Rijeka

Rijeka
Fiume
City of Rijeka
Grad Rijeka
Clockwise, from top: Riva waterfront, Palace Modello, Sablićevo beach, view of Rijeka and Učka mountain, Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, main street Korzo
Flag of Rijeka
Coat of arms of Rijeka
Map
Rijeka is located in Croatia
Rijeka
Rijeka
Location of Rijeka within Croatia
Coordinates: 45°19′38″N 14°26′28″E / 45.32722°N 14.44111°E / 45.32722; 14.44111
Country Croatia
CountyPrimorje-Gorski Kotar
Government
 • MayorMarko Filipović (SDP)
 • City Council
31 members
Area
 • City43.4 km2 (16.8 sq mi)
 • Urban
43.4 km2 (16.8 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,200 km2 (1,200 sq mi)
Elevation
0–499 m (0–1,637 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • City107,964
 • Density2,500/km2 (6,400/sq mi)
 • Urban
107,964
 • Urban density2,500/km2 (6,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
51000
Area code051
Vehicle registrationRI
Patron saintsSt. Vitus
Websitewww.rijeka.hr

Rijeka (/riˈɛkə, riˈkə/ ree-EK-ə, ree-AY-kə, US also /riˈjɛkə/ ree-YEK,[3][4] Croatian: [rijěːka] ; local Chakavian: Reka or Rika;[5] Slovene: Reka), also known as Fiume (Italian: [ˈfjuːme] ; Fiuman: Fiume; Hungarian: Fiume; outdated German name: Sankt Veit am Flaum), is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and in 2021 had a population of 108,622 inhabitants.[6] Historically, because of its strategic position and its excellent deep-water port, the city was fiercely contested, especially between the Holy Roman Empire, Italy and Croatia, changing rulers and demographics many times over centuries. According to the 2011 census data, the majority of its citizens are Croats, along with small numbers of Serbs, Bosniaks and Italians.

Rijeka is the main city and county seat of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The city's economy largely depends on shipbuilding (shipyards "3. Maj" and "Viktor Lenac Shipyard") and maritime transport. Rijeka hosts the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, first built in 1765, as well as the University of Rijeka, founded in 1973 but with roots dating back to 1632 and the local Jesuit School of Theology.[7]

Apart from Croatian and Italian, linguistically the city is home to its own unique dialect of the Venetian language, Fiuman, with an estimated 20,000 speakers among the autochthonous Italians, Croats and other minorities. Historically Fiuman served as the main lingua franca among the many ethnicities inhabiting the multi-ethnic port city. In certain suburbs of the modern extended municipality the autochthonous population still speaks Chakavian, a dialect of Croatian.

In 2016, Rijeka was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2020, alongside Galway, Ireland.[8]

  1. ^ Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia. Wikidata Q119585703.
  2. ^ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2021 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
  3. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  4. ^ Roach, Peter (2011). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15253-2.
  5. ^ Patrioti (30 April 2014). "Rika ili Reka - Čakavski rječnik kvarnerskog kraja". Lokalpatrioti Rijeka - Mjesto za sve ljubitelje grada Rijeke (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Rijeka". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  7. ^ "From The Beginning..." University of Rijeka. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Croatian city Rijeka wins European Capital of Culture in 2020". Shanghai Daily. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.