Novigrad

From Dajla on the north to the mouth of the river Mirna in the south, stretch out places full of brilliant colors and touching beauty. 

It is rich in natural resources, such as its fertile land which richly offers grapes and olives, the high quality stone that rises buildings whose limit is the sky, the clean sea that awakens the senses and, above all, the  high quality and rich tourist offer , Novigrad is one of the top favorite tourist destinations. Because of its natural beauty, excellent transport connections, rich cultural and gastronomic offer as well as many accommodations, in the summer this town abounds with the vitality and joy of a true Mediterranean place, with warm friendly people and their welcoming homes.

History
Novigrad is a place built on a small coastal island. Due to the constant threat of various attacks and robberies, during the Roman Empire a fortificated village was built here, in other words,a Castrum a civil settlement able to defend itself named Neapolis which was written about in ancient times. In the 5th century it became the center of the diocese but also an important political and economic center. In the 6th and 7th centuries, this area was under the rule of Byzantium. In the 8th century it came under Frankish rule and experienced a boom as a central location of the feudalism which was spreading further across the peninsula. It fell under the authority of Germany from the 10th century until the end of the 12th century. The Middle Ages was a very difficult period because of frequent attacks, plague and malaria.

Venice came to power in late 13th century and remained here until the end of the 18th century. Besides progress, the arrival of Venice also brought the conflict with Genoa, whose soldiers heavily destroyed the town in the 14th century, while in the late 17th century the city was attacked by the Turkish army. The arrival of Napoleon and his troops was recorded at the beginning of the 19th century. They were soon replaced by the Habsburgs, who remained here until the early 20th century. Then again the territory changed rulers and fell under Italy. With the end of the Second World War,  Novigrad became part of Yugoslavia. Up to the Sixties its population was engaged in fishing, agriculture and industry,when it turned to a new economic branch –tourism, which today is the most important activity. In 1991, Novigrad was annexed to the independent Republic of Croatia.

Recommendations

Lapidarium – a rich collection with 93 stone monuments from antiquity and the late Middle Ages

The parish church and St. Pelagius and St. Maximus – the remains of frescoes, valuable Baroque paintings and a rare early Romanesque crypt

Rigo Palace – built in the 1760, was home to the  Rigo patrician family. It is a wonderful example of Central European Baroque

Belvedere – beautiful loggia built in the 16th century

City walls – built in the 13th century, with Renaissance towers and the former main gate

Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Caramel – from the 18th century

Church of St.Agata– Romanesque building built in 9th century and rebuilt in the 18thcentury

Castel Dajla – country house-convent, beautiful neoclassical building

Stern – from the 15th century, with the measuring groove

Events

Carnival – a traditional carnival, with a rich entertainment program 12.02.-16.02.

Novigrads’ Cultural Summer – fun and cultural events, gastronomy and wine offer, concerts, films and exhibitions 10.06 .- 31.08.

Gnam Gnam Fest – gastronomic festival with a rich selection of fish dishes 09.07.

Novigrad Music Nights – a music festival with concerts and the presence of top world musicians 14.-15.07.

Astro party Lunasa – traditional astro party 31.07.-01.08.

Fisherman’s night – folk festival with a rich selection of fish dishes and wine 13.08.

St.Pelagius feast – folk festival, with a rich entertainment, gastronomy and wine offer 26.- 28.08.

Sole days – culinary event with a range of dishes based on sole, olive oil and wine 23.10.-22.11.