Soline is a small Croatian village on the island of Dugi otok. It is divided in two parts: Bura and Japar, located on Solišćica Luka Bay. The village was named after the old salt pans that are in the bay. Soline was first mentioned in documents from 1114 C.E., making it one of the oldest settlements on Dugi otok.
Population
In 1527 the records showed that Soline, along with neighboring towns Bozava and Veli, had a total of 225 residents. Since then the population has fluctuated as follows: The population listed in 2011 was 39 with a total of 26 households. The village has 100 housing units and 46 permanent apartments.
Economy and tourism
Chief occupations include farming, grape cultivation for wine making, olive growing, fruit growing, and fishing. In recent years, tourism and hospitality services have rapidly developed on the regional road running along Dugi Island from the village of Sali on the south end to Božava and Veli Rat on the north end.
Monuments
Church of St. Jacob
The Church of St. Jacobthe apostle was first mentioned in the 15th century. In 1517, the church was restored and covered with stone slabs. During the same year, Glagolitic letters were carved into the lintel of the portal. The inscription was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1879. The parish church houses a valuable Gothic chalice on which a Latin inscription is engraved testifying that he built the Church of SS. Gregory of Vrana "pro anima Drage filiale Matei Bonmig – for Drage, the daughter of Mate." A graveyard is located near the church parish.
Glagolitic madrikula St. Jacob is the way in which the priests of Soline track the Brotherhood of St. Jacob and the rules of the confraternity carried out in practice. The whole madrikula is written in Croatian, cursive Glagolitic, and a little Latin. In this madrikuli there is also the data for two schools whose records did not survive.
Church bells
On the facade of the parish church Jacob rises an antique white tower. In 1923, two bells were placed on it. On the larger bell the inscriptions read: "Lady of the Rosary, St. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us!" Acquired Parish Solinksa pastorate Don Srećko Pavic. The other bell bears the inscription: "Solin – St. Jacob. Jacob Bell Foundry Cukrov – Split – 1923 Lightning and thunder, deliver us, O Lord!"
Beaches
Solišćica beach is a popular swimming spot. Another popular location, Sakarun beach is a 400-meter stretch of white sand located south of the village on the inside of Sakarun Cove. A bar and a bakery are located on the beach.
Transportation
The main road on Dugi took links Soline with other towns on the island and the ferry port in Bribinj. Year-round shipping links the mainland and seasonal connections to Ancona, Italy. Ferry connections to Jadrolinija with a capacity of 70 cars are available. A direct connection between Zader on the mainland and neighboring Bozava on Dugi took is available. A bus line connects the towns on Dugi Island with the main ferry port. The only gas station on Dugi took is south of Božava. It is used by boaters because of the Mali Losinj Murter.
