KRK

Za Vrbnik mnogi ka`u da je grad umjetnosti i
umjetnika. Odgovor ne}emo potra`iti u ~injenici da je
Vrbnik ~uvena vinogradarska oaza, a da su vino i
loza kao vje~na umjetni~ka inspiracija nadahnuli
mnoge pisce, pjesnike, kipare, slikare, fotografe,
glazbenike i druge umjetnike. Duh, kultura i arhitektura
Mediterana kristalizirala se u Vrbniku na toj
strmoj stijeni, tvrdom valometu, o koji ve} tisu}lje}ima
stihijskom snagom nemilosrdno udaraju i raspr{uju se
u prah podivljali morski valovi no{eni orkanskom
senjskom burom. U davnini za burnih dana osvajanja
i plja~kanja ~ovjekov oprez i strah postavili su temelje
Vrbniku na `ivac kamen, tamo gore, na suru i
nepo`eljnima nepristupa~nu liticu. Kroz vjekovno
odolijevanje valovima nestalne povijesti izrasla je na
toj hridi postojana i ~vrsta ambijentalna cjelina stisnuta
u okviru svojih obrambenih zidina, isprepletena
labirintom uskih uli~ica s malim stisnutim trgovima
prekrivenim izlizanim kamenim oblucima i ugla~anim
plo~ama, natkrivenim voltama i podvoltama ukra-
{enih cvije}em na skalinama i malim prozorima. Taj
drevni gradi} glagoljice, knezova Frankopana, sakralnih
spomenika i fortifikacijskih vizura u kojem se
povijest svugdje osje}a, danas je ~arobno izletni~ko
mjesto.
Unato~ svih ku{nji tu `ive i rade, sura|uju i
sva|aju se, u~e i stvaraju, mole se i vjeruju ustrajni
ljudi bistra uma i vrijednih ruku. Toliko duhovna
bogatstva u crkvama, knjigama i glagolji~kim
rukopisima toliko tajni u tamnim kantunima, {krinjama
i ormarima, tavanima i konobama. Toliko
tajanstvene jednostavnosti (ili jednostavne tajanstvenosti),
toliko pri~a za
svaki kameni dovratak, za
svaku ku}u, za svaku
crkvicu, za svaka vrata
koja kao da zovu da se u|e,
da se nekamo po|e, da se
ne{to dosegne, da se sagleda
neku novu mogu}nost,
da se do`ivi iznena|enje;
“a {to je umjetnost drugo
doli iznena|enje, uvijek
novo i stvarala~ko?”
Vrbnik je gradi} bogata
folklora i veselih fe{ti,
gradi} te`aka i pastira,
ribara i znanstvenika,
gradi} tradicije, duhovnosti
i pobo`nosti, gradi}
bratov{tina, sve}enika i
biskupa.
Tu jo{ svoju srednjovjekovnu
duhovnost i pobo-
`nost na osobit na~in njeguje
i iskazuje ugledna
bratov{tina sv. Ivana Krstitelja
nazvana Kapari po
bijelim haljinama od doma}eg
sukna s kapu~om ili
kukuljicom koja im visi niz
le|a.
Vrbnik u valovima senjske bure
Vrbnik and the waves of the Senj bora
legacy, specific expressions of life, simultaneous preservation
of traditional values and openness toward the
introduction of innovations, modern creativity and
clear signs which shape the road to the future.
Nested on the rocky cliff which steeply surfaces out
of the depths of the sea between the green vineyards in
the hinterland and the endless blue skies, Vrbnik is an
architectural mark, both as a setting and as an inspiration,
as an experience and as stimulation, a nucleus
in which originates ART. Of Vrbnik many say that it
is a town of art and artists. We shall not seek an
answer in the fact that Vrbnik is a renowned vineyard
oasis, and that wine and grapevine, as an eternal
artistic inspiration, have inspired numerous writers,
poets, sculptors, painters, photographers, musicians
and other artists. The spirit, the culture and the
architecture of the Mediterranean have crystallized in
Vrbnik on this steep rock, the solid breakwater on
which uncontrollable gusts of wild waves carried by
the gale bora of Senj have for millennia mercilessly
crashed and dissipated into dust. In the ancient times
during the tumultuous days of conquest and plunder,
human caution and fear have laid the foundations of
Vrbnik on the living rock, up above, on the gray and,
for the uninvited, inaccessible cliff. Through the centuries
of resisting the waves of ephemeral history, a
stable and solid urban unit developed on this cliff,
clasped within its defense walls, intertwined with a
maze of narrow streets, with small crammed squares
paved with worn pebbles and polished slabs, roofed
with arched passages decorated with flowers on the
stairways and small windows. This ancient town of
the Glagolitic, the Dukes of
Frankopan, religious monuments
and fortifications,
in which history is ubiquitous,
is today an enchanting
excursion destination.
In spite of all temptations,
persevering people of a clear
mind and diligent hands
live and work here, cooperate
and quarrel, learn and
create, pray and believe.
Such spiritual wealth in
churches, books and Glagolitic
manuscripts, so many
secrets in the dark corners,
trunks and closets, attics
and cellars. So much mysterious
simplicity (or simple
mystery), so many tales
for each stone door post,
each house, each church,
each gate which as if it
were beckoning to enter, go
somewhere, reach something,
consider a new opportunity
or experience a
surprise; “what is art if
not a surprise, always novel
and creative?”
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