Novigrad Cittanova, Sitanova | |
|---|---|
| Grad Novigrad - Città di Cittanova[1] Town of Novigrad | |
.jpg)        Novigrad | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Novigrad | |
| Coordinates:45°19′N13°33′E / 45.317°N 13.550°E /45.317; 13.550 | |
| Country |  Croatia |
| Region | Istria |
| County |  Istria County |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Anteo Milos (IDS) |
| Area | |
• Town | 10.3 sq mi (26.6 km2) |
| • Land | 10 sq mi (27 km2) |
| • Urban | 1.7 sq mi (4.3 km2) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Town | 3,889 |
| • Density | 370/sq mi (140/km2) |
| • Urban | 2,292 |
| • Urban density | 1,400/sq mi (530/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 52466 |
| Area code | 052 |
| Website | novigrad |
Novigrad (Italian:Cittanova;[4]Venetian:Sitanova) is a town inIstria County in westCroatia. It is also sometimes referred to asNovigrad Istarski (Cittanova d'Istria;Sitanova d'Ìstria) to distinguish it from threeother Croatian towns of the same name.
Novigrad is set on a small peninsula on the western coast ofIstria, two kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the mouth of the riverMirna and some 25 km (16 mi) south of the border withSlovenia.
There was an ancient city in the broad area of what is now Novigrad, which was calledAemona. In the 5th and 6th centuries, Novigrad was calledNeapolis (Greek Νεάπολις). From the earlyMiddle Ages and right up until 1828 it was the seat of theDiocese of Novigrad, which has been identified with the Ancient see ofAemona and nominally restored as Latin Catholictitular see under both names. From 1270 it was under the rule of theVenetian Republic, which gave it theItalian name ofCittanova, until Venicefell in the late 18th century. According to the 1921 census, all but a few[5] residents used Italian as theirhabitual language.[6]
Situated on a peninsula, Novigrad has retained its medieval structure and layout, with narrow, winding streets and small shops. The fortifications belong to the medieval era: the town wall still stands with its battlements and two round towers. There are examples of secular architecture from the time of the Venetian empire, such as the town loggia and several houses built inVenetian Gothic style.
The present church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries on the foundations of the 8th-centurybasilica of Saint Pelagius that had a nave and two aisles. Under the present presbytery is apre-romanesque crypt. In the sacristy are 15th-century antiphonaries with beautiful simple initials.
Novigrad was the host of the2016 nine-pin bowling Single's World Championships.
According to the 2021 census, its population was 3,889, with 2,292 living in the village proper.[3] At the2011 census the town proper had a population of 2,622, while the administrative area – which also includes four nearby villages – had 4,345 inhabitants.[7] 66% of population were ethnicCroats while the biggest minority group wereIstrian Italians (10%).
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,562 | — |
| 1890 | 1,740 | +11.4% |
| 1900 | 2,012 | +15.6% |
| 1910 | 2,275 | +13.1% |
| 1921 | 2,221 | −2.4% |
| 1931 | 2,443 | +10.0% |
| 1948 | 2,313 | −5.3% |
| 1953 | 1,743 | −24.6% |
| 1961 | 2,094 | +20.1% |
| 1971 | 2,398 | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 2,619 | +9.2% |
| 1991 | 3,270 | +24.9% |
| 2001 | 4,002 | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 4,345 | +8.6% |
| Source: Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, DZS, Zagreb, 2005 | ||
According to the 2011 census, Novigrad had 2,622 residents, with a total municipal population of 4,345.[7]
| population | 1303 | 1404 | 1562 | 1740 | 2012 | 2275 | 2221 | 2443 | 2313 | 1743 | 2094 | 2398 | 2619 | 3270 | 4002 | 4345 | 3889 |
| 1857 | 1869 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
Ethnic Croats comprised 66.42% of the total population, followed byItalians (10.20%),Albanians (3.36%),Serbs (2.83%) andSlovenes (2.09%), while 10.66% of the population was regionally affiliated.[8] Italians in Novigrad are organised in an association with the objective of preserving and promoting the specificity of the Italian community.[9]
The Town of Novigrad consists of followingsettlements:
Italian is an official language alongside with Croatian: although theGovernment of the Republic of Croatia does not guarantee official Croatian-Italian bilinguialism, the statute of Novigrad/Cittanova itself guarantees it.[10]: 3 Preserving traditional Italian place names and assigning street names to Italian historical figures is legally mandated and carried out.[10]: 135
(in Croatian and Italian)Subdivisions ofIstria County | ||
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