Rijeka
Rijeka
| |
|---|---|
| City of Rijeka Grad Rijeka | |
Riva Waterfront | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
Interactive map of Rijeka | |
Rijeka Location of Rijeka within Croatia | |
| Coordinates: 45°19′38″N 14°26′28″E / 45.32722°N 14.44111°E | |
| Country | Croatia |
| Region | Central Croatia (Croatian Littoral) |
| County | Primorje-Gorski Kotar |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Iva Rinčić (Ind.) |
| • City Council | |
| • Electoral district | VIII |
| Area | |
• City | 43.4 km2 (16.8 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,200 km2 (1,200 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0–499 m (0–1,637 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• City | 107,964 |
| • Density | 2,490/km2 (6,440/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 219,325 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 51000 |
| Area code | 051 |
| Vehicle registration | RI |
| Patron saints | St. Vitus |
| Website | www |
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia. It is located in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and in 2021 had a population of 107,964 inhabitants. Historically, because of its strategic position and its excellent deep-water port, the city was fiercely contested, especially between the Holy Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Kingdom of Italy and Yugoslavia, changing rulers and demographics many times over centuries. According to the 2021 census data, 85% of its citizens are Croats, along with small numbers of Serbs, Bosniaks and Italians.
Rijeka is the main city and county seat of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The city's economy largely depends on shipbuilding (shipyards 3. Maj and Viktor Lenac Shipyard) and maritime transport. Rijeka hosts the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, first built in 1765, as well as the University of Rijeka.
In 2016, Rijeka was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2020, alongside Galway, Ireland.