Crikvenica (pronounced /ˈtsrikvɛnitsa/, Latin: Ad Turres)1 is a town in the west of Croatia, population 7,121 (2001), total municipality population 11,348 with 90% Croats (2001). It is situated at the Adriatic coast, near Rijeka, the capital of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county in which it resides. In last twenty years, due to urban expansion of Crikvenica itself, as well as building in near by town of Selce, mentioned two merged into one mini-conglomerate. Towns near Crikvenica include Kraljevica and Novi Vinodolski.
Old Crikvenica is considered to be a village called Kotor, which is located on hill nearby and shares the name with the village.
The town name comes from a church (Croatian: crikva) of the Pauline Fathers monastery, build nearby in 1412. In the 19th century Crikvenica became attractive to many tourists, which changed its history. The first hotel opened in 1891, and in 1906 Crikvenica became officially a health resort. Today, with Selce, it is one of the most attractive parts of Kvarner coast, and of North Adriatic coast of Croatia in general.
