Unije

Some nautical miles west of Lošinj is Unije, a small island of rolling hills and limestone cliffs covered with Mediterranean scrub. Both the northern and eastern sides of the island are steep and rocky, overgrown with evergreen holly-oak, while the southern and western sides are more unbroken and form a bay where only here one can see mirrored in the sea the facade of its houses and fertile fields. This is an island of olive groves whose branches bear witness to their distant past. The highest point of the island is Kalk (132 m.).

The remains of Roman villas, shards of roof riles and bricks testify to the ancient settlement of the island. It was inhabited prior to the Ancient World suggested by the name Hill-fort for a location on the extreme northern and extreme south-eastern sides of the island which, in fact, is the name for old Illyrian hill-forts in this area.

There is a small airport on the island, 30 km from Pula airport and 8 km from Lošinj airport.

It is suggested that those arriving on the island with their own boat should use the more accessible western side of the island, in the bay of Maračol, where the sea is deepest.

There are no cars on the island.

In the village there are several restaurants, patisseries, bakeries, a post office and grocery stores and accommodation (rooms and apartments) is provided by the locals in their typical houses with wide gabled facades.

A regular shipping line connects the island with Lošinj and several times a week the island is linked by catamaran with Rijeka.

Susak

Susak, the Adriatic jewel, attraction and target of numerous explorers, journalists, film and TV cameramen, is still Insula incognita (unknown island).

In its own way, Susak is a natural phenomenon of our Adriatic sea and a small wonder of nature. Its unique features distinguish and separate it from other Adriatic islands.

A sandy island with surface area 3.7 km2, it was recorded in maritime cartography as far back as the 13th century.

The earliest known inhabitants of the island were the Illyrians who built a protective and look-out hill-fort on a peak elevation of the island – Vela straža (Great watchtower) – 98 m.

The only settlement on the island is divided into two parts: old Gornje Selo (Upper Village) – developed around the former Benedictine abbey of St. Nicholas in the 11th century and a new settlement, Donje Selo (Lower Village). Gornje and Donje village are linked by 150 steps.

Susak is an island of vineyards and cane which protect the terraced soil from sand erosion. Susakers are Croats whose occupation is wine-growing and fishing. By nature, they are extremely witty, resourceful, ingenious and religious. They are also noted for their old-Croatian speech and national costume, especially the woman’s everyday mini peasant dress and festal dress.

The largest population of Susak was recorded after the 2nd World War. In the sixties of the last century, mass emigration to the USA depleted the population. It is estimated that today in America there are 2,500 Susakers, mainly in the state of New Jersey. From 1985 onwards, «Emigration Day» is celebrated on Susak the last day of July.

As far back as Roman times, the island was planted with grapevine and even today, it is known for its famous wines.

Susak has a lovely old parish church dating from 1770 with a huge wooden cross «Majestic God» from the second half of the 11th century. The patron saint of Susak is St.Nicholas. Susak’s cemetary «Merine» is the most beautiful cemetary in these islands with impressive and valuable monuments, always beautifully kept and decorated with fresh flowers.

Susak has a magnificent sandy small bay, clear sea with medicinal properties attributed to its sand. It has a tourist office, post office, bureau de change, Harbour Master’s office, medical clinic, two grocery shops, a Home for the Retired, Emigration Centre, a winery named Cosulich, parish office as well as several restaurants and cafes.

Accommodation with householders is the best choice as it affords the possibility of getting to know that authentic world.

The island is connected by a regular daily shipping line with Mali Lošinj and by catamaran with Rijeka.

Srakane

West of Lošinj between Unije and Susak there are two small islands – Vele and Male Srakane. The larger of the two as the name suggests, Vele Srakane, is north of Male Srakane and south of the island of Unije.

Vele Srakane is 2.5 km long, surface area is 1.2 km2. On the look-out hill of Vela, 60 m above sea level, there is a prehistoric hill-fort. The old citadel is the remains of a semi-circular wall of a former fortress which was used as a defence against sea raiders. In a corner of Skrivanić’s house, there is a tombstone from Roman times.

There is not a single harbour along the coast and on a small pier in Gornja Trata bay the boat from Mali Lošinj lands.

In Vele Srakane is a church dedicated to St. Ann and in Male Srakane a church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and these feastdays are the only days when the parish priests from Susak and Ćunj come to say Mass.

Arriving in Vele Srakane you leave civilisation behind. You cannot use your car on the island. Srakane is connected by ship with Mali Lošinj and in order for the ship to land at Srakane you must warn the ship offers loud and clear in advance. There are no shops on the island so all provisions, including water, have to be taken with you. There are altogether 8 people who live on the island outside the tourist season. Then complete peace reigns.

Srakane offers diversity and peace of a slightly deserted place which only comes alive in the summer months.

Ilovik

The most southern of the inhabited islands of Lošinj’s archipelago has a fishing village bearing the same name where 170 islanders live today. The first Croatian settlers arrived here from Veli Lošinj at the end of the 18th century and since then ILOVIK the fishing village has grown and developed.

The villagers of Ilovik are engaged in wine growing and market gardening facilitated by the large number of wells which supply this land with water; they also work in fishing, sheepfarming and tourism.

The location of Ilovik is ideal, situated in a small bay and protected from the north by the uninhabited islet of St. Peter where the local cemetary is located. The coast is easily accessible from all sides with numerous safe gentle coves. The largest cove with a sandy beach is Paržine on the south eastern side of the island.

There is a well-protected channel, 2.5 km long and 300 m wide between the two islands which serves as a harbour for the local fishermen as well as for the numerous boaters who come here to enjoy primeval nature. Its maritime zone is protected naturally from all winds, apart to some extent from the south wind (scirocco), and can provide a safe haven for yachts and smaller boats.

The island of Ilovik is covered with evergreen Mediterranean vegetation, holly-oak predominating and in some places there are small forests of Aleppo pine. Ilovik is called the Island of Flowers as oleander, palms, roses and other flowers grow around every house. High eucalyptus trees are a distinctive feature of this island.

Thanks to its well-located maritime position, from the earliest times Ilovik channel has been used for mooring so on the islands we can see vestiges from many different historical eras. The oldest traces of settlements date from the Illyrian tribe Liburna. The islands are rich in Roman artefacts. Here we come across the remains of walls, numismatic coins, sarkofagus and nearby is an underwater archeological site.

The walls surrounding the present-day cemetary date from the 11th century. It was then that a Benedictine abbey was built and probably prior to that there was a Byzantium fort.

There are shops, a post office, bakery, patisserie and several catering establishments on the island.
A daily shipping line connects the island with Mali Lošinj and a fast hydrofoil service with Rijeka. During summer, excursion boats leave for Ilovik from Mali and Veli Lošinj.