The funny thing is – I didn’t knew this place existed two days before I came here! The plan was visiting the city Omišalj, which is just near this amazing place, and while exploring what can I visit and photograph in Omišalj, I found out this.
It was so peacefull while I was there, there was only a couple of people walking by, and by “couple”, I mean two people!
Also, I didn’t know the remains of forum existed, up until an elderly woman approached me and told me that. She was happy that someone was taking an interest in this place, and she wanted to share that information with me. She offered me to show me the remains of forum, so we went for a walk.
It was really nice to meed someone who offered me, a stranger, something like that. After all, I wouldn’t even know the forum was still there! Well, sort of…
So, let’s now learn what the internet says about this place.
Nestled in the tranquil Bay of Sepen on the Island of Krk, beneath the shadow of the ancient hillfort Omisalj, lies the hidden history of Fulfinum, a city planned and built in the first century AD. This city, envisioned for Roman veterans, quickly ascended to the esteemed rank of a Roman municipality during the Flavian era, as indicated by its full name: Municipium Flavium Fulfinum. Designed with the Roman architectural finesse of a rectangular network, Fulfinum was strategically located on flat terrain to facilitate its urban scheme. The city’s well-protected harbor, nestled in a calm bay, along with its proximal fertile fields abundant in water, catered to the essential needs of its inhabitants.
The veterans of the Flavian emperors, who were primarily settled in the residential areas previously occupied by the local Liburnian community known as Fertinates, populated Fulfinum. This ancient settlement was endowed with all the quintessential Roman features: a bustling forum with a capitol and a city basilica, port installations adjacent to a commercial district by the sea, thermal baths, and a sophisticated water supply system. Outside its confines, a vital road stretched towards Krk and possibly to the ferry at Voz, linking the island with the mainland, flanked by two necropolises in true Roman tradition.
The heart of Fulfinum was its forum, the central square where political, economic, religious, and social realms converged in the Roman urban milieu. This square hosted essential buildings for the city’s functioning, including the main forum temple dedicated to either the Capitoline Triad or the Roman emperors. The forum’s western edge was lined with taverns, which faced away from the forum towards the sea, signifying a bustling commercial life.
As ancient civilization waned, Fulfinum faced decline, but from its ruins, a new chapter began. By the mid-5th century, the Church on Mirine emerged at the town’s outskirts, marking the dawn of a Christian city on the remnants of Roman Fulfinum. This basilica, significant for its simple cross-shaped design, remains a unique architectural testament not only on Krk but along the entire Croatian coast. Its discovery, including an intact sarcophagus revealed by a micro-camera, offers a glimpse into the early Christian era’s sacred mysteries.
This evolving community later embraced the teachings of St. Benedict, culminating in the establishment of the Glagolitic Benedictine Abbey of St. Nikola near Omisalj. Meanwhile, the discovery of the peace comb during a French-Croatian research project highlights Fulfinum’s significance in early Christian archaeology, with its ivory craftsmanship depicting miracles of Christ.
Ptolemy’s mention of Fulfinum and subsequent archaeological discoveries, including a text-engraved slab found in the basilica’s bell tower, have pinpointed its location in Sepen Bay. Ongoing excavations continue to unravel the largest early Christian basilica in the Mediterranean, hinting at a rich historical tapestry woven into the fabric of Krk Island.