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Senj

Coordinates:44°59′24.52″N14°54′10.96″E/ 44.9901444°N 14.9030444°E/44.9901444; 14.9030444
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withSinjorSanj.
For the village near Buzet, seeSenj, Istria County.

Senj
Town
Grad Senj
Town of Senj
Clockwise, from top: Senj harbour, City walls, medieval city hall,Nehaj,Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, Senj,Bell tower of the Co-Cathedral
Official seal of Senj
Seal
Map
Senj is located in Croatia
Senj
Senj
Location of Senj within Croatia
Coordinates:44°59′24.52″N14°54′10.96″E/ 44.9901444°N 14.9030444°E/44.9901444; 14.9030444
CountryCroatia
CountyLika-Senj
Government
• MayorJurica Tomljanović (HDZ)
• Town Council
13 members
Area
[1]
•Town657.9 km2(254.0 sq mi)
• Urban
3.2 km2(1.2 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
(2021)[2]
•Town5,973
• Density9.1/km2(24/sq mi)
•Urban
4,164
• Urban density1,300/km2(3,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code
53 270
Area code053
Websitesenj.hr

Senj(Croatian:[sêɲ];[3]Italian:Segna;Latin:Senia;HungarianandGerman:Zengg) is a town on the upperAdriaticcoast in Croatia, in the foothills of theMala KapelaandVelebitmountains.

The symbol of the town is theNehaj Fortress(Croatian:Tvrđava Nehaj) which was completed in 1558. For a time this was the seat of theUskoks(Italian:Uscocchi), who were Christian refugees fromOttoman Bosniaresettled here to protect theHabsburgborderlands. TheRepublic of Veniceaccused the Uskoks ofpiracyand declaredwar on themwhich led to their expulsion following a truce in 1617.

Senj is to be found in theLika-Senj Countyof Croatia, theRoman Catholic Diocese of Gospić-Senjand theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Rijeka.

History[edit]

Kingdom of Croatia postage stamp, 1888.

Senj has apparently been inhabited since prehistoric times. Senj is an old settlement founded more than 3000 years ago on Kukhill,which iseastof today's Senj.[4]A settlement called Athyinites or Athuinites (Αθυινιτες) in today's Senj was mentioned inGreekdocuments dated to 4th century BC.[4]TheIllyriantribesIapodesandLiburniansinhabited the area as it was located in Illyria.

Seniawas a thriving town in theRomanprovince ofDalmatia,used by the Romans as a stronghold against the Illyrians in the 2nd century BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire, theAvarsand theCroatseventually settled here in the 7th century AD.

The Catholicdiocese of Senjwas established in 1169. King ofHungaryBéla IIIgave the town to theKnights Templarin 1184, and in 1271 it became the property of theFrankopancounts ofKrk.

In 1248 the bishop of Senj was allowed byPope Innocent IVto use theGlagolitic alphabetand thevernacularin liturgy. A Glagoliticprinting presswas set up in 1494 and produced theincunabulaThe Glagolic MissalandSpovid općena.

The military captaincy of Senj was established in 1469 in order to defend against the invadingOttomanandVenetianarmies. The town sheltered thousands of refugees from nearby occupied areas. TheNehaj Fortresswas completed in 1558 on the hillNehaj,which at the time was outside of town. Today it is wholly within the town's borders. Thewars with the Ottomanslasted well into the 17th century. During this time theUskokslived in Senj and occupied its fortress. One of the most significant Uskoks wasIvo Senjanin(Ivo of Senj), who frequently launched expeditions against the Ottomans until his execution in 1612. They served an important purpose during the wars since they had small units of men rowing swift boats that proved to be very effectiveguerrillaforces. However, after theUskok Warwith Venice, which ended in 1617, they were forbidden to settle in the area. Prince Radic was appointed Prince of Senj by king Rudolf emperor of Austria (1 December 1600). (Radic family) Native noble family from Lika region; members of the family were Uskok military leaders at the headquarters in Senj.

Notable polymath and writerPavao Ritter Vitezovićwas born within the city walls in 1652, whose work later inspired theIllyrian movement.

The 18th century brought some prosperity, especially with the construction of theJosephina(named afterEmperor Joseph II) linking the Adriatic coast via Senj toKarlovac.The railway line built in 1873 between Fiume (Rijeka) and Karlovac did not pass by Senj which held back further development.

Until 1918, the town was part of theAustrian monarchy(Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia,Lika-Krbava Countyafter thecompromise of 1867), in theCroatian Military Frontier(Regiment III).[5][6]

In the fall of 1943, duringWorld War II,whenFascist Italycapitulated, thePartisanstook control of Senj and used it as a supply port. Subsequently, theLuftwaffestarted bombarding the town. By the end of the year they had demolished over half of the buildings in town and inflicted heavy civilian casualties.[7]

Climate[edit]

Senj has a temperate climate which is usually described as temperate Oceanic or Marine west coast, with mild, windy winters and relatively dry and warm summers. According to the Köppen climate classification it falls within a cool, dry-summer subtropical zone (Csb), with cool-summer Mediterranean characteristics such as its usually dry summers.

Climate data for Senj
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.3
(68.5) 		22.2
(72.0) 		25.9
(78.6) 		29.5
(85.1) 		33.6
(92.5) 		36.3
(97.3) 		39.7
(103.5) 		38.6
(101.5) 		35.6
(96.1) 		29.9
(85.8) 		26.9
(80.4) 		20.9
(69.6) 		39.7
(103.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0) 		6.6
(43.9) 		9.5
(49.1) 		13.3
(55.9) 		17.9
(64.2) 		21.9
(71.4) 		24.5
(76.1) 		24.2
(75.6) 		20.2
(68.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		11.1
(52.0) 		7.5
(45.5) 		14.9
(58.8)
Record low °C (°F) −11.8
(10.8) 		−16.6
(2.1) 		−9.3
(15.3) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		3.4
(38.1) 		7.6
(45.7) 		10.5
(50.9) 		8.2
(46.8) 		6.7
(44.1) 		1.6
(34.9) 		−4.9
(23.2) 		−10.4
(13.3) 		−16.6
(2.1)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 94.2
(3.71) 		90.4
(3.56) 		86.7
(3.41) 		96.1
(3.78) 		91.7
(3.61) 		84.9
(3.34) 		64.5
(2.54) 		94.6
(3.72) 		137.9
(5.43) 		143.4
(5.65) 		165.3
(6.51) 		124.5
(4.90) 		1,274.2
(50.16)
Average rainy days 10 9 10 12 11 10 8 8 9 10 13 12 122
Average snowy days 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 10
Mean monthlysunshine hours 100.9 123.2 158.1 187.7 242.7 265.8 310.2 287.2 214.7 167.6 101.8 90.2 2,250.1
Source:Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service[8]

Economy[edit]

View of the town

Modern Senj is a seaside tourist town. Primary industries are fishing, boating, and tourism.

Population[edit]

As of the 2021 census, Senj had a population of 5,973, with 97.30% being ethnic Croats. The largest minorities are Serbs with a population of 43 (0.72%) and Albanians with a population of 27 (0.45%)[9][10]

Town of Senj:Population trends 1857–2021
population
13268
15295
14782
14852
15857
16713
14963
14572
13289
12953
12235
10399
9582
9205
8132
7182
5973
18571869188018901900191019211931194819531961197119811991200120112021
Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

There are 27 settlements in the Town of Senj and they include (population as of 2011):[11]

Notable people[edit]

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia

Senj istwinnedwith:[12]

Gallery[edit]

  • Senj waterfront
    Senj waterfront
  • Senj harbor chained with snow after a cold front
    Senj harbor chained with snow after a cold front
  • The Three Seamen statue
    The Three Seamenstatue
  • The Sundial in the town that lies on the north 45th parallel
    TheSundialin the town that lies on thenorth 45th parallel
  • View of the Adriatic Sea
    View of the Adriatic Sea
  • The fortress Nehaj is the most famous monument and symbol of Senj
    Thefortress Nehajis the most famous monument and symbol of Senj
  • A view of Senj from the sea.
    A view of Senj from the sea.

References[edit]

  1. ^Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia.WikidataQ119585703.
  2. ^"Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements"(xlsx).Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.2022.
  3. ^Deanović, Mirko; Jernej, Josip (1975). "Sȅnj".Hrvatsko ili srpsko-talijanski rječnik(4th ed.). Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
  4. ^ab"Povijest grada | Grad Senj – Službene stranice Grada Senja".www.senj.hr.RetrievedMay 24,2023.
  5. ^Perhaps Regiment II. The map shows Zengg at the borderline between II and III.
  6. ^Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850–1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961.
  7. ^Mihael Sobolevski (December 1, 2003)."Bombardiranje Senja zrakoplovima u Drugom svjetskom ratu".The Review of Senj(in Croatian). City Museum Senj – Senj Museum Society.ISSN0582-673X.
  8. ^"Mjesečne vrijednosti za Senj u razdoblju1948−2014"(in Croatian). Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service.RetrievedDecember 3,2015.
  9. ^"Stanovništvo u najvećim gradovima, općinama i naseljima"[Population in major towns, municipalities and settlements](xlsx).Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.2022.
  10. ^"Population by Towns/Municipalities"(xlsx).Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.2022.
  11. ^"Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census".Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.December 2012.
  12. ^"Gradovi prijatelji Grada Senja"(in Croatian). Senj.RetrievedFebruary 8,2024.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSenj.
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