The traditional pilgrimage to Our Lady´s island

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The traditional pilgrimage to Our Lady´s island in Nin

The appearance of Our Lady of Zečevo, and the traditional pilgrimage to the nearby Island of Zečevo – which during low tide in fact becomes part of the mainland- is connected with an interesting story which takes us back to the very beginning of the 16th century.

The Turks, in an act of revenge because of the defeat they suffered in Nin, set fire to the Church and Monastery on this island, killed all the monks and took the Statue of Our Lady. The legend has it ,that they threw it into the sea and that Our Lady ‘swam’ to the shore in Nin and in 1516 She appeared to the widow Jelena, sent a message to the people and all this was confirmed by the Statue shedding tears.

This was a good enough reason to organise unique processions to the Island of Zečevo on the 5th May and 5th August every year, which for numerous visitors and local people has become an event to remember. For worshippers and all others, this is an interesting event which ties us to the past and gives us new strength for the future. 

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The Church Holiday of Our Lady of Zečevo

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The Church Holiday of Our Lady of Zečevo in Nin

Every year, at the beginning of May, a large number of pilgrims gather to commemorate the anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady. According to written evidence, and official recognition by the then, diocese of Nin, on 5th May 1516, on the Island of Zečevo, Our Lady appeared to the widowed shepherdess Jelena Grubišić.

Thus Nin became an important Virgin Mary sanctuary in which many worshippers gather in May every year. The Church Holiday of Our Lady of Zečevo is celebrated on the first Monday before the holiday of Ascension. After the Holy Mass, a procession begins in the streets of Nin, which are festively decorated for this occasion. Worshippers carry the Statue of the miracle-making Our Lady of Zečevo and sing the hymn called ‘Dobra Majko sa Zečeva’, (The Good Mother of Zečevo), as well as other hymns dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Miraculous Appearance of Our Lady of Zečevo is commemorated three times a year: on 5th May, on the actual holiday, and on the 5th August. 

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Vrsi

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Vrsi, Vrsi Mulo

The village of Vrsi, widely known for its seamen, is located on a small peninsular and has a beautiful indented coastline 30 kilometers long with a lot of bays and beaches. Many will be surprised to find as many as four small churches in Vrsi. Those who know Vrsi well, know the reason why, as this place was formed from four parts.

Two of them are the small islands of Mišjak and Zečevo. In fact Zečevo is only conditionally an island, that is it can only be called that when it is high tide and seawater floods its low connection with the mainland, and during low tide it becomes a peninsular. Along with the old village centre, most attractive for tourists are Vrsi-Mulo and Vrsi-Zukve, right by the sea in the Nin bay.

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Nin’s Privlaka

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Nin’s Privlaka

If a visitor wants to feel the atmosphere of a former fishing village, he does not need a time machine, he should visit Privlaka which is only 4 kilometers away from Nin. It is located on a spacious, flat peninsular and is surrounded on three sides by the sea and beautiful beaches.

The sunsets here are unforgetable. Privlaka is famous for its „sabunjari“, that is people who dug out sand from the Nin bay using special wooden boats. Today, however, Privlaka is primarily a tourist place, which like Nin, thanks to its sandy beaches and warm, shallow sea is, ideal for a family holiday.

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Nin’s Grbe

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Nin’s Grbe

The tourist place of Grbe is located northeast of Nin and has an interesting history. It developed at the beginning of the 19th century on the remains of the once residential and commercial premises of the tobacco factory which was built by the Venetian nobleman Jerolim Manfrin.

Even today, one of the monumental gates to the former tobacco factory is evident, and most tourists call it the „Triumphal Arch“. The plantation of the tobacco did not last for long and on its remains the place of Grbe developed, building its present and future on tourism.

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Nin’s Zaton

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Nin's Zaton

The administrative part of the town of Nin is a small place called Zaton only 1.5 kilometers south of the old town of Nin. Zaton dates back to the 17th century when the parish church, dedicated to the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built.

The most important monument in Zaton is the Tower of Kaštelina from the 16th century, built by the Venetians in order to defend Nin from the Turks. In front of the headland Kremenjača there are the remains of the ancient port of old Nin (Aenona), which is the subject of underwater archaeological research. Ships, called Serilie Liburnice from the 1st century were found here, whose partial reconstructions are kept in the Museum of Nin Antiquities.

Near to the ancient port there are the remains of the Church of St. Andrew from the 16th century. In the old part of the village Dalmatian style architecture can be seen (17th – 20th century). This is the place tourists often choose for a family holiday. Its position facing the Zadar channel offers an unforgetable experience of the setting sun.

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Riviera Nin

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Riviera Nin

Together with Nin, this riviera includes Grbe and Zaton which belong to it administratively, then the independent municipalities of Vir, Privlaka and Vrsi as well as Petrčane which officially belong to Zadar. These are all beautiful tourist places each having its own interesting story.

This story is further enriched with the close places of Ninski Stanovi, Žerava and Poljica-Brig, also administratively part of the town of Nin, whose idealistic rural setting is completely new, but equally interesting to the visitor.

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Nin’s beaches

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Nin’s beaches

Nin’s beaches are one of its trademarks and an impressive scene remembered by all those who have been here, at least once. It is not surprising that many rate them as among the most beautiful in Croatia, if not in the world.
Nin’s beaches total a staggering 8,000 metres in length. The longest and most famous among them is a three-kilometre long beach to which a legend is connected. Tradition has it that the wife of the first Croatian king, Tomislav, was especially attracted by its beauty, and the Royal Family, whenever they officially came to Nin would visit this beach to enjoy a few rare and relaxing moments there. Hence the name Queen’s Beach because of its extremely long shallow beach and beauty, families with small children even today take delight. What is interesting is that you should pass over a ten metre long shallow stretch of water in order to reach it. In its vicinity there is the largest known location of medicinal mud in Croatia.
According to the choice of the American Travel Channel, the Queen’s Beach is at the top of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The other Nin beaches such as Ždrijac, Prodorica, Bilotnjak as well as Zaton Holiday Resort are also attractive. The last one, which is located in the tourist settlement Zaton Holiday Resort, has a blue flag as an internationally recognised sign for quality and facilities. The beach is surrounded by children’s theme parks, swimming pools and water slides with many restaurants and cafes.

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