector of the harbour light on the S end of the mole, which indicates the passage safe from the shallow reefs.

Sights: The ruins of a Roman castrum, a 1 km long tunnel of an underground aqueduct (1 C), fragments of columns; near the town is a site with Illyrian graves, early Christian sarcophagi, the ruins of an early Christian basilica (5 C).

TOVARNELE

(44° 41.5'N; 14° 44.1'E) A small harbour in the cove of the same name on the NW coast of the island of Pag, some 0.8 M south of Lun point.

Landmarks: the quadrangular white tower with a column and gallery (white light) on the south entrance point; NW of the cove is the dangerous Tovarnele reef, marked by an iron spar with red and black bands on a round white base surmounted by two black spheres; it is covered by night by the red sector of the light in Tovarnele cove.

Sights: Ruins of ancient walls and of the Romanesque church of Sv Martin.

Marinas and Anchorages

PAG

44°28'N / 14°58'E
HR - 23251 Kolan.
Tel: 00 385 51 697 457
Fax: 00 385 51 697 462 
VHF canal 17.

The harbour is protected from all winds except the westerlies, which blow infrequently. Yachts drawing up to 3.5m can moor (four-point moor) on the inner end of the small N mole in the inner harbour or along the quay next to the bridge. The best anchorage for larger yachts is off the E coast, some 1.5 M south of the ruins of the chapel of Sv Nikola (depths 2448 m). In fine weather smaller vessels can anchor off the ruins of the chapel of Sv Katarina.

Facilities

• Harbour master's branch office;
• Post office;
• Several hotels and restaurants;
• Medical and veterinary service;
• Bank;
• Chemist's;
• Orada Fishing Club;
• Good shopping for provisions;
• Water from the hydrant on the waterfront;
• Fuel at the petrol station in Pag.

SIMUNI MARINA

It is located in the cove on the NW side of the Simuni bay (Maunski kanal), W part of the island.

The marina has 150 sea-berths and area for 30 vessels (dryberths); water, electricity, telephone and satellite TV hook-ups. Slipway (for yachts up to 8 m long); crane (15 t).

The marina is open the year round.

Facilities

• reception office
• duty-free shop
• restaurant
• laundry
• toilets and grocer's shop (groceries can be delivered on the vessel if ordered so)

NOVALJA

(44° 33'N; 14° 53'E) A harbour in the small bay of the same name on the NW coast of the island of Pag. The bay is sheltered from winds from the NE and SE quadrants; winds from the SW and NW quadrants are very strong.

Yachts drawing up to 2.5m can moor on the inner side of the breakwater and along the pier, which head is reserved for passenger ships; smaller vessels can moor between the pier and the breakwater (four-point moor). A good anchorage for mediumsized vessels is in the middle of the harbour (depths 58 m).

Facilities

• Harbour master's branch office;
• post office;
• medical service;
• a bank;
• camp site;
• several hotels and a restaurant.
• Shopping for provisions in local shops;
• water from the hydrant on the waterfront;
• fuel at the petrol station on the waterfront.
• Minor repairs can be undertaken; there are hauling-out facilities for smaller vessels. Engine repairs can also be carried out.

TOVARNELE

(44° 41.5'N; 14° 44.1'E) A small harbour in the cove of the same name on the NW coast of the island of Pag, some 0.8 M south of Lun poin. The cove is sheltered from N winds. Smaller yachts anchor in the middle of the cove (depths 23 m). Anchor bows-to SW, securing the stern to NE. It is also possible to moor offshore, off the restaurant (depth 3 m) or along the L-shaped pier.

Facilities

• Provisions and other shopping in the village of Lun;
• water from the cistern (limited);
• Smaller repairs in Rab.

KOSLJUN

(44° 22.8'N; 15° 05'E)

A small harbour in Kosljunski zaljev (Bay of Kosljun), on the SW coast of the island, between Tihovac and Zminka points. The bay is sheltered only from winds from the NE quadrant (it is therefore the auxiliary harbour of the town of Pag in the bora); southern winds cause a heavy sea in the harbour. Smaller vessels can moor along the head of the breakwater (depth about 2 m), or use the four-point moor on the rest of the breakwater (depth under 1 m). Larger vessels can anchor WSW of the ruins on the NE coast, some 700m offshore (depth 1823 m). The harbour is not recommended for a longer stay, especially in bad weather

Facilities

• Limited provisions and water are available.