Vrbnik

Vrbnik (Verbenico, Vörbnick) is a village and a municipality on the east coast of the island of Krk. The village is perched on a limestone outcropping 50 m above the Adriatic Sea.

Vrbnik is naturally separated from mainland Croatia by the Vinodol Channel, where the towns of Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski can be observed across the sea. Since 1980 the island has been connected to mainland Croatia via the Krk Bridge.

Vrbnik has a long history of 900 years, it was an important Frankopan castle, and a Glagolitic and religious center.

Originally a walled town, Vrbnik was established in medieval times. According to the 2021 census, the settlement of Vrbnik itself has a population of 887 with a total of 1,190 people in the municipality, which includes three other nearby settlements; Garica with 138 inhabitants, Kampelje with 11 inhabitants and Risika with 154 inhabitants.

Culture
The Vrbnik Statute (Vrbnički statut) was written in 1388 and confirms the status of Vrbnik as an administrative and political center. The town is also known through the folk song "Verbniče nad moren" or Verbniče nad moru" (Oh Vrbnik over the Sea), sung as far away as White Carniola in Slovenia.

Places of cultural significance include the Vitezić library, the Gothic Chapel of the Rosary and the Chapel of St. John in the Parish Church of the Assumption, and a collection of ancient manuscripts and Glagolitic manuscripts housed at the parish church.

Vrbnik is known for its indigenous varietal of white wine called Žlahtina.

Vrbnik also claims to contain the world's narrowest street — Ulica Klančić is about 40 - 50 cm wide.

Notable residents

 * Josip Bozanić - Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal-Priest of Saint Jerome of the Croats
 * Zlatko Sudac - Roman Catholic Priest, known for his Stigmata