Fažana | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Općina Fažana Comune di Fasana Fažana Municipality[1] | |
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 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Fažana municipality in Istria | |
 Interactive map of Fažana | |
  Fažana | |
| Coordinates:44°56′N13°48′E / 44.933°N 13.800°E /44.933; 13.800 | |
| Country | Croatia |
| County | Istria County |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ada Damjanac |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 13.6 km2 (5.3 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 9.9 km2 (3.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Municipality | 3,463 |
| • Density | 255/km2 (659/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,788 |
| • Urban density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code[4] | 52215 Vodnjan |
| Area code | 052 |
| Website | fazana |
Fažana (Croatian pronunciation:[faʒǎna];Italian:Fasana,[5]Italian pronunciation:[faˈzaːna]) is avillage and a municipality on the southwestern coast ofIstria inCroatia. It is afishing village.[6]
Fažana, which in Roman times carried the name ofVasianum and thenPhasiana, derives its name from the presence in Roman times of ceramic and terracotta manufactures such as vases, tiles and amphorae.[7] Its name and meaning thereof is also reflected in thecoat of arms of the town, anamphora.[7]
Fažana is a village ofRoman origin. Its territory was part of the Roman Empire by 177 BC.[8] It belonged to the Roman colony ofPula, both politically and administratively.[8] During Roman times, Fažana was an important economic center of the Ancient Roman civilization.[8] Its importance during Roman times was due to its manufactures, production ofolive oil[8] and later amphorae.[7] The Ancient Roman factory of Fasana, located in the old center of the town, was noted for its production of ceramics and bricks.[8] The production of amphorae started during the latter part of the reign ofAugustus, and lasted until the second century AD. In these amphorae were stored the local products, such as grain,[9]salted fish[9] and, most importantly, the Istrian oil and wine, the two most valuable products of the Istrian peninsula during Roman times.[8] Theworkshop belonged to the localLecanii family, and its first known owner waspraetor urbanus Caius (Gaius) Laecanius Bassus.[8] A striking aspect of the recovered amphorae are the signatures of the workers who worked in the factory.[7]
Its proximity to the sea madefishing an important feature of the town already in Roman times. It was a safe heaven, where Roman mercantile ships could dock, and where it was possible to live, work, and go on vacation.[8][7] Its importance as a patrician holiday town is shown by the finding of many Roman villas in the area.[10] Among them is the so-called Roman Villa of Valbandon, located at 2 kilometers from the center of Fažana.[7] It is a residential complex divided into two groups of buildings.[7] Discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, it features beautiful floors with floral and geometric patterns.[7][9]
In the 6th century AD, the Church of Sant'Eliseo was built in Fažana over the foundations of a palace from theLater Roman Empire period. The Later Roman Empire palace, built a century earlier, had been used as a vacation house.[9] The small Church of the Santa Maria del Carmelo was built in the 14th century. It featuresfrescoes from the 15th century.[9]
Also in the 15th century was built by the sea the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano. It is characterized by Gothic elements and features a 27-meter tallbell tower andRenaissance paintings from the 16th century, includingGiorgio Ventura'sUltima Cena from 1598.[11][9]
The city is located by the sea, 8 kilometers (5 mi) northwest ofPula.[9] Just before it lie theislands of Brijuni.[9]
The territory of Fažana includes, beside the fishing village, the Ronzi valley to the south, the coast of Peroj in the north, and the town's hinterland, consisting of olive groves and vineyards.[8] The town's importance during Roman times was due precisely to its production ofolive oil.[8]
In 2021, the municipality had 3,463 residents in the following settlements:[3]
| population | 413 | 508 | 525 | 637 | 994 | 1452 | 1410 | 1408 | 799 | 765 | 1271 | 1538 | 1879 | 2716 | 3050 | 3635 | 3463 |
| 1857 | 1869 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
Although though theGovernment of the Republic of Croatia does not guarantee official Croatian-Italian bilinguialism, the statute of Fažana/Fasana itself does.[12]: 3 Preserving traditional Italian place names and assigning street names to Italian historical figures is legally mandated and carried out.[12]: 135
Subdivisions ofIstria County | ||
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| Cities and towns |  | |
| Municipalities | ||
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| National | |
