Poljica is a village on the island of

Krk Krk (; it, Veglia; ruo, Krk; dlm, label= Vegliot Dalmatian, Vikla; la, Curicta; grc-gre, Κύρικον, Kyrikon) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kot ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

Location

Poljica is located on the western part of the island of

, in the area of the island called Šotovento. Like all settlements in Šotovento, Poljica is not on the coast but in the interior of the island, about 3 km southeast of Čavlena bay. In the immediate vicinity are the villages

Bajčići Bajčići ( it, Baicici) is a village in the island of Krk, in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. Mate Bajčić Gašpović, who was from here, was the last speaker of the Istro-Romanian language in Krk. He died in 1875. Population Re ...

and

Nenadići Nenadići (also known as Nenadic) is a village on the island of Krk. Loacation Nenadic is located in the western part of the island of Krk in the area called Šotovento. Namely, the surrounding hills of Vrhure (238 m), Kukurik (176 m), Klobu� ...

. Approximately 6 km away is

Malinska Malinska (german: Durischal) is a settlement (naselje) in the northwestern part of the island Krk in Croatia and an important tourist town. It lies on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the picturesque bay facing Opatija and Rijeka. The municipalit ...

and about 10 km is the town of

. The village is located just off the

D104 Road D104 branches off to the southwest from D102 (Croatia), D102 near Malinska towards Valbiska ferry port - Jadrolinija ferry access to Merag, island of Cres (D101 (Croatia), D101) and LNP ferry access to Lopar, Rab, Lopar, island of Rab (island), R ...

History

In ancient times this area was inhabited by the

Illyrians The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European languages, Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo ...

. In the Middle Ages, until the 15th century, this part of the island was predominantly deserted and poorly inhabited. In order to increase tax revenues,

Ivan VII Frankopan Ivan VII or Ivan Krčki (of Krk) was the only prince of the semi-independent united Krk (the Principality of Krk) from 1451–1480. He was a prince of the House of Frankopan. As he needed more manpower, Frankopan settled Morlachs and Vlachs (Romani ...

settled in the mid-15th century in this area and in the area around

Dubašnica Dubašnica ( it, Dubasnizza) was a village in the northwestern part of the island of Krk, now in Croatia, at the south of Malinska and near Poljica. It was first mentioned in the 15th century and became extinct in the 18th century as a result of ...

, and also between the castles of

Dobrinj Dobrinj is a village and municipality in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in northwestern Croatia, on the island of Krk. There are 2,078 inhabitants in the municipality, with 91% Croats. Geography Dobrinj and the municipality of the same name are ...

and

Omišalj Omišalj ( it, Castel Muschio; german: Moschau) is a coastal municipality in the north-west of the island of Krk in Croatia. The population of Omišalj itself is 1,868 (2011), while the municipality also includes the nearby village of Njivice, brin ...

, Vlachs and Morlachs (

Romanians The Romanians ( ro, români, ; dated exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group. Sharing a common Culture of Romania, Romanian culture and Cultural heritage, ancestry, and speaking the Romanian language, they l ...

, later

Istro-Romanians The Istro-Romanians ( ruo, rumeri or ) are a Romance ethnic group native to or associated with the Istrian Peninsula. Historically, they inhabited vast parts of it, as well as the western side of the island of Krk until 1875. However, due to se ...

) from

Velebit Velebit (; it, Alpi Bebie) is the largest, though not the highest, mountain range in Croatia. The range forms a part of the Dinaric Alps and is located along the Adriatic coast, separating it from Lika in the interior. Velebit begins in the nor ...

. However, there were very few true ethnic Vlachs among them, most of whom were Croats. Poljica had the greatest significance in the second half of the 19th century. At about the same time, in 1848, the first school opened in Šotovento. Until then, the only educational institution had been a

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related Mendicant orders, mendicant Christianity, Christian Catholic religious order, religious orders within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi, these orders include t ...

monastery at

Glavotok Glavotok is a village on the island of Krk, Croatia. It is situated in the westernmost part of the island, 17 km from the city of Krk. History Its history dates to the 14th century when it was feudal land under the Frankopan family. In 14 ...

Population

According to the last census of 2001, there were 62 inhabitants in Poljica. Population growth has been moderate. Since there have been official data since the middle of the 19th century, Poljica had a mild and gradual increase in population by mid-20th century. In 1953, they had a maximum of 89 residents. Since then, the population has declined slightly.

Economy

Poljica is surrounded by traditional agricultural land. The most important are field crops, cattle breeding and

olive The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...

trees. Nearby in

is a food-processing plant. Much of the residents work in nearby bigger places on the island such as Malinska or Krk. Due to its in the interior of the island, tourism has not developed. However Poljica is not far from the sea, and it has preserved indigenous architecture with old stone houses.

Culture

Although a small village, Poljica has many Renaissance buildings. Among them, the

bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...

of the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

of Saints Cosmas and Damian is made of fine chrome stone. It was built in 1768, and before it there was another, smaller tower. At its height of 29 meters dominates the village and the surrounding area. A beach at Čavlena Bay is 3 km from Poljica. Nearby in the woods at Čavlena bay there is a small early Christian church of St. Krševan. It is not known who built it, but it is considered to be from the 9th century. Not far from Poljica, above the Čavlena Bay, there are the largest specimens of

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

on the island of Krk. They are considered to be about 400 years old.

References

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