The trail of the glagolitic writers
Location: Hinterland, N 45 06.497, E 14 33.784
The Glagolitic alphabet is one of the trademarks of the Dobrinj Region. This ancient alphabet of our ancestors has been saved from oblivion thanks to the enthusiasts bringing a touch of the past into the modern time. Svetko Ušalj from Gabonjin is definitely one of the lovers of the Glagolitic world. He has transliterated numerous documents written in the Glagolitic alphabet and copied the Glagolitic letters from the pergamena parchment onto the stone. It was his idea to open the trail of the glagolitic writers in Gabonjin in 2001 which encompasses the complete Glagolitic alphabet, i.e. 37 Glagolitic letters. They were carved in stone by Mr. Svetko and installed at their permanently designated places through the concerted efforts of the citizens.
Park of the glagolitic alphabet
Location: Hinterland, N 45 06.849, E 14 33.710
The Park of the Glagolitic Alphabet (Park Glagoljice) in Gabonjin, opened in 2010, is part of the further efforts made by the citizens to ensure that the Glagolitic alphabet and the time from which it dates are preserved and promoted at the same time. The sixteen stone tablets making up the Park of the Glagolitic Alphabet are the reminders of the important moments from the local and national history as well as of the individuals that left their traces in the Glagolitic tradition. The main part of the job, from the concept to the execution, was carried out by, you guess, Svetko Ušalj.
Vela gromača and remnnants of the chapel of Saint George
Location: Hinterland, N 45 06.554, E 14 36.509, N 45 06.709E 14 36.347
Gromače or drywalls are one of the distinct features of the island of Krk. The largest example of this type of folk architecture on the island is the so-called ‘Vela gromača’. It is located close to Kras, on the highest summit of Dobrinj Region, known as Kuševica (311 asl). The locals call this part of the Dobrinj Region Sveti Juraj (Saint George). The remnants of a Romanic chapel dedicated to the victorious saint in the fight against a dragon, Saint George, is also found in the vicinity of Vela gromača. It dates from 1230.
Vela gromača – N 45 06.554, E 14 36.509
Chapel of Saint George – N 45 06.709E 14 36.347
Dolova
Location: Hinterland, N 45 06.758, E 14 36.612
The abandoned village of Dolova or the enchanted island forest, as concluded by an excursionist who turned from the main road between Kras and Dobrinj onto a forest path that led him to the died-out village of Dolova. In that village, the oral legend says, lived some of the most beautiful girls of the Dobrinj Region. Maybe the secret to their beauty lay in the waterfalls of Vretenica or Skakavica, the two water springs found not far from Dolova?! Or maybe it really is an enchanted forest, just like the one from the fairytales, hiding a sleeping beauty?! The doors to the abandoned houses are wide open and if you find a sleeping beauty inside, you will definitely find the secret to beauty, the beauty of living in an authentic natural environment, which disappeared in the second half of the 20th century with the last inhabitants of Dolova.
Anchor
Location: Soline, N 45 09.286, E 14 37.200
Even those who are laymen when it comes to the sea and seamanship know the answer to the question: what is an anchor? However, rare are those who will give a correct answer to the question: where is the largest anchor on the Krk Island located? The answer is: in the centre of Klimno. See for yourselves and you will discover that it is truly a ‘recorder’ of the island and, we dare say, even wider!
Remnants of a Byzantine fort
Location: Šilo, N 45 08.658, E 14 40.477
The Remnants of a Roman Villa is a signboard inscription which will lead you, with the help of other similar signs, to the remnants of a Byzantine fort dating from the 6th century. However, as soon as you start enjoying the view of Crikvenica, Selce and the surrounding landscapes, it will become clear to you that this, now ruinous, villa had an additional function. It also served as a watch post. From here, the locals would watch out for the thieves and attackers who did not spare this area during the past centuries either.
Place za mel – A sand unloading place
Location: Šilo, N 45° 08.92', E 14° 39.657
The times when sand was one of the things that promised a relatively decent existence in the Dobrinj Region are not long gone. Thanks to the Krk Steamboat Association, founded in Šilo in 1905, the activity of shipping sand (locally known as ‘mel’) from Šilo to Rijeka, Crikvenica, Opatija, etc. became permanently established. What preceded the shipping was the hard job of excavating the sand from Kava (between Šilo and Polje). Afterwards, the sand was transported by a pulled wagon to the waterfront in Šilo and then unloaded onto ‘place’, i.e. sand unloading places, wherefrom the sand was loaded onto ships. Yes, one must sail, but one must also live. And a sailor’s bread is a bread with seven crusts (‘a pomorski je kruh, kruh sa sedam kora’).
Gumna
Location: DOBRINJ, N 45 07.719, E 14 36.238
Large, small, covered in bushes or still accessible threshing floors, drywall structures locally known as gumna, are proof enough that it was not said in vain that our ancestors paid each piece of bread with at least one blister on their hands. Gumna were used to thresh grain. Before starting to thresh, the oxen (‘jarom’) were muzzled. Each grain was precious, each one counted. Think of that hard work when you come across a gumno.
Infeld gallery
Location: DOBRINJ, N 45 07.818, E 14 36.217
At the beginning of the 20th century, one of the main Dobrinj attractions was the house of sailor Franjo Vušković. From the outside, it attracted attention with the style of construction and the colourfulness of the façade, while from the inside one could hear the sounds which intensified the general impression. Those were the mixed sounds of the gramophone music and the song of a parrot that Franjo Vušković brought from one of his journeys. Ninety years later, one of the greatest world art collectors restored the house’s original exterior and expanded its interior to more than 400 sq m. Thanks to now deceased Peter Infeld, the so-called “Lady of Dobrinj” (“dobrinjska dama”) attracts with its beauty once again, alluring an increasing number of visitors.
Religious museum
Location: DOBRINJ, N 45 07.828, E 14 36.201
Who/what connects Dobrinj and London? The answer is: Paolo Veneziano, a famous artist. His antependium called the Coronation of Mary (Krunjenje Djevice Marije) dating from the 14th century is a priceless work of art proclaimed a cultural monument and the most significant exhibit of the religious collection housed within the Parish Building. An identical antependium designed by the same artist is found in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. In addition to the antependium (which was found by coincidence as a doormat in a family home), the Dobrinj Religious Collection also preserves old scripts written in the Glagolitic alphabet, the reliquary of Saint Ursula (Sveta Uršula) and procession crucifixion crosses presenting crucified Jesus on one side and his mother Mary on the other as collection curiosities!
