Klančić Alley

Klančić is a very narrow passage in the old town of Vrbnik, a small hilltop town on the east coast of the island of Krk. It is promoted as one of the narrowest streets in the world, with a width of about 43 centimetres at its tightest point, which is just enough for an adult to squeeze through sideways. Whether or not it holds an official title, it is certainly an alley where you can touch the walls on both sides at once, and for many visitors that makes it one of the most memorable photo stops on the island.

Vrbnik itself deserves more attention than the alley alone. The town sits on a cliff roughly fifty metres above the sea, on a rocky ridge that kept it safe from attack and also left little room for expansion. Houses are packed tightly together along winding lanes and small squares, and the streets are often only a few steps wide. The narrow Klančić passage is an extreme example of this compact medieval plan, in which space was precious and every stone counted. It links two parts of the old town and is a short walk from the main square.

The town has a rich cultural history. It was a centre of the Glagolitic script, the old Slavic alphabet used by Croatian priests, and its medieval statute, the Vrbnik Statute of 1388, is one of the important early legal documents in the Croatian language. That literate, independent tradition helps explain why this small town was a notable place. Today Vrbnik is perhaps best known for its white wine, Žlahtina, a local grape variety grown on the terraced slopes below the town and served in cellars and restaurants in the old centre.

A visit to the alley takes only a few minutes, but it works well as part of a longer stroll through Vrbnik. After squeezing through, you can wander to the cliff-top terraces for views over the sea, visit the parish church, taste a glass of Žlahtina and look for the winding lanes that fan out from the main street. The narrow lanes are best seen in the morning or late afternoon, when the stone is warm and the crowds are thinner.

Practical advice: the passage is not suitable for those who are broad-shouldered or uncomfortable in tight spaces, and children should be supervised. The paving can be slippery. Other places nearby include the beaches below the town, reached by long staircases, including Vajavina beach with its hundred steps, and the Potovošće area. The alley suits families, photographers and anyone who enjoys small, quirky curiosities along with the old-town atmosphere.