Turanj je malo mjesto u Zadarskoj županiji, a ime je dobilo po ostacima srednjovjekovne utvrde.
Prvi arheološki tragovi na području Turnja potječu iz mlađeg kamenog doba, a naseljeno je još od brončanog doba. Prvo se naselje zvalo Tukljača, a u rimsko doba tu su bile tri lučice i veliko rimsko imanje. Crkvica sv. Marije na mjesnom groblju datira iz 845. godine a podignuta je na ostacima rimske ville rustice.
1444. godine u Turnju je sagrađena utvrda hrvatskih plemića Meštrovića, iz čijeg vremena su sačuvani Kaštel (kula), glavna vrata i dio bedema. Upravo po toj kuli Turanj je dobio ime – Torreta na latinskom "turis" – toranj, kula.
Turanj je za vrijeme Kandijskog rata bio carinarnica, dio stanovništva je u to doba bio sklonjen na obližnje otoke Pašman i Babac, a Turanj su jednom prilikom Mlečani zapalili da ne bi pao u turske ruke.
Godine 1450. unutar turanjskih zidina bila je sagrađena crkva koju je za vrijeme Kandijskog rata srušio i zapalio Ibrahim-paša, a na njenom mjestu je 1675. sagrađena sadašnja župna crkva Gospe Karmelske.
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Turanj is a small village in the Zadar County, and was named after the ruins of a medieval fortress.
The first archaeological traces in Turanj originate from the early Stone Age, and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. At first, village was called Tukljača, and in Roman times, there were three ports and large Roman estate. The church of St.. Mary at the cemetery dates back to 845 years and was built on the remains of a Roman villa rustica.
1444th in Turnj was built forts Croatian nobles Mestrovic, from whose time has preserved castle (Tower), the main gate and part of the walls. Precisely at that tower Turanj was named - Torreta in Latin "turis" – means tower.
During Kandijan war Turanj was customshouse, part of the population at that time was tucked away on the nearby islands to Pasman and Babac. Turanj was once attacked and set fire by Venetians to prevent it from falling into Turkish hands.
In the 1450th inside walls was built church, whic was burned during the Kandijan war by Ibrahim Pasha, and on its place is the 1675th built the present church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.