Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

104  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

6 Pag

The island of Pag is 68 km (42 miles) long and has two
mountain chains running parallel to the coast: at the southern
end cliffs frame a deep bay with numerous inlets. The island
was inhabited in the Neolithic Age, and was occupied by the
Liburnians in around 1200 BC. When Dalmatia was conquered
by Publius Cornelius Scipio in the 1st century AD, the Romans
built the town of Cissa and the fortified port of Navalia here.
In the Imperial period, villas were built and some mosaic
floors and an aqueduct still survive. The Slavs settled in Pag
in the 6th century and became sheep farmers. After 1000 AD
Zadar and Rab fought over the island to gain control of the Sheep grazing on Pag
salt pans (see p102). When Cissa was destroyed by the
inhabitants of Zadar, the islanders chose a new location for a covered in maquis, olive groves
town, Stari Pag, which was fortified by the Venetians in 1192. and aromatic herbs, particularly
sage. As well as the production
of olive oil and a distinctive wine
called Žutica, sheep farming is
one of the main occupations on
the island. Pag is famous for its
sheep’s cheese (paški sir), which
has a distinctive taste thanks to
the aromatic herbs in the
grazing. The cheeses are coated
with olive oil, and undergo
lengthy maturation.
Pag Town
The small main island town
occupies a sheltered bay facing
The dry, barren east-facing coast, swept by the bora wind the mainland. It was granted the
status of a free town by King Bela
Exploring Pag colour, is exposed to the bora IV in 1244, but rivalry with Zadar
The island, connected by a wind and bears little vegetation. brought about its destruction.
bridge to the Magistrala coast The typical dry-stone walls were The walls, the castle, a monastery
road (E65) at its eastern tip, near built to protect the land from the and the Church of St Mary in the
Miškovići, is dry and barren, with wind and to separate the flocks Old Town are in ruins. In 1409,
only a few areas cultivated of sheep belonging to different Pag came definitively under the
with vines and olive trees. The farmers. The southwest coast is a rule of Venice.
coastline facing the mainland, little flatter with some small In 1443 the Venetian rulers,
rocky and jagged and white in beaches. Here the land is with the assistance of local

Magistrala coast road
Tovarnele Kovači
Žigljen
Karlobag
Stara Novalja
PAG Metajna

Novalja
Pag
Gorica
Mandre Košljun
Key ŠKRDA
Major road MAUN
Minor road 0 kilometres 5
Scenic route 0 miles 5

For keys to symbols see back flap

104-105_EW_Croatia.indd 104 20/10/16 12:31 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm