The story of Krk reaches as far back as prehistoric times, with its first pages being written by the original inhabitants in the Copper (3500 – 2000 BC) and Bronze Ages (2000 – 800 BC), while the town's founders are attested to as members of one of the 70-odd Illyrian tribes – the Liburnians who are descended from the Kuriktians. They were followed by the Romans and then by the Croatian noble family of Frankopan, who bestowed splendour, art, economic strength and independence upon the islanders during their centuries-spanning rule from 1115 to 1480, with the Venetians also leaving an indelible mark.

Krk Town - one of the oldest urban settlements in Croatia - bounds a sprawling bay in the southwest part of the island as its present-day administrative, business and cultural centre. Along with its constituent settlements (a total of 14), it occupies an area of 110 square meters. The town’s hinterland is a placid and predominantly rural area, which has mostly preserved a primaeval way of life. However, more recently, the surrounding settlements have been increasingly embracing modern tourism trends, mainly through inviting agritourism initiatives. 

According to the 2021 census, Krk Town has a population of 6846. The entire area of Krk Town, especially the settlement of Krk, is largely oriented towards tourism and the catering industry in economic terms, while from a historical and artistic perspective, it abounds in invaluable artefacts of cultural heritage.

Krk is renowned as a town of history and culture. This is something the Krkites take great pride in. Because more than 3000 years of continuous inhabitation is a period that tickles the fancy of every man or woman, whether a chance visitor or a dedicated explorer. Therefore, if you arrive in the Most Splendid Town of the Krkites (Splendidissima Civitas Curictarum), as it was known as early as in the 3rd century and which is attested to by an invaluable stone artefact, we invite you to take a stroll through its historical centre and discover the picturesque cobblestone streets, quaint squares and a plethora of monuments... Learn more about the town of hardworking and dedicated people who have woven its illustrious past and venture into the future cognisant of their remarkable legacy!

Krk is still almost entirely enclosed by the town’s exceptionally preserved walls, which is rare at the national level. They are the third largest walls in Croatia after Ston and Dubrovnik! Their construction lasted from the Liburnian Age to the fall of Venice and they were first attested in an inscription from the 1st century BC. The walls include several entrances into the town (Large Town Gate, Small Town Gate, Pizan or Liberty Gate and the former Upper Town Gate), two stone towers (a six-sided, Late Gothic coastal tower erected by Duke Nikola IV Frankopan in the early 15th century and Torrion, a two-storey rectangular tower at Vela Placa built in the late 15th century during the renovation of the walls, which was initiated by the Venetian Governor Antonio Vinciguerra) and the Frankopan Castle - the town’s only preserved medieval profane monument, which was erected by generations of Frankopans from the 12th to the 15th (16th) century.

Apart from the profane monuments integrated into the town walls, the historical centre of Krk Town is teeming with religious edifices, the most imposing of which is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built in the 5th century on the remains of the Roman thermae. However, a subsequently expanded three-nave Romanesque building with an abundant inventory has been preserved. In addition to the domed bell tower with its recognisable outline, the cathedral complex includes a double Romanesque church: the upper church dedicated to St. Quirinus, the patron saint of the Diocese of Krk, and the lower one dedicated to St. Margaret, a martyr from Antioch. 

You can read much more about the storied history of Krk Town and its surroundings on the webpages of the two multilingual info portals:

Priča o Krku/Story of Krk
www.history.grad-krk.hr

Kulturno nasljeđe otoka Krka/Island of Krk cultural heritage
www.visitkrk.hr

Welcome to the Most Splendid Town of the Krkites!