Naslov
The Significance of the Croatian Coastline in the Network of European Pilgrim Routes

Autori
Faričić, Josip

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Pilgrimage and Sacred Places in Southeast Europe: History, Religious – Tourism and Contemporary Trends

Urednik/ci
Katić, M. ; Klarin, T. ; McDonald, M.

Izdavač
LIT Verlag

Grad
Berlin

Godina
2014

Raspon stranica
25-47

ISBN
978-3-643-90504-8

Ključne riječi
pilgrimage, Croatian coastline, Adriatic, Croatia, maritime affairs

Sažetak
Pilgrim routes intersect and even intertwine with transport and geographical networks. Pilgrims use various forms of transport to reach the sacred places where they want to establish a spiritual bond with religious sources or significant objects. Thus, there is interaction between pilgrims and local inhabitants, while at the same time, the need arises to build up the transport infrastructure and service industry, etc. Along pilgrim routes, towns play an important role as transport hubs and religious oscillators, which both absorb and disperse the force lines of religion. Among the many examples of transport routes and hubs which have played important roles in the European pilgrim network, the Croatian coastal region, comprising most of the northeastern Adriatic, can be singled out. The Adriatic Sea has from time immemorial functioned as a link between continental Europe and the eastern and central Mediterranean. The Adriatic coastline formed a meeting point for different religions, and after Christianity became the prevalent Mediterranean religion, important pilgrim routes passed along the Adriatic, from Western and Central Europe to the Holy Land. Given the maritime and geographical circumstances of navigation as applicable to sailing ships (described in the oldest medieval pilot guides and shown in detail on the first maritime charts), the northeast coast of the Adriatic was established as the normal longitudinal route along which pilgrims travelled from their places of residence to selected holy sites in Palestine. In addition, the transverse Adriatic routes were also important, by which pilgrims travelled from the Croatian coast to holy sites on the Appenine Peninsula (Rome, Loreto, Assisi, etc.). This is directly confirmed in many documents, in the travel journals of pilgrims, and in the religious tradition of certain Adriatic towns, particularly Venice, Ancona, Zadar, Dubrovnik, and many other important Croatian ports. Following the prevalence of the longitudinal navigation system, which lasted for many centuries, and carried many pilgrims along the Adriatic, during the 20th century, the maritime transport system was modernised and became less dependent on terrestrial circumstances of navigation. At the same time, maritime traffic was complemented or completely replaced by other types of communication (road, rail and air). The Croatian coastline thus lost some of its significance within the network of European pilgrim routes. However, since the establishment of the Međugorje Marijan shrine in the 1980s, the Croatian Adriatic coastline of the 20th century has regained its prominent role on the European map and global pilgrim network.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geografija

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