The ancient port

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

The ancient port in Nin

Remains say: Nin as far back as the 9th century BC was a strong maritime and trading centre and an important port on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. It was founded by the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians, under the name of Aenona which had an important trading role.

The ancient port of old Nin is one of the largest and according to findings the richest port area from that period on the eastern Adriatic. It was located in what is today Zaton, southwest of Nin. During low tide on the headland called Kremenjača near the tourist settlement of Zaton Holiday Resort the remains of the breakwater and ancient walls from the 1st century BC can be seen.

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Mozaics

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

Mozaics in Nin

What was life like once upon a time? What was the occupation of the inhabitants of Nin? In the Nin area of Banovac the remains of a large Roman house, with an area of 17×30 metres were found.

Together with these remains new insights into the urban life of the then Aenona ”emerged”. This is supported by the discovery of an area of a rare floor mozaic featuring animal, geometrical and plant decorations which have been dated to the 2nd century by conservationists and archaeologists. 

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The Roman Temple

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The Roman Temple in Nin

In the very centre of Nin, on the location of the once Roman forum, the remains of a monumental Roman Temple can be found, the biggest on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. They date from the second half of the 1st century AD., from the reign of the Roman Emperor Vespazian 69-79 AD.

His name is found on the inscription carved on the frieze from the facade of the Temple. The ground plan of the Temple shows two parts of the same size, the shrine (cella) on the western side and a porch in front of it on the eastern side. The outside circumference of the building was 33m in length and 23.5m in width. The shrine inside, was divided into three areas, separated one from the other by two columns on each side.

Most probably sculptures of deities were placed in it. Entrance to the central area was through a portal from which fragments of the lintel and door post have been preserved. In front of the shrine there is a spacious porch which on its facade from the eastern side, had six fluted columns.

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The Museum of salt

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

The Museum of salt in Nin

For some, their natual wealth is gold-for Nin they have salt, a source of existence, but also a traditon which recently was converted into a unique institution and tourist attraction-the Museum of salt.

If you want to see a traditional way of salt production, if you are interested in souvenirs from salt, or would like to taste “the flower of salt“, by many called the „caviar of salt“-you are in the right place which will take you to a really special world of the salt pans of Nin, so different from what you have seen, experienced or tasted so far.

The Museum story of salt-whose institutional beginnings came with the opening of the Nin Salt works in 1955-starts with revealing its effects on health and ways of exploitation as well as the tools and equipment which were used in the process. It is possible also here to buy original Croatian salt and to taste the famous “salt flower“-French “Fleur de Sel“, which is evidence of ecological and traditional production and a perfect addition to every meal.

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The gold and silver church treasury of Nin

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

The gold and silver church treasury of Nin

There are numerous churches in Nin, those which once existed and are preserved to date are a real treasure of valuable artistic items. Part of them are kept in the collection of Church art, the Gold and Silver of the town of Nin, which can be found in a specially prepared area next to the parish Church, the one time Cathedral.

There you have the opportunity to see items from the period of the foundation of the diocese of Nin and earlier. The collection also contains exceptionally valuable reliquaries of the heavenly patron saints of St Anselm, St Ambrose and St Marcela from the end of the 8th – 15th century. Also kept here are wood carvings and votive gifts given to Our Lady of Zečevo. The Church treasury „Gold and Silver of the town of Nin“ also contains: a Judas silver coin, the ring of Pope Pio II from the 15th century, the painting of the appearance of Our Lady and other valuable objects.

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The Museum of Nin Antiquities

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The Museum of Nin Antiquities in Nin

If you want to know about an important part of the history of Nin in the shortest possible time, a visit to the Museum of Nin Antiquities is advised, whose exhibits are displayed in seven separate rooms. All the most important historical periods in the development of Nin are encaptured, and each is divided into several themes accompanied by rich archaeological, theme and item guides, reconstructions, models, photographs and ground plans.
The most valuable findings which are kept in the Museum of Nin Antiquities are two original old Croatian boats from the 11th century called Condura Croatica. Next to them there is a copy of part of the boat called Serilia Liburnica from the 1st century and a replica of the Baptismal font of Duke Višeslav, as well as many remains of the material culture from Prehistoric, Roman Old Christian and Old Croatian life of Nin.

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The old croatian boat Condura Croatica

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

The old croatian boat Condura Croatica in Nin

The historical story of Nin is the story of prosperity based on salt as well as its long maritime tradition, together with recognisable boats called Condura Croatica.
These boats were found at the entrance to the port of Nin in 1966, and taken out of the sea in 1974 when the desalination, conservation and restoration began in Zadar. They sailed at the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century, and is supposed that it was these very boats mentioned by the Emperor Constantin Porfirogenet in the 10th century when he spoke about the old Croatian navy.

This is the reason why the boats were called Condura Croatica.
Interestingly, these are the smallest but the most deadly war ships in the world’s history, of which the Croats-as we find out from the description of the Byzantine Emperor Porfirogenet –possessed around eighty. They were 7-8 m long, narrow and built in the classical manner, with the ribs and panelling of the boat’s starboard connected with wooden and iron nails. In the situation where there were favourable winds, a square sail would be used. They were also used as fast rowing boats.
These boats were made and probably sailed during the reign of the Croatian national Kings, Krešimir IV and Zvonimir. Historical records say that during the reign of King Krešimir IV. Croatia possessed up to 20,000 rowers on Conduras. Some sources also say that King Tomislav, in Nin alone had 15,000 rowers ready on Conduras.

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Glagolitic script

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Glagolitic script in Nin

The Bishop of Nin, one of the most prominent bishops of Nin was a strong advocate of the old folk alphabet, glagolitic and the old Slavonic language. The oldest literary and historical monuments of this region were written in glagolitic script which was obvious evidence of ancient culture and the awereness of national identity and patriotism.

The historian Kerubin Šegvić wrote about this in 1925: „Among the cultural advantages which the Croatian people can take pride in is the fact that they have their own national script. Every nation upon being baptised and entering Christianity would immediately receive the Holy Books translated into their language along with the clergy who used it.

When they were made Christian and gave a written promise to the Roman Pope to be at peace with the surrounding nations, the Croats were supposed to get, and got, holy liturgical books, their own clergy and their own Bishop of Nin in the 9th – 10th century. Glagolitic is the script in which our oldest literary and historical monuments were written. The Croats proudly point their finger to these monuments which are evidence of their ancient culture and resistant strength.“

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