Virovitica 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). 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:

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. 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.

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

Twin towns – sister cities

Virovitica is twinned with:

Gallery