Pasman is an island in the Croatian Adriatic, south of Zadar.
With an area of 60 km2 and 70 km of indented coastline, it is one of
the larger Croatian islands. It is connected to the island of Ugljan
by a bridge in the Ždrelac pass, and it is separated from the
mainland by the Pašman Channel, which in some places is only 2 km
wide. It is also one of the islands closest to the mainland. It is
located in the Zadar archipelago, between the cities of Zadar and
Biograd.
The Mediterranean climate has developed a rich world
of flora and fauna, many species of medicinal and aromatic plants,
and the seabed preserves all types of shellfish and fish of the
Croatian Adriatic.
The sea is clean, the beaches are pebble
and rocky, with countless small mules. Near Pašman, the sea currents
change every 6 hours and that is why the local sea is among the
cleanest on the Adriatic. On the east side of the island you can
swim among natural rocks with long stone plateaus and crystal clear
sea. Most facilities are located directly by the sea and the beach.
Franciscan monastery of St. Dujma with a church built in the Gothic
style in 1392 is located in the town of Kraj on the island of Pašman.
The dimensions of the monastery are: length 38.3 m and width 35.4 m.
The monastery and the church were built by a patrician family on a
site donated to the Franciscans by the Benedictines from Ćokovac. Church
of St. Dujma was mentioned on April 8, 1370 in the will of Mavro, the
late Frano Grisogono, determining the construction of the present one.
On June 22, 1384, his mother Pelegrina contracted the construction of a
church with Juraj Miljanović from Dubrovnik, and on August 19, 1389, she
donated property to the Franciscans exiled from Bosnia (mentioned in the
list of monasteries in the province of Sclavonia in 1382) and on May 22,
1392, ordered that a monastery be built for them. . The construction of
the monastery probably started in 1394, and it was in operation in the
second half of the 15th century. The monastery was later rebuilt in the
Baroque style during the 17th century, which is when the courtyard door
of the monastery originated (1669).
The original church was
enlarged in 1401. The Renaissance form is from before 1554 (on the gable
of the portal is the Renaissance Aleš statue of St. Jerome and the year
1554). Originally, the church had three altars: a large one, dedicated
to St. Maria and St. Jerome with a picture, on the left the altar of St.
Francis with a painting and a large crucifix, and on the right the
Immaculate Conception with an old painting. On November 6, 1418, Zadar
merchant Petar Cvitka, deceased, ordered a painting worth 32 ducats to
be made (probably a painting of the Virgin Mary with little Christ and
St. John). Friar Ljudevit Benčić added two altars in 1848 and changed
the titles of all of them. Three are marble: the main one (the fallen
St. Duja and Our Lady of the Scapular), the "soul" (image of Our Lady
and St. Bonaventure) and the Immaculate Conception (image of Our Lady
and the Immaculate Conception dispute), and two wooden ones: St. Anthony
of Padua and St. Sebastian. The wooden altars were removed, and the
altar paintings were placed in the monastery. The graves of local
residents have been in the church since 1569. Tombstones bear marks of
nationality (old Croatian and Dalmatian coats of arms, crescent and
star) and occupation (sword, holster). The presbytery and sacristy were
covered with tiles in 1912. The current wooden ceiling is from 1959.
Particularly valuable are the monastery cloister, the paintings of
the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus from the 15th century and the Last
Supper in the monastery refectory. The oldest grave in the cloister is
from 1569, so the cloister was probably built after the church was
enlarged (first half of the 16th century). It is simple and small, with
arches, and the columns are made of white stone.
The monastery
also has a museum with exhibits that talk about the history of the
island of Pašman with an exhibition of books and manuscripts, works of
art, church dishes and vestments, handicrafts and archaeological relics.
The monastery provides Catholic organizations and charitable
institutions with a place to rest.
Benedictine monastery of St. Cosmas and Damian on the Ćokovac hill
near Tkon on the island of Pašman was built by the Bishop of Biograd
Teodorik in 1059 on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine fort and an
early Christian church.
Ćokovac is the only active Benedictine
monastery in Croatia and a well-known Glagolitic center.
After
the Venetian destruction of Biograd in the 12th century, Benedictines
came to Ćokovac and built a new monastery. In the 14th century, the
monastery was damaged, but the Benedictines rebuilt it and rebuilt the
church in the Gothic style. The church is decorated with a painted
Gothic crucifix from the beginning of the 15th century.
In 1808,
the monastery was shut down and revived again in 1965. The name
"Ćokovac" comes from the word "Ćok", which is the name in the local
dialect for the blackbird.
Father Martin Josip Kirigin, a famous
Croatian liturgist, is responsible for the restoration of this
monastery, which was already being demolished.
Church of St. Luke in Ždrelac, is a Catholic church in Ždrelac. In the town of Ždrelac, near the bridge that connects the island of Pašman and Ugljan, the church of St. Luke around 1289. It is rectangular in shape, the sacristy is an extension and it is square in shape. At the end of the 19th century, the western facade with the bell tower was built. In 1737, the church was rebuilt with medieval features. After the end of the First World War, a statue of the Mother of God was delivered, which is still in the church today. In 1870, three bells were placed in front of the front of the nave, which was destroyed by the German army during the Second World War. The new belfry was erected in 1947 with a donation from the parishioners. In 1958 and 1997, some modifications were made. In 1937, the believers founded the girls' society of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is still active today and organizes the day (festival) of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Woman wave, statue of sculptor and restorer Fr. Joakim Jaki Gregov in
Pašman
Church of Our Lady of Loreto in Banj
Church of St.
Michaelmas in Neviđani
Church of St. Roka in Mali Pašman
Church of
St. Anton in Mrljani
Church of St. Antuna Pustinjaka, district of
Otus
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pašman
Church of St. Brand in Pašman
The old bridge that bridged the Mali
Ždrelac channel and connected the islands of Ugljan and Pašman. A new
bridge was built in the same place.
Pašman (Pašman Island) is a long, narrow island in the Zadar
Archipelago of northern Dalmatia, Croatia. It lies in the Adriatic Sea
south of Zadar, between Zadar and Biograd na Moru, and ranks as the
12th-largest Croatian island. Its area measures 60.11 km² (some sources
round to 63 km²), with a length of approximately 21 km and maximum width
of 4.3 km. The island orients roughly northwest-southeast.
It is one
of the closest islands to the mainland, separated by the narrow Pašman
Channel (as little as 2 km wide in places). To the northwest, a bridge
(Ždrelac Bridge over the Mali Ždrelac Strait, deepened and bridged in
modern times) connects it to Ugljan. It lies near Iž to the west and
Dugi Otok/Žut to the southwest. The highly indented coastline spans
~65–70 km, featuring numerous coves, bays, pebble/rocky beaches, small
docks, and natural stone plateaus (especially on the east side).
Topography is hilly and rugged, dominated by a central ridge of peaks
formed from folded limestone. The highest point is Veliki Bokolj
(Bokolj) at 272–274 m, followed by Oštro (254 m), and lower summits like
Semica (199 m), Straža (180 m), Jakovljev vrh (178 m), Mali Bokolj (164
m), etc. The northern/eastern side (facing the mainland) hosts denser
vegetation and settlements, while the southern/western side is wilder,
road-scarce in parts, and ideal for "Robinson-style" seclusion with
untouched bays overlooking the Kornati archipelago.
Geologically,
Pašman consists primarily of Cretaceous and Eocene limestone and
dolomite (including foraminiferal limestone), typical of the Dinaric
karst region. This produces classic karst landforms: grikes
(fissures/karren), dry valleys, stone plateaus, and historical lime-kiln
activity that exploited local strata. The indented coastline and
submerged features reflect post-glacial sea-level rise and tectonic
subsidence in the Adriatic karst landscape. The island was once
potentially linked to Ugljan and the mainland at lower sea levels.
The Mediterranean climate (Csa) features hot, dry summers (July/Aug
highs averaging ~31°C/88°F, rarely exceeding 34°C), mild wet winters
(January lows ~3–6°C/37°F, rarely below 0°C), ~2,490 sunshine hours
annually (very sunny), and precipitation of ~800–1,200 mm/year (driest
in July ~36 mm; wettest in November ~150+ mm). Prevailing winds include
the bora (NE) and sirocco (SE). The climate supports rich biodiversity.
Pašman stands out as one of the "greenest" Croatian islands relative to
its size, with extensive maquis, pine forests (especially north-facing
slopes), olive groves, and aromatic/medicinal herbs (lavender, sage,
rosemary, etc.). Fauna includes typical Adriatic species; the seabed
hosts diverse shellfish, fish, and clear waters. The island's relative
greenness and low population density enhance its ecological appeal.
A
key oceanographic feature is the Pašman Channel's tidal-like currents,
which reverse direction roughly every 6 hours, flushing the waters and
making the sea among the cleanest in the Adriatic (high transparency,
full marine biodiversity preserved). Beaches vary: pebble and rocky
predominating, with some sandy stretches (e.g., around Kraj,
Dobropoljana, Tkon areas) and concrete/grass platforms in developed
spots. The east/southeast offers calm, shallow coves ideal for swimming.
Notable nearby feature: In the Pašman Channel (between the island and
mainland near Turanj/Zadar), lies Galešnjak (also called Love Island), a
tiny (~0.132 km²) naturally heart-shaped island formed by karst erosion
and coastal processes—one of the world's few natural heart-shaped
landforms. It has pebble beaches but no facilities.
From high points
like Veliki Bokolj or Straža (near Tkon), panoramic views encompass the
Zadar Archipelago, Kornati National Park (to the southwest), Velebit
mountains, Dinara, mainland coast, and even parts of the open Adriatic.
The island has 10–11 settlements concentrated on the northeastern
(mainland-facing) side: Ždrelac, Banj, Dobropoljana, Neviđane, Mrljane,
Pašman village, Kraj, Tkon (largest), etc. Population is low
(~2,800–3,000), yielding a density of ~33–47/km².
Prehistory & Antiquity
Neolithic (~4700 BC): A major submerged
site was discovered (2025 trial excavation) between Neviđane and Školjić
islet. A >300m artificial structure (dry-stone wall + wooden piles) at
~5m depth was built when sea levels were >5m lower; it formed part of a
substantial coastal/strategic settlement tied to early maritime
networks.
Stone Age: Rare finds.
Bronze & Iron Ages: Numerous
hillforts/fortifications across the island confirm dense early
settlement.
Liburnians (pre-Roman Illyrians): One of their islands;
oldest known settlement name Katan (modern Tkon).
Roman era (1st c.
BC onward): Known as Flaveico or Insula Postimana (source of the name
Pašman). Integrated into the ager of Iader (Zadar); eastern shore
densely populated due to the Channel's role as a protected route. Rustic
villas, mosaics, and minor remains exist; no major urban center
developed.
Early Middle Ages (Byzantine & Croatian)
6th
century (Justinian I era): Pustograd Byzantine fortress built on a hill
above Zaklopica bay (near Tkon). It featured defensive walls, a
residential building, cistern, and served as an observation post
monitoring the Pašman/Srednji channels and Samogradska vrata against
pirates/slavic raids.
Pustograd Byzantine fortress ruins (6th
c.):
(Images of Pustograd hilltop ruins overlooking the sea)
10th
century: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus possibly refers to it (reports
it as uninhabited at that moment).
11th century: Benedictine estates
appear (e.g., St. Michael's in Neviđane, owned by Zadar's St.
Chrysogonus monastery). Part of Diocese of Biograd (nearby mainland).
1059: Church of Sts. Cosmas & Damian built on Ćokovac hill above Tkon
(over earlier Byzantine fort remains); ceded 1076 to Biograd's St. John
abbey.
High & Late Middle Ages: Monastic & Glagolitic Center
1125/1129: Venetians destroy Biograd na Moru → Benedictine Rogovska
Abbey (Sts. Cosmas & Damian) relocates to Ćokovac. Tkon develops as the
abbey's fishing/strategic port.
Ćokovac becomes a major Glagolitic
literacy center for northern Dalmatia: numerous manuscripts copied;
early translation of the Rule of St. Benedict into Old Church Slavonic
(11th c. roots, major copies later); Pašman Breviary (14th c.); monks
reportedly taught Glagolitic/Old Slavonic in Prague. Tkonski zbornik
(Tkon Compilation) is a key Glagolitic document.
1202 (4th Crusade
Sack of Zadar): Zadar clergy & nobility flee to Ćokovac.
1345 (Siege
of Zadar): Venetians destroy/damage the monastery, capture monks, seize
archives.
1358 (Treaty of Zadar): Rebuilt; new church constructed.
~1380–1392: Franciscans (Bosnia province) arrive; St. Duje (St. Domnius)
Gothic monastery & church founded in Kraj (near existing church).
Settlement grows around it with Ottoman refugees. Church rebuilt 16th c.
with Andrija Aleši's Renaissance relief of St. Jerome (patron of
Dalmatia) over portal; Baroque gate 1669.
Sts. Cosmas & Damian
Benedictine monastery, Ćokovac (last active male Benedictine monastery
in Croatia):
(Images showing the hilltop monastery complex
overlooking the sea)
Franciscan monastery of St. Duje, Kraj:
(Images of the coastal monastery with cloister)
15th c.: Commenda
(leasehold) in 1434; Ottoman pressure causes land loss & refugee influx
→ modern villages crystallize around monasteries. Ties to Bosnian
Franciscans persist despite bans.
Early Modern to 19th Century
Venetian rule (15th–18th c.): Relatively stable; islanders prized as
galley sailors. Plague devastates Pašman village (~late 17th c.; only 3
families survive).
Habsburg/Austrian rule (post-Napoleonic,
1814/15–1918): Peaceful administration; continued agrarian/fishing
economy.
20th–21st Centuries
Interwar & WWII: Emigration; Tkon
turned into a German fort, repeatedly bombed by Allies (dozens killed,
parish church damaged).
Yugoslavia & independence: Continued
out-migration until tourism boom.
1956: Benedictine community at
Ćokovac revived (abbey suppressed 1808 under French rule).
Today:
Tourism dominant; pristine nature, clear waters (strong currents),
proximity to Kornati NP.
Fra Joakim Jaki Gregov
Krešimir Cosić