Umag (Italian: Umago) is a town in Istria County, Croatia. Umag
is a town on the western Istrian coast, only 10 km from the
Slovenian border and along Savudrija is the westernmost place in the
Republic of Croatia.
Near Umag there is a place Valica
(Italian Valizza) surrounded by beautiful nature, and close to the
beach Kanegre with the cleanest sea for swimming in Istria. There is
also the Dragonja River, and the Sečovlje International Airport is
close by.
Although there is no doubt that Umag existed even during the
Roman Empire, the first mention of the city in chronicles dates back
to the 7th century. In the 7th-8th centuries, Umag was ruled by
Byzantium, which was then replaced by the Franks, and then by local
princes.
The growing power of the Venetian Republic led to
the gradual annexation of Istria to Venice. In 1269 Umag recognized
the power of the Venetians, who ruled the city for over 500 years.
In 1370 the city was badly damaged during the war between Venice and
Genoa.
After the fall of Venice in 1797, Umag was annexed to
Austria. In the period 1805-1813, the city was controlled by
Napoleonic troops, and in 1813 the city again ceded to Austria.
After World War I, Umag, along with the entire Istrian
peninsula, passed to Italy, while the rest of Dalmatia became part
of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia.
After World War II, Umag became part of the
so-called Zone "B" of the free territory of Trieste, which was
controlled by Yugoslavia, after which a significant part of the
Italian population of the city emigrated to Italy. In 1954 the free
territory of Trieste ceased to exist and Umag became part of
Yugoslavia. After the collapse of the latter in 1991, the city
became part of an independent Croatia.
Old Town - the turbulent history of the city influenced its
architecture - the buildings of late antiquity and the beginning of
the Middle Ages have not survived to our time. However, the city has
numerous evidences of the Middle Ages - fortified walls, Venetian
villas and, above all, picturesque narrow streets. One of the oldest
towers is well preserved - the western one, which now houses the
city museum.
The Church of Saint Rock, the main attraction of the
city, was built in 1514.
City Museum - located in the historic
center of the city. Has a large collection of archaeological finds
made during excavations in the city.
Church of St. Peregrine is a
small ancient temple built by the inhabitants of the city, located
near Umag on Cape Rosatso.
Lighthouse in Savudrija is the oldest
lighthouse on the Adriatic, built in 1818. Light emanating from a
source located at an altitude of 36 meters is visible at a distance
of 32 km. The construction of the building is connected with the
love story of Count Matternich, who, despite his position as a
married man, fell in love with a local girl, in whose honor the
lighthouse was built.
Remains of Sipar - not far from Umag, at
low tide, you can see a cape 200 meters long and 50 meters wide,
consisting of a pile of stones - these are the remains of the
ancient fort Sipar, the construction of which dates back to the 5th
century. Sipar existed on this site during the Roman Empire, as
evidenced by the foundations of villas and houses, as well as
household items, coins and ancient mosaics. Sipar was completely
plundered and destroyed in 876 by pirates led by Domagoya. Now this
cape is an unofficial nudist beach.
Villa Tiola is a real
paradise for divers. This luxurious villa is richly decorated with
mosaics and frescoes on the walls. The remains of a 30-meter pier,
which is about 6 meters wide, can be seen in the sea not far from
the villa, and the fragments of a huge building located nearby,
according to experts, belong to another villa.