|
It has the area of 51.9 sq. kilometers. It is separated from Zadar by the Zadar Channel and from the island of Pašman by the narrow artificially long passage Ždrilac, across which a bridge has been built. It is one of the most inhabited islands (with 7,518 inhabitants in seven settlements) on the eastern Adriatic coast. The settlements are: Ugljan, Kukljica, Poljana, Preko, Kali, and Sutomišćica. Beside olive-trees and vineyards, people on the island raise also vegetables. Kali and Kukljica are distinctively fishermen settlements. On a few sites there are the remains of the Illyrian hillforts. In the antiquity the island was densely inhabited (the remains of the Roman buildings). All present settlements were founded in the Middle Ages.
PREKO
The biggest settlement and port. The coast is very good for swimming. There are the remains of hillforts, the small Romanesque church of St. John the Baptist from the 12th century and the parish church built in 1765. The medieval fortress of St. Michael from the 13th century is on the top of the hill (265 m) above the settlements. On the small nearby island Galovac, there is the Franciscan monastery, built in 1443.
Hotel: Preko (B). UGLJAN
The port with sand beaches, located on the north-eastern side of the island with nine smaller groups of the houses. On the hill Kuran there are the remains of the prehistoric mounds. In the antiquity, the life was rich and the villas and mausoleums were built. The remains of the buildings are still visible in the Muline cove, and in the cove Batalaža there are the remains of villa rustica and of the olive mill. The valuable sacral objects are the church of All Saints from the 15th century, the church of St. Jerolim near the Franciscan monastery, and the parish church of St. Mary from the 15th century.
Hotel: Zadranka
.
KUKLJICA
The most developed settlement on the island with numerous small islands, beaches and coves. The medicinal mud for curing of the rheumatic diseases is located in shallow and sheltered cove Sabuša. There are bungalows on the Zelena punta promontory, near the large beach. The inhabitants work in agriculture and fishing. They grow olives, vegetables and figs. The settlement has been mentioned for the first time in 1345.
Hotel: the hotel settlement »Zelena punta«. KALI
The settlement three kilometers from Preko, the ideal place for rest. The inhabitants work in fishing, agriculture and maritime affairs, and grow olives. The baroque church is from 1698. The small church of St. Pelegrin on the hill above the village is from the 14th century. A road leads from the village to the opposite coast of the island with two gravel coves -Lamjana Vela and Mala. In front of everything is the small island of Ošljak with remains of the old windmill. |
