Opatija's barkajols
Naziv
Opatija's barkajols
Klasifikacija prema RKD
Država
Opis
In our area barkajoli (boatmen) appear in the early 20th century. These are a kind of tourist workers, "guides" who transported tourists from anchored ships, too big to dock in the port, to the coast, but also between local tourist destinations. At first they were fishermen, later professional and tourist guides. As the demands of the clientele grew, so did the service, and the transport boats – the traditional Opatija guc boats, once built in small shipyards in the surrounding areas – became more beautiful and equipped. Opatija's barkajoli were always at the service of guests with whom they communicated in several foreign languages, and their boat was clean and tidy, equipped with pillows and a fence for more comfortable seating. The service of Opatija's boatmen who, first on oars and later by engine, transported guests along the Riviera or on nearby islands, entered the history of Opatija's tourism, their legendary invitation to ride "Barke faren" is a well-known phrase in the local language and the name of one of poems by the great Opatija poet Drago Gervais. The bronze sculpture of Barkajol, one of the symbols of Opatija's tourism, the work of the academic sculptor Tatjana Kostanjević, was placed at the entrance to the boat port Portić in Opatija. It is a kind of homage to all the boatmen of this area, who can nowadays seldom be seen. Several generations of Opatija residents have left their mark on local history as unforgettable barkajoli, and today their role is continued by tourist boats which, just like before, offer visitors the opportunity to get a sea view of the Opatija Riviera. For this purpose, the docks for tourist boats in the port and along the entire length of the coastal promenade Lungomare are marked with signs with the inscription "Taxi Boat".
Valorizacija
There is an interpretation tablet and bronze statue dedicated to barkajols
