Surroundings, Zadar

During Roman times the town of Nin was called Aenona. It was also one of the first Croat settlements in this area. In the 9th Century the Bishop created controversy in Nin by proposing the use of the Croatian language in the delivery of the liturgy at the local church. The Pope did not agree with this decision. The town was abandoned in the 12th Century do to a number of factors, including the difficulty with defending the town.Modern day Nin has a beautiful old town with a number of attractions. The pre-Romanesque church of the Holy Cross (Sv Kriz) was built in typical Croatian style and is one of the highlights of the town. The Church of St Anselm, built in the 18th Century contains silver reliquaries dating to the 9th Century. Also of interest in town is the statue of Bishop Greogory of Nin by Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.

Southeast of Zadar, Biograd-na-Moru is a modern resort town that caters largely to yatchers. The town has two marinas, where charter companies offer sailboats for hire, with complete outfitting. Biograd-na-Moru has a history dating back to before the 12th Century. Unfortunately the town was twice destroyed by invading forces and today there is nothing of historical interest left at this location. Most of the development here occurred in the 1970s when the town expanded to accommodate tourism.Nearby is Croatia's largest lake, Vransko Jerezo with some excellent birding opportunities. For those looking to visit Pasman or Ugljan there is regular ferry service from Biograd-na-Moru.

The island of Pag has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age. The history of the island involves the Liburnians who occupied the island in 1200 BC, the Romans who established a port here in the 1st Century, the Slavs in the 6th Century, and the Venetians in the 11th Century. One of the valued commodities on the island is the salt pans, which have historically been a source of conflict. The eastern end of Pag is a dry barren landscape, the coast facing the mainland is similar although more jagged and rugged, and the southwest is a little greener with olive trees and other harvestable plants. The main town on the island is also called Pag, followed by Novalja.