Pag can be explored through several very different facets: its planned Renaissance town, the history of Pag lace and the central Prosika town beach. When choosing when to travel, bear in mind that, alongside the historic sites, workshops, performances and some beach activities are seasonal. This lets you balance cultural and beach activities according to the specific dates and your priorities.
Pag: city history and architecture
The Renaissance town of Pag was planned and built in the 15th century. The Church of the Assumption of Mary stands in its central square. Its cornerstone was laid on 18 May 1443; it is considered Pag’s most valuable monument of sacred architecture. Kula Skrivanat is the only one of the nine towers that once defended the town of Pag to have survived. Today, a promenade runs alongside the tower.
Another historic landmark is Stari grad Pag: the site is archaeologically significant and a place of worship. The Romanesque Church of St. Mary has been preserved there. The two churches have different names and represent different aspects of Pag’s sacred history.
Pag lace, exhibitions and performances
Pag lace was inscribed on UNESCO’s Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. The Paške čipke Gallery has been in Pag since 1998; it is run by the Frane Budak Lace-Making Association. Visitors can see how Pag lace is made there. Those interested in the craft can find another perspective on its cultural significance at the KUD Družina Ethno Gallery: it displays Pag shirts adorned with Pag lace, as well as historic pieces of furniture and photographs that bear witness to life in Pag in the past.
The folk play Robinija is also part of the cultural tradition. It is traditionally performed during the carnival season and as part of Pag Summer and the Ethno Evenings; event dates vary. In summer, various cultural and entertainment events are also held at Kula Skrivanat. If you would like to plan around these performances or events, check the dates before your trip.
Salt pans, the town beach and landscape
The Jutra u poljima soli programme combines the history of salt with hands-on activities. From 1 June, the Pag Saltworks offers outdoor educational workshops about the history and production of salt as part of the programme. Activities include collecting salt under the guidance of an experienced saltworks employee, as well as tasting different salts and fleur de sel. As this is a seasonal offering, it is advisable to check the dates before your trip.
Prosika is Pag’s central town beach. Activities on offer include swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, tennis, pedal boating, water scooters and water slides. The activities and facilities available may vary by season. Beach plans therefore differ in timing from the town’s enduring architectural and cultural heritage.
A natural spa with mud-rich sediments is located in the Lokunja area in the heart of Pag. Dry-stone walls and boundary walls are also part of the cultural landscape: these centuries-old walls are regarded as defining testimonies to Pag’s past and lasting monuments to the arduous work of Pag’s laborers.
Getting to Pag
The town of Pag can be reached via the Pag Bridge. Buses reach it from two directions: either via the bridge or by taking the Prizna–Žigljen ferry. Check the ferry schedule before your trip. A catamaran connects Rijeka with Novalja via Rab and takes two and a half hours; it is not a direct connection to Pag. Zadar’s Zemunik Airport is 42 km from Pag.
Discover more destinations: Gorica, Miskovici, Dinjiška, Vidalici, Bošana, Zubovici, Kolanjski Gajac, Metajna.
For the broader travel overview: Općina Pag.
