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.

© Pavlina Razova
Last Updated March 2, 2006