Mali Losinj is located in the largest closed bay of this archipelago, August's bay. Today, Mali Losinj with its 6,500 inhabitants, is the largest insular town on the Adriatic. The beginnings of Mali Losinj 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 Losinj 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 Losinj was the end of the 19th century when, thanks to the sea and navigation the "Malo selo" ("Small Village") became a coastal town. Due to great changes and recession in marine navigation in this region, the shifting from sailing vessels to steamboats, it seemed as though the destiny of such and similar towns would be sealed as well. With the discovery of the advantages of insular climates and the arrival of a new branch of economy, tourism, opened a new page in the history of Mali Losinj. Today, Mali Losinj is well known in all European tourist circles, proof of which are the many loyal guests who visit it anew every year. The question arises: where does its charm lie?. Whether coming by land or by sea, Mali Losinj appears as if from a fairy tale. Located in a mild harbor, surrounded by white houses with red roofs, a church and the indispensable high bell tower. If you have already fallen hopelessly in love with Mali Losinj on your first contact, have no regrets because it will be the beginning of a long relationship. Mali Losinj is surrounded by the island's most beautiful coves and beaches, the Cikat cove, Suncana (Sunshine) cove, Valdarke cove, the islets of Koludarac, Murtar and others. It is possible to leave the port by sea on the eastern side of the island thanks to the moving bridge (Privlaka), and on the western side, through the bays of Boka Vera and Boka Falsa. This is the very reason why numerous seamen and yacht-owners choose Mali Losinj as their destination or point of departure. The impression will be complete from the bird's eye view you get if you climb up into the skies from the airport of Mali Losinj. While in Osor, Cres, Lubenice and Beli you feel the atmosphere of the past with every step of the way, in Mali Losinj 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 Losinj 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 Losinj'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 Losinj, 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, tourists 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.
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Copyright Bart Pichola 2003
Last updated
9/17/2003