Krk — The Forgotten Glagolitic Codex

Your quest begins at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, a Class I Croatian Cultural Monument, built in the 5th century on a 4th-century early Christian basilica. It is here, according to local chronicles, that Francis of Assisi preached in 1220. Bishop Andrea Soranzo added the 30-meter bell tower in 1453. Search for the 12th-century Glagolitic inscriptions in the apse, precious clues to your lost codex, and unravel the mysteries of this central site of Croatian Romanesque heritage.

Continue towards Frankopan Castle, constructed in the 12th century by the Dujam family and expanded in the 15th by the Frankopan dynasty. This residence of the princes of Krk until 1480, covering 5000 m², was the signing site of the Pactum Carniolense in 1420. The main tower, 20 meters high, and the 3-meter thick walls, will guide you through Krk's medieval intrigues, one of the gems among Kvarner's medieval villas.

Take Ulica Antuna Mahnića, a 12th-century paved medieval alley, an ancient via sacra leading from the cathedral to the castle. It is lined with 15th-16th century Gothic-Renaissance houses, with their carved stone portals. This artery, named after Bishop Antun Mahnić, testifies to the vitality of the European Glagolitic Route and leads you to the Church of St. Quirinus, built around 1100, with its semi-circular apse and 13th-century Glagolitic inscriptions.

Your journey then takes you to the Krk City Walls, urban ramparts erected from the 13th to 15th centuries over a perimeter of 1.2 km, incorporating Frankopan Castle with its 15th-century barbican. These defenses, restored in 1550 after the Ottoman attack of 1542, include 14 preserved watchtowers. Pass through Velika Vrata, the main Great Gate built in 1481 in Gothic-Venetian style, with its 6-meter arch and Frankopan coat of arms, a ceremonial entry point for kings and Doges of Venice.

Your exploration concludes in Vela Placa, the main medieval square formed in the 13th century, Krk's administrative heart with the communal palace built in 1449. This area, paved with local limestone and surrounded by Gothic arcades, was the setting for the Frankopan princes' judgments. By traversing the 2000 m² of this square, you will assemble the final pieces of your codex. This Kvarner thematic circuit will have provided you with an unforgettable interactive Krk visit, revealing the richness of Krk's history and its Glagolitic heritage.