Mirine

Mirine is an archaeological site on the island of Krk in Croatia, a few kilometres from the town of Omišalj, in the municipality of Općina Omišalj. It lies on Sepen Bay and includes the remains of the Roman town Municipium Flavium Fulfinum and an early Christian complex with a basilica. Much of it is in ruins, but for anyone interested in antiquity it is one of the more rewarding places on the island.

What is Mirine?

The name Mirine refers to the early Christian complex built on the outskirts of the ancient settlement of Fulfinum. Today it is a dilapidated group of religious buildings: a church and monastery rooms. The former Roman town lies next to it, so tourist materials often present the two together as "Fulfinum – Mirine".

What was Fulfinum?

Municipium Flavium Fulfinum was founded in the second half of the 1st century AD, under the Flavian dynasty. Roman land surveyors (gromatici) laid it out on land with no earlier settlement, so it was a planned town from the start rather than an expanded village. Its name is known partly from an inscription from the time of Domitian that concerns work on an aqueduct. Over time the town declined. Only part of it has been investigated, and most remains unexcavated.

The basilica at Mirine

In the middle of the 5th century a church was built on the edge of the former town. It was a single-nave building with a simple Latin-cross plan. To the west of the church, remains of monastery rooms were found, which shows this was a complex rather than a lone chapel. In 2005, during work in the monastery cloister, three graves were found in three trenches.

Research and the future of the site

The site is under archaeological study, including a French-Croatian project on the monastic complexes of the Kvarner region. A planned archaeological park would make visiting easier. Keep in mind that this is not a large, fully developed open-air museum but modest ruins, best appreciated with some background on their history.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Mirine? On the island of Krk, a few kilometres from Omišalj, on Sepen Bay.

What period does it date from? The Roman town dates from the second half of the 1st century AD, and the church at Mirine from the middle of the 5th century.

How much has survived? Not much. The complex is described as dilapidated, and the Roman town is largely unexcavated.

Who is it for? Archaeology and ancient history fans, and visitors to Krk who want something beyond the beaches.

Is there an entrance fee? We have no confirmed information on fees, so check with the Omišalj tourist information before visiting.