City of Rab - Grad Rab

Rab is a city on the island of Rab in the northern Adriatic Sea, in Croatia. According to the territorial and amninistrative organization, seven places belog to the City of Rab: Banjol, Barbat, Kampor, Mundanije, Palit, Rab and Supetarska Draga with the total population of 8,065.

The island Rab has a long history that dates back to 360 BC when it was inhabited by the Illyrians and was the frontier between the regions of Liburnia and Dalmatia. From the third century BC to the sixth century AD Rab was part of the Roman Empire, and Emperor Augustus proclaimed it a municipium in 10 BC. It was the first town of Roman Dalmatia to be given the honorary title "felix".

The worst disaster in the town's history was an outbreak of the plague in 1456 that decimated the city's population.

There are many churches in the town. The largest is St. Mary the Blessed, which was built in the 13th century. The church of St. Justine is now a museum of sacred arts, while the chapel of St. Christopher (dedicated to the patron saint of the island) is nowadays called the Lapidarium. The four church bell towers became the symbol of the town and island. The oldest dates back to the eleventh century. Saint Marinus, the Christian founder of San Marino, was a native of Rab who is said to have fled the island under Diocletian's persecution in AD 301.

City of Rab: http://www.rab.hr/

Tourist Board of the City of Rab: http://www.tzg-rab.hr/hrv/otok/