Rab
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{{Infobox Islands
| name = Rab
| image name = Rab town from the see.jpg
| image caption = [[Rab (town)]]
| image size =
| locator map = Croatia - Rab.PNG
| native name =
| native name link = Croatian
| nickname =
| location = [[Adriatic sea]]
| coordinates = {{coor title dm|44|46|N|14|46|E|}}
| archipelago =
| total islands =
| major islands =
| area = 93.6 km²
| highest mount = Kamenjak
| elevation = 408 m
| country = Croatia
| country admin divisions title = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| country admin divisions = [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar County|Primorje-Gorski]]
| country capital city =
| country largest city = [[Rab (town)|Rab]]
| country largest city population = 9,480
| country leader title =
| country leader name =
| population = 9,480
| population as of = 2001
| density = 101
| ethnic groups =
| additional info =
}}
[[Image:Rab1.jpg|thumb|270px|The historic town center of Rab]]
'''Rab''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] ''Arbe'', [[German language|German]]: ''Arbey'') is an island and a town of the same name located just off the northern [[Croatia]]n coast in the [[Adriatic Sea]], today in the [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar county]].
The island is 22 km long, has an area of 93.6 km² and 9,480 inhabitants (2001). The highest peak is Kamenjak at 408 meters. The northeastern side of the island is mostly barren, [[karst]], while the southwestern side is covered by one of the last [[oak]] forest of the Mediterranean.
Ferries connect the island of Rab with the mainland port of [[Jablanac]] and with the neighbouring islands of [[Krk]] and [[Pag (island)|Pag]].
==Name==
The island of Rab was first mentioned in a [[Greek language|Greek]] source [[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax]] (360 BC) and then by other Greek and [[Roman Republic|Roman]] geographists by the name ''Arba''. That name belonged to the [[Liburnians]], so far the oldest known inhabitants of the island. Arba was also the name of the Liburnian settlement in the modern city of Rab. It is not certain how old this name is; it may be as old as the settlement, which means from the beginning of the [[Iron Age]], since the Liburnians did not build the city walls on the island. The Illyrian-Liburnian word ''Arb'' meant 'dark, obscure, green, forested'. Therefore name Arba should be comprehended as a toponym meaning "Black island", due to the rich pine forests that once grew on the island.
After the 1st century AD it was recorded by many other Greek and Roman authors by the names ''Arba'' and ''Arva''.
Its Medieval [[Dalmatian language|Dalmatian]] speaking population used ''Arbe'', ''Arbia'', ''Arbiana'', ''Arbitana'' and most frequently ''Arbum'' in the documents written in the [[Latin language]].
Arbe became also the [[Venetian language|Venetian]] name of the city in the 15th century when it fell under the authority of the [[Republic of Venice]].
In the [[Croatian language]] it became ''Rab'', a form which probably goes back as far as the 7th century when the [[Slavs]] began to settle on the island. However the first record of name Rab is preserved only in the middle of the 15th century (in a Latin document relating to the establishment of the Franciscan monastery of St. Eufemija), since the major establishment of [[Croats|Croatian]] inhabitants in the city did not occur before the 10th century, unlike the rest of the island and region.
==History==
The island is first heard of under the [[Illyrians]] in 360 BC. It was part of [[Liburnia]] and then part of the [[Roman Empire]]. The emperor [[Octavian Augustus]] built town walls and gave Rab the title of [[Municipium]].
[[Saint Marinus]], the founder of the mini-state of [[San Marino]], originated on Rab, whence he fled during the religious persecutions of the Emperor [[Diocletian]] (this ancient tie is commemorated in the present twin-city agreement between Rab and San Marino).
During the [[Middle Ages]] Rab was part of the [[Byzantine Empire]], then, for a short time, part of the [[Kingdom of Croatia]], then in [[1358]] the island came under the rule of [[Louis I of Hungary|King Louis the Great]], the [[Angevin]] ruler of [[Hungary]].
During the [[Renaissance]] it was ruled by [[Venice]] from 1409 until the 18th century followed by a brief interlude under [[Napoleon]]. It was eventually annexed by the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire|Habsburgs]] in 1815 and remained under Austrian rule till 1918.
Since a majority of its residents were Italian-speaking, the locals sought to be annexed to the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]], but Italy eventually decided to cede the island to [[Yugoslavia]] in 1921, and many of its Italian-speaking residents subsequently left for Istria and the rest of Italy.
During [[World War II]], the forces of [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]] established the [[Rab concentration camp]] on the island. A memorial complex built in 1953 commemorates the site of the former camp, located in the village of Kampor.
After the Second World War, the island was part of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] until the [[Croatian independence referendum]] in 1991.
The island of Rab is rich in cultural heritage and cultural-historical monuments that make it a popular vacation destination. Rab is also known as a pioneer of [[naturism]] after the visit of [[King Edward VIII]] and Mrs [[Wallis Simpson]].
The island is nowadays very popular with tourists and families for its beautiful nature, beaches, heritage and many events, particularly the Rab [[arbalest]] tournament and the Rab Medieval festival - [[Rapska Fjera]].
== Twin cities ==
{{see also|Town twinning}}
* {{flagicon|Slovenia}} [[Sežana]], [[Slovenia]]
* [[Königsbrunn]] , Germany
* [[San Marino]]
==External links==
* [http://www.tzg-rab.hr/ Rab tourist office]
* [http://www.rab.hr/ Rab city web site]
* [http://www.kristofor.hr/ Kristofor travel: website with tourist services and accommodations]
* [http://www.numero-uno.hr/eng/index.php Accommodation in Rab and Lopar]
* [http://www.burger.si/Croatia/Rab/360Rab_ObalnaPromenada.html/ Virtual Tour of Rab]
{{Inhabited Islands of Croatia}}
[[Category:Islands of Croatia]]
[[de:Rab]]
[[fr:Rab]]
[[he:ראב]]
[[hr:Rab]]
[[it:Arbe]]
[[hu:Rab (sziget)]]
[[nl:Rab]]
[[ja:ラブ島]]
[[no:Rab]]
[[nn:Rab]]
[[pl:Rab (wyspa)]]
[[ru:Раб (остров)]]
[[sl:Rab]]
[[sr:Раб (острво)]]
[[vec:Arbe]]