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The island of Lošinj and all its treasures…
Rich in history and stunningly located in the Cres archipelago, the islands of Cres [ts-ress] and Lošinj [loh-sheen], originally one island, are a wealth of historical and visual inspiration. Inhabited first in ancient times by the Liburnians; followed by Greek rule; then conquered by the Romans, only to become part of the Byzantine Empire. It has since also been governed by the Venetians and then by the Austrians. Part of Italy from 1918 until 1943, the islands finally were joined to the motherland Croatia in 1945. With such a colourful and exciting past, you can spend much time retracing these historical influences and legacies – whether it is visiting the important strategic and administrative towns of Cres and Osor; the dramatic and impressive hilltop fort of Lubenice or admiring the beautifully preserved churches dating from the 15th century, such as Sv. Martin in Mali Lošinj, the cultural offering from these islands is enormous.
Straight from the past and into the present, if leisurely activities are your main interest, the beautiful harbour towns of Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj, are one of the Kvarner region’s first health resorts. Discovering these climatic benefits during his research, Professor Ambroz Haracic, put these towns on the tourism map in 1892, thereby attracting wealthy Austro-Hungarians to build ornate and luxurious villa residences. Walking along the sandy and pine tree protected Bay of Cikat, in Mali Lošinj, these villas are still very much in evidence. From the 19th century until today, these resorts have great appeal to those wanting to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of both the land and sea.
For those who enjoy nature and sport, there is an array of terrestrial and nautical activities from which to choose whether it is hill-climbing, hiking & cycling to surfing, diving & even spear-fishing. In terms of nautical and seaside tourism, the island’s coastal sea and the archipelago are widely acknowledged as extremely pure and clean. Conservation has been a priority and continues to be so. Testimony to this is the creation of the first Mediterranean dolphin reservation. The Adriatic Dolphin Project (ADP) is a long-term study of the ecology & conservation of the Bottlenose Dolphin. With the ADP’s maritime base in Veli Lošinj along with its Marine Education Centre, you can learn more about the local ecology. In addition to this, during your stay you may even come across some of the 150 dolphins known to populate the archipelago!
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