Mali Losinj
Mali Lošinj is located in the largest closed bay of this archipelago, August's bay. Today, Mali Lošinj with its 6,500 inhabitants is the largest insular town on the Adriatic.
The beginnings of Mali Lošinj most certainly date back to the l2th century, maybe earlier, but there is a lack of sufficient reliable data. What is known, however, is that about a dozen Croatian families came to the island of Lošinj from Hungary, fleeing from the Mongols, and they settled in its eastern bay, St. Martin, on the slopes of the hill above the bay.
Since the primary economic activity of the Croat settlers was cattle-raising and agriculture, their houses were built above fertile gardens (the area called Gravot).
The whole settlement underwent the transition from an agricultural and cattle-raising way of life to fishing, navigating and shipbuilding. The golden age of Mali Lošinj was the end of the 19th century when, thanks to the sea and navigation the "Malo selo" ("Small Village") became a coastal town.
While in Osor, Cres, Lubenice and Beli you feel the atmosphere of the past with every step of the way, in Mali Lošinj one feels the breath of maritime captains. The nucleus of the town and many stately villas date from the 19th century when the citizens of Mali Lošinj were very well off due to the peak of maritime navigation here. If you happen to be a guest in one of these captain's homes or villas, ask the owner and he might show you old family photographs, furniture brought from England, vases and porcelain from China or Japan, souvenirs from Africa or South America and so on. The spirit of Lošinj's seamanship is present in such houses.
Today's seamen, faithful to the old tradition, untiringly bring old and new objects from afar. In the summer months, when about 10,000 tourists flood Mali Lošinj, the seaman's spirit falls into second place. This is when the town's newer character as a tourist resort is revealed. Numerous restaurants, cafes, tourist's agencies, excursion boats and other facilities tempt and invite you to visit them. You may say that there is something for every taste; all you have to do is make a wish ... and pay later.
Places to visit
- The curch of St. Martin from 1450 with the park - graveyard
- The parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin and square named «Pjacal» from 1696 to 1757 in today's aspect; on the alter relics of St. Romuls
- Čikat: the chapel of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Annunziata) built in 1858 - the place of seeing of and greeting the Lošinj wind - jammers
- Numerous villas of Austrian aristocracy
- The monument of Ambroz Haračić (1855-1916) a professor of the Nautical School and researcher of Lošinj climate and plant life;
- The nautical School «Ambroz Haračić» like ship with captain's bridge
- The chapel of St. Nicholas who was a bishop and patron of sailors and travellers
- Art collection by Andro Vid and Katarina Mihičić and Piperata, a collection of the old masters in Mali Lošinj contain oils on canvass and watercolor works by Italian, French and Dutch painters from 17th and 18th century, as well as paintings and statues made by contemporary Croatian authors
- Lošinj garden of scents - new from 2005 - nursery garden for healing herbs growing on the island Lošinj. Accompanied with an expert guide, visitors can acquaint themselves with the rich island flora, healing properties of the herbs, and they can buy some original island souvenirs.
Maps and cityplans can be found here.