Veli Lošinj - Lussin Grande

Veli Lošinj is situated in a small narrow sheltered bay on the southeast side of Lošinj island at the foot of St. John’s hill. Tall houses jut out around the harbour line while luxurious villas with beautiful gardens nestle nearby, creating a picturesque backdrop for this pretty town. It has a population of 1,000 inhabitants and is the second largest town on the island.

It is interesting to note that in the past Veli Lošinj (Velo selo – large village) was bigger than Mali Lošinj (Malo selo – little village) but throughout history Mali Lošinj developed more rapidly and to-day the situation is reversed. The names, however, have remained up to the present time.

Following the narrow streets of Veli Lošinj and stepping through the portal, we enter a bye-gone era of sumptuous villas, which belonged to former captains, ship owners and the rich upper class. There are 80 different types of plants scattered around the villa gardens while in Veli Lošinj park facing the present-day sanatorium (the former residence of the Archduke, Karl Stephan) there are 200 species.

Just beside Veli Lošinj is a small fishing port Rovenska with its magnificent beach, fishing village ambient, small stone houses, all testifying to the traditions of its inhabitants who dedicated their lives to the sea.

Ustrine

A few km from Belej descending the beach towards the west, we come to Ustrine where the ruins of ancient villas and the remains of vast amounts of old tiles, urns and pottery testify to the origin of a Roman settlement.

Ustrine is a small settlement of sheep-farmers and fishermen situated at the edge of a rugged area. From a height of 180 metres, it falls steeply towards the sea, which with a few inlets, form an indented coastline. If Ustrine had nothing more than panoramas, it still deserves to be seen.

You will be charmed by the hospitality of the simple and friendly hosts where you can find accommodation. Seafood and fresh fish are the specialities of the small inn rights in the village itself.

From the Romanesque church of St. Martin, a paved road which runs through the village slopes down to the sea and leads you to three Ustrine coves – Porat, Veli žal and Županj.

Sveti Jakov

Sv. Jakov (St. James) is a small fishing village above the sea on the northern part of the island Lošinj. It is the smallest settlement on the island. Nerezine is 2km away and Mali Lošinj 15 km. Olive groves surround the village and the coast has a sandy cove where one can enjoy swimming.

St. James lies between 2 small bays. The first, where there is a harbour, is called Studenac (well) from the walled well of spring water where cattle used to drink from two covers of antique sarcophagi.

There are two churches in the village:

St. James church in the cemetary, a Romanesque church with apse, which was extended in 1624 so that in front the nave was enlarged and widiened. This date was engraved on the marble tablet above the facade with Glagolithic letters Č H I G (=1624).

Church of Our Lady built in the 19th century; on the main altar is a painting from the 19th century showing Our Lady of the Rosary with St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Sienna and St. James.

Punta Križa - Punta Croce

Punta Križa is located on the most southern part of the island of Cres and is a national park rich in flora and fauna. On the way to Osor, turn off the main road and journey into greenery.

This is primeval nature, where the perennial oak tree, evergreen holly oak and typical Mediterranean underbrush provide a habitat for fallow deer while on large tracts of lush pasture with medicinal plants, the local sheep graze.

Halfway from Osor towards Punta Križa there is a road that branches off and takes one on foot 40 minutes later to a cave «Jamina Sredi», the habitat of prehistoric man. On the way, you will see many sheep-farmers’ dwellings, which are now mainly deserted but were once swarming with people and livestock.

Over the area of Punta Križa there are signposted pathways both for walking and cycling which connect the former sheep-farmers’ dwellings of Parhavac, Murtovnik, Matualda, Loze, Garmožaj, Drakovac, Smriječje, Peski, Mikložuan and Lusare as well as the hamlets of Pogana, Draga and Ul. This landscape exudes an aura of tranquillity. Deep and protected coves lend an air of secludedness and security for small boats.

Here you can find the church of St. Anthony from the 15th century as well as the Romanesque church of St. Andrew at the graveyard, which was built on the same site of a much older church.

In the village and hamlets, friendly hosts will welcome you in private rooms, apartments and farmhouses and for nature lovers and campers we recommend the well-equipped nudist camp at Baldarin.

Homemade lamb specialities and fresh sea fish are served in small restaurants in the village of Punta Križa, Pogani and Baldarin caravan site.

Osor

Although small with a population of only 70 inhabitants, due to its glorious past, preserved natured beauty as well as its gastronomy, Osor is a must as a tourist destination for all those visiting the islands of Cres and Lošinj.

The millennium metropolis of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago – over such a small area, one can find traces of its glorious and distinctive past in every stone of this eternal town.

On the spot where the islands of Lošinj and Cres almost meet is a small town, which in ancient times, experienced its moment of glory. Thanks to a burrowed canal (Cavata, Kavuada, Cavanella), which facilitated passage and navigation from one sea to the other, here in the past the main through traffic between the North Adriatic and Dalmatian coast took place, making Osor an international port.

The foundations of the city walls reveal an ancient history, which can be traced back to a prehistoric era – IX century BC. The name of the town was Osor – Apsoros, which is thought to originate from the ancient hero Apsyrt and this lends a mythical ambience to this town of yore.

The ancient town square encompasses beautiful buildings from the XV and XVI centuries, the town hall with its roofed loggia (to-day it is the Town Museum), Bishop’s palace and magnificent cathedral and bell-tower incorporate the historical nucleus of this town.

In fact, the entire town of Osor is an open-air museum wherein artists from all eras left their legacy, from the contemporary Meštrović to the ruins of the ancient walls, fort, the first early Christian basilica; a museum town whose green gardens and parks cover traces of prehistoric ancient villas, Renaissance portals and monasteries. A town, which is simultaneously history and a museum, becomes a unique open-air stage of rich cultural events during the summer months, the most important being Osor Musical Evening. This event has been held every year in the summer since 1976.

The tourists are offered organised and regulated accommodation in a cottage industry in the centre of the town, while outside the town along the sea, there are two camping sites with beaches and restaurants.

Nerezine

Nerezine is the first place we encounter on the island of Lošinj. It is situated at the foot of Osoršćica hill on the north eastern coastline of Lošinj and was already mentioned as a larger settlement on the island as far back as the 14th century. It was a place which gradually grew from field labouring and sheepherding to a fishing and seagoing settlement with shipyards known for their skilled workmen and construction of wooden ships.

As a tourist resort, Nerezine was already discovered in the 19th century, primarily thanks to Osoršćica hill which delighted all its visitors, including the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Rudolf Habsburg, who climbed to the top in 1887. Nerezine is the starting point on the tourist trail for the ascent to Osoršćica and it is not without reason that it has been proclaimed the most beautiful island mountain in the Adriatic.

Two tourist settlements, two camps, two small family hotels as well as a large number of private rooms and apartments offer pleasant accommodation along with restaurants’ delicious cuisine.

The old dockyard is still operational and a new marine, which will supplement the tourist offer, is being revamped.

Mali Lošinj - Lussino Piccolo

Mali Lošinj is the biggest settlement on the island, found on the southern side of the Bay of Lošinj, which thanks to this position has become a very important maritime and commercial centre, and today, also an important tourist destination.

Positioned in the August Bay, the biggest closed bay of the island, and with 7000 inhabitants, today it is the biggest island town in the Adriatic. Mali Lošinj dates back to the 12th century when twelve Croatian families settled in the eastern bay St. Martin. First Croatian settlers were farmers, later they also turned to fishing, sailing and shipbuilding, and with that the settlements moved towards the coast

The golden age for Mali Lošinj was the end of the 19th century when thanks to seafaring the “small village” turned into a maritime town. Because of the big changes and the maritime crisis in the region, due to passing from sail boats to steam boats, it seemed that the destiny of this and similar towns was sealed. Upon discovering the health benefits of the climate, and growing of the new economic realm, tourism, a new page in the island’s history was open.

Today Mali Lošinj is one of the main tourist centres on the Adriatic known in all European tourism circles, which is proofed by an ever bigger number of guest that visit the island every year.

Ćunski

Ćunski is situated 8 km from Mali Lošinj. It developed on a hill, which was the site of one of many prehistoric hill forts on the island of Lošinj. Cultivating the fertile fields nearby, many settlers eked out a livelihood and so it grew and developed to its present-day borders. Cultivating fields of wheat and vegetables as well as vineyards, the nearby hills were planted with olive trees, which, from year to year, yielded the precious olive oil.

Apart from agriculture and fishing, in recent years tourism has started to develop and so in conjunction with the presentation and promotion of local authentic sites is the oil mill – TORAĆ – a place combining the past with the present. As part of its rich inheritance, the wish is to present and exhibit to tourists the reconstruction of TORAĆ – the only remaining old mill for olives (so-called «TORAĆ» in the local dialect) was built in 1897.

Ćunski at one time boasted a population of 600 inhabitants but to-day the number is 150. There is a spiritual retreat centre here called Betanija where the faithful from all over the world congregate and where the rev. Zlatko Sudac, when in residence, receives pilgrims. This is also the birthplace of the bishop of Krk, Valter Župan.

On the road below Ćunski is the starting point for the tourist trail on the ascent to the hill called Osoršćic.

Ćunski is connected daily by bus with Mali and Veli Lošinj as well as with Cres, Osor and Nerezine. On the main road below Ćunski a paved side road leads to a sports airfield.

There is the possibility of private accommodation – in apartments and private rooms.

Belej

This is a village located on the island of Cres, at the very edge of Lošinj’s town area. It is in the middle of a plateau whose western side slopes gently to the sea while the eastern side plunges to the azure below.

Sheep rearing was the main livelihood of the inhabitants here and the houses were built in a special style connected with the uniqueness and tradition of stone. Stones stacked in a dry-stone wall provide an inspiring geometric backdrop, which divides the dried up land from pastureland.
A stay in private accommodation with the locals will bring you into direct contact with primeval nature, where the smells of pastureland, sage and rosemary waft through the air. Traditionally, on 16th August (feast-day of St. Rock) liturgical services are held followed by celebrations of dancing and entertainment with the local population.

One road out of Belej leads to the picturesque, secluded inlet of Koromačno whose landscape and white strand will leave you breathless.