Virovitica

45°50′N 17°23′E / 45.833°N 17.383°E / 45.833; 17.383Country CroatiaCounty Virovitica-Podravina CountyGovernment • MayorIvica Kirin (HDZ)Area • City170.7 km² (65.9 sq mi) • Urban38.1 km² (14.7 sq mi)Elevation122 m (400 ft)Population • City19,302 • Density110/km² (290/sq mi) • Urban13,486 • Urban density350/km² (920/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeArea code+385 (0) 33Vehicle registrationVTWebsitevirovitica.hr

Virovitica (pronounced [ʋirɔʋǐtit͡sa]) is a Croatian city near the Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,688, with 21,291 people in the municipality (census 2011).^[3] It is also the capital of Virovitica-Podravina County.

Name

Virovitica has also historically been known by the names Wirowititz/Virovititz and Wirowitiza (German), Viroviticza, Verewitiza, Verowitiza, Verowtiza, Verőce (Hungarian) and Varaviza (Italian), Viroviticza or Verucia (Latin).

History

The town is first mentioned in 1234. It was part of Ottoman Empire between 1552 and 1684 and was kaza centre initially in Sanjak of Pojega (1552–1601), later in Sanjak of Rahoviçe in Kanije Eyalet (1601–1684) until the Habsburg conquest in 1684.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Virovitica was a district capital in the Virovitica County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

Demographics

The following settlements comprise the administrative area of the city of Virovitica:^[3]

• Čemernica, population 653
• Golo Brdo, population 364
• Jasenaš, population 77
• Korija, population 767
• Milanovac, population 1,711
• Podgorje, population 833
• Rezovac, population 1,303
• Rezovačke Krčevine, population 331
• Sveti Đurađ, population 564
• Virovitica, population 14,688

Politics

Minority councils

Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.^[4] At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Serbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority councils of the Town of Virovitica but with only 12 representatives being elected in the body in the end.^[5]

Culture

The patron saint of Virovitica is St. Rocco (Sv. Rok), celebrated every August 16.

Đorđe Balašević wrote a song titled Virovitica, praising his time spent in the city.

Transportation

The town lies on the intersection of the state roads D2 and D5 and also has a bus station.

The towns has one train station and one halt - it lies on R202 railway corridor.

Notable people

• Željka Antunović (born 1955), politician
• Ivan Dečak (born 1979), singer
• Stanija Dobrojević (born 1985) Serbian television personality
• Damir Doma, fashion designer
• Miroslav Feldman (1899–1976), poet and writer
• Andrija Hebrang (1899–1949?), politician
• Tomislav Maretić (1854–1938), linguist
• Ksenija Marinković (born 1966), actress
• Zrinko Ogresta (born 1958), film director
• Renata Pokupić (born 1972), opera singer
• Petar Preradović (1818–1872), poet and general
• Vlado Singer (1908–1943), politician
• Konstantin Čupković, Serbian professional volleyball player
• Dijana Vukomanović, Serbian political scientist and politician
• Ivan Šibl

Twin towns – sister cities

Virovitica is twinned with:^[6]

• Barcs, Hungary
• Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Traunreut, Germany
• Vyškov, Czech Republic

Gallery

• 
  Schubert House
• 
  Central department store
• 
  City Park
• 
  Church in Virovitica
• 
  Vocational Secondary School
• 
  Stjepan Radić Street
• 
  Virovitica Hospital

References

External links