Story of Water in Novalja by Božidarka Šćerbe Haupt from Croatia is our new contribution in the blog section of our website. E-ROUTES team is proud to publish travel route stories that traverse time and space through their unique blend of history, culture, archeology, and beautiful storytelling. Read this blog in both English and Croatian.
“The walk begins in front of the Tourist Board at the monument of the woman from Novalja, who on her head carries laundry to wash. This monument serves as a reminder that, for a long time, this island struggled with a lack of drinking water. Water had to be conserved for both people and livestock. We walk through the city centre, visiting monuments of architectural, archaeological, and cultural significance. We end our walk at the Wind Rose beside the water monument, specifically at the fountain built in 1982, marking the arrival of water to the island via an underwater pipeline from the mainland. This walk is a Story of Water, which dives deep into the history of Novalja, revealing its impressing ancient grandeur, which has faded sometime during Late Antiquity. Moving through the city and uncovering various symbols that are hidden in the interpretation box, we also unravel the story of the Novalja reliquaries, which once again connect us to that magnificent water.”
