Nin
The Croatian Bethlehem is situated at 14 km northwest of Zadar, and the ancient town nucleus is situated on a diameter of only 500 meters connected to the mainland by two stone bridges. To the north, south and west, it is surrounded by lovely long and shallow sandy beaches while to the east extend the salt fields. A town of ancient past, it is 3,000 old and is among the oldest towns on the eastern Adriatic coast. It was founded by the Liburnians in the 9th century B.C. for it was their maritime and trade center. The ancient port of Nin, Aenona at the time, was on the area of the locality of Zaton Holiday Resort and the well-known campsite Zaton where remains are visible in the sea even today (1st cent.). In Roman times Nin became an important municipium.
The remains of the biggest ancient temple on the eastern side of the Adriatic date from that time (1st cent.), mosaic on the floors of rich houses, remains of Roman buildings in the center of the islet, monumental statues of Roman emperors and other. Nin is the cradle of Croatian history. It was the first political, religious and cultural center of medieval Croatia. Nin is also the oldest Croatian royal town, permanent and temporary center of the Croatian rulers: princes Višeslav, Trpimir and Branimir, kings Tomislav, Petar Krešimir IV, Zvonimir and others.
Rich archeological findings can be seen in the Museum of Nin Antiquities where two original Old Croatian boats can be seen Condura Croatica (11th cent.) and the reconstruction of a part of the Liburnian boat Serilie Liburnice (1st cent.). The church treasury offers the exhibition “The Gold and Silver of Nin” with exhibits: Juda’s silver coin, Pope Pius II ring , reliquaries of Nin patron saints from 8th-13th cent., a painting of the appearance of Our Lady and other. Today Nin is a modern tourist and cultural destination visited by tourists for its exceptionally preserved natural heritage and clean environment, rich cultural heritage and the most modern tourist village with apartments and a campsite Zaton Holiday Resort adapted to the most demanding guests of today.
![Condura Croatica
In 1966, at the entrance into the port of Nin, remains of boats were found by chance. They were taken out of the sea 1974 and transferred to Zadar.These boats sailed in the 11th cent, beginning of the 12thcent. It is supposed that they correspond to the konduras mentioned by Emperor Konstantin Porphyrogenitos in the 10th century when he spoke of the Old Croatian navy. This is one of the reasons why the discovered boats were called Condura Croatica. This boats were the smallest but most dangerous war boats in world history. Condura Croatica were described by the Byzantine Emperor Bizantski car Konstantin Porfirogenet, and thanks to these documents we were able to find out that the Croats had a great number [about 80] such boats.7-8 m in length, they were built in the classical manner with ribs and paneling connected with wooden and iron nails. Their shape classifies them as narrow boats, and they were used as quick row boats, and in case of favorable wind a rectangular sail would be raised and then the function of the parallel joists at the bottom would change and they would become boat stabilizers. These boats were made and probably sailed at the time of the Croatian rulers Krešimir IV and Zvonimir. According to a historical document at the time of King Krešimir Croatia had 20.000 rowers on konduras, and some sources say that King Tomislav had 15,000 kondura rowers ready in Nin.The Condura Croatica iis exhibited today in the Nin Museum of Antiquities in a separate pavilion while a replica is near the Lower Town Bridge.](http://www.filipsubrt.com/Travel/Croatia/Nin/i-nkmmVPX/0/Ti/IMGP3323-Ti.jpg "Condura Croatica
In 1966, at the entrance into the port of Nin, remains of boats were found by chance. They were taken out of the sea 1974 and transferred to Zadar.These boats sailed in the 11th cent, beginning of the 12thcent. It is supposed that they correspond to the konduras mentioned by Emperor Konstantin Porphyrogenitos in the 10th century when he spoke of the Old Croatian navy. This is one of the reasons why the discovered boats were called Condura Croatica. This boats were the smallest but most dangerous war boats in world history. Condura Croatica were described by the Byzantine Emperor Bizantski car Konstantin Porfirogenet, and thanks to these documents we were able to find out that the Croats had a great number [about 80] such boats.7-8 m in length, they were built in the classical manner with ribs and paneling connected with wooden and iron nails. Their shape classifies them as narrow boats, and they were used as quick row boats, and in case of favorable wind a rectangular sail would be raised and then the function of the parallel joists at the bottom would change and they would become boat stabilizers. These boats were made and probably sailed at the time of the Croatian rulers Krešimir IV and Zvonimir. According to a historical document at the time of King Krešimir Croatia had 20.000 rowers on konduras, and some sources say that King Tomislav had 15,000 kondura rowers ready in Nin.The Condura Croatica iis exhibited today in the Nin Museum of Antiquities in a separate pavilion while a replica is near the Lower Town Bridge.")
