About Novalja

Popularly known as the Italian buza or Roman aqueduct, you can look at the City Museum and walk through a small part of its interior. You will also learn all about its ancient architecture and nine breaths that stretch along the Novalja field, and the role of this our most valuable cultural monument from the time of the Roman Empire.
“The average width of this attractive aqueduct is about 0.6 m, and its height varies from about 1 to 2.3 m. It was built probably in the 1st century AD, and how long did it bring water from Novalja field to the coast? we do not know at this time. An analysis of a well-preserved wooden ceiling structure, which prevented the collapse of material from a crack in one place, confirmed its use at the beginning of the 3rd century AD. At the time of late antiquity (5th and 6th centuries AD), the bay of Novalja was an important port, and the settlement in the area of ​​Novalja may be an important pilgrimage center, so it is very likely that the water supply system was still in use. Museum in Novalja, and how it looks live, see our report for Facebook Tourist Stories.

Over time, every trace of him has been lost both on the surface of the earth and in human memory. It is said that in the 19th century a child fell into it under the Lunjski put, and while the locals were removing it, they discovered an impressive canal underground. Fantastic stories about him were told at first; then the scholars of the time interpreted what it was really about, and the people called it the Italian booze. This must have happened during the first half of the century, because in 1853 Mijat Sabljar drew and described it in his travel notebook, which has been preserved to this day.

For the needs of the construction of the underground canal, nine vertical openings of rectangular cross-section were made, the so-called odiha, most of which are located at the top of the hill Močišćak, which separates Novalja from its field, and its height is 44 m. Later, the openings were probably used for cleaning and maintenance of water supply, entering or exiting an underground canal. In Novalja, therefore, there had to be a supervisor called curator aquarum who took the necessary care of the building.

It is not yet clear exactly where the water supply system got its water from, but it is probably about the use of groundwater and rainwater from the fields and from the stream that flows through its middle. This is evidenced by the separation of the two canals at the ninth breath, which from there continue in parallel in the same direction, and whose task was to make the best use of the vast aquifer area. One hundred years ago, one of them could be traced on the surface of the earth to the creek itself.

Over time, every trace of him has been lost both on the surface of the earth and in human memory. It is said that in the 19th century a child fell into it under the Lunjski put, and while the locals were removing it, they discovered an impressive canal underground. Fantastic stories about him were told at first; then the scholars of the time interpreted what it was really about, and the people called it the Italian booze. This must have happened during the first half of the century, because in 1853 Mijat Sabljar drew and described it in his travel notebook, which has been preserved to this day.
For the needs of the construction of the underground canal, nine vertical openings of rectangular cross-section were made, the so-called odiha, most of which is located at the top of the hill Močišćak, which separates Novalja from its field, and its height is 44 m. entering or exiting an underground canal. In Novalja, therefore, there had to be a supervisor called curator aquarum who took the necessary care of the building.
It is not yet clear exactly where the water supply system got its water from, but it is probably about the use of groundwater and rainwater from the fields and from the stream that flows through its middle. This is evidenced by the separation of the two canals at the ninth breath, which from there continue in parallel in the same direction, and whose task was to make the best use of the vast aquifer area. One hundred years ago, one of them could be traced on the surface of the earth to the creek itself.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the need for water in Novalja led the Austro-Hungarian authorities to restore the ancient aqueduct and try to reuse it by pumping water from the Škopalj spring. As the spring is located on the other side of the stream, at a slightly higher altitude than the bottom of the field, the water was pumped with the help of the wind into a cistern near the eighth breath, from where it was piped through an underground canal to Novalja and three fountains. In 1912, the structure was ceremoniously put into operation, but war circumstances led to its abandonment six years later.

By the way, the name Novalja comes from the Latin word navalia, which usually meant a place for repairing and supplying ships. But the word often also meant a place where ships were towed ashore and sheltered in covered stores during the winter months, and sometimes even a war port.

We invite you to come and visit Novalja on the island of Pag and spend an unforgettable vacation that will remain in your fond memories.

Visit Novalja on the island of Pag, and spend your vacation surrounded by clean sea and untouched nature.