550TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF PAG

In a donation dating from 1071 the Croatian King Petar Krešimir lV fatefully divided the isle of Pag between Rab and Nin, mentioning old Caska and also a new name for the island - Pag. Stari Grad (Pag) obviously already existed and its role in the fate of the island, in the constant bloody wars between Pag and Zadar and Zadar and Venice, constantly increased. Thus in 1192 it got its own rector and some troops and there is record of a considerable number of families in Caska and other settlements. The new town began to be built 18 May, 1443 in a place called Katena, one and a half kilometres from the old site. First the foundation stone of the parish church was laid and one hour later, as a chronicle records, the foundations of the big tower by the town gates. As a result of wars, plague and lack of money building continued until October 1470. The main appearance, and some of the construction, was the work of Juraj Dalmatinac and it was built in an amalgam of Gothic and Renaissance styles. When it was completed the last of the nine towers was called Scrivanato. Pag was then encircled by walls and towers. The inhabitants of Stari Grad did not move into the new town very quickly and besides people many of the decorative elements of the older settlement were also transferred to the new one. In spite of opposition from the Archbishop of Zadar the Benedictines settled in Pag and built there a church and monastery of St. Margareth. The passing centuries have obliterated much that was beautiful from that time but still left are some valuable fragments from the rector's and bishop's residences and some old urban houses, also the fine parish Church of the Assumption - built on the pattern of the Romanesque and Gothic church in Stari Grad. The building incorporates much of the genius of Dalmatia and echoes (stone rosettes, women's head coverings) of the famous and beautiful Pag lace. The stamp was printed in sheets of 20. HPT issued First Day Cover and a Commemorative Sheet, too.