Vrbnik - the cradle of the Glagolitic alphabet
Vrbnik is known worldwide for its exceptional Glagolitic cultural heritage. Glagolitic script is the oldest Croatian script dating from the 9th century AD and, significantly, one-quarter of all preserved Glagolitic manuscripts are from Vrbnik.
For centuries, Vrbnik has been an important cultural Glagolitic center with a Glagolitic scriptorium producing the many preserved manuscripts. Many of which are now kept in renowned world libraries.
The first Croatian printer of Glagolitic works, Blaž Baromić, founder of the Senj printing company, was also raised in Vrbnik.
Most of Vrbnik's Glagolitic heritage is kept in the Vitezic Family Library, founded by Dr. Dinko Vitezić. It was opened to the public on July 10th, 1910, and is now located on the second floor of the former Rector's Palace (Knežev dvor), situated on the Square of Vrbnik Statute (Placa Vrbničkog statute).
It contains numerous valuable books, Glagolitic missals and breviaries, various newspapers and magazines, correspondence of Dr. Dinko Vitezić, newspaper clips, book of ceremonies at the former emperor's court in Vienna, records and books of the Vienna parliament.
A rare and valuable exhibit is the famous "Atlas scolasticus et itinerarius" by Johann David Koehler, printed in 1718 in Nuernberg. In addition to this copy, there is only one another copy of Atlas, printed in 1735, and kept in Cambridge, England. This Atlas is especially interesting because, apart from the geographic locations of countries, it also contains images of old sailboats, weapons, medals and constellations.
Should you be given the opportunity to visit Vrbnik, pay a visit to the former Rector's Palace and inspect the Vitezić Family Library, an interesting ethnological collection and a reconstructed wooden Renaissance printing house.