Cres Island, Croatia

Cres is the westernmost and one of the largest of its 1,200 brethren in Croatia. It is located in the Kvarner Gulf, east of Istria. Through an artificial canal, the island of Cres is divided into two parts, one of which is the island of Losinj. The Croatian island of Cres is one of the most attractive destinations for ecotourism lovers and especially for those interested in the life of large birds. In the heart of the island of Cres is a mysterious natural phenomenon - the freshwater lake Vrana, impressive and puzzling with its 220 million cubic meters of water.
A legend hovers around the island of Cres. She tells how he appeared on the map. The island of Cres is believed to have been the place from which Jason and the Argonauts fled after grabbing the golden fleece. At that time the island mass was known as Absirtidi, after Absirt. It was his sister Medea who killed him and threw the body into the sea. Two of his limbs became Cres and Loshin. The island of Cres over the years passed through Roman and Byzantine rule, and seven centuries later it was ruled by Venetians, French and many others. Its rich cultural heritage is sealed in the picturesque villages and the exciting town of Cres of the same name, which is a proud custodian of the remains of Venetian rule. One of the main landmarks of Cres is, for example, the Venetian clock tower from the 16th century. Among the recommended settlements on the island of Cres are the beautiful port and historical plate from the XI century - Boulder, as well as the ancient village with beautiful views - Lubenice, and Beli - eco-center and one of the oldest settlements on the island.
Definitely one of the pearls of Cres is the Palace of Moshe. This monumental palace-residence in Gothic and Renaissance style is the largest patrician building in Cres. It was built in the 15th century by the owner of the property - the Jew Moisevich from Sen. The architecture of the building features the family coat of arms, which depicts a lion holding the Star of David.
From a tourist point of view, the beaches and bays of Cres cannot be compared to the Greek ones. Despite the large influx of tourists, especially Italians, Cres is wilder and unspoiled. An interesting fact about the island of Cres is that its shores are covered with sea pebbles that help to avoid the unwanted trampling of pristine nature due to the burden of mass tourism.
One of the main attractions of the island of Cres is the ecological center "Caput Insulae Beli", which houses meat wild animals in need of medical care. Every year about 15,000 tourists cross the threshold of the center. Cres owes its popularity to the fact that it is home to one of the largest birds in the world - the Griffon Eagle. In addition to watching the bald eagle, tourists are attracted to the island by its rich nature, as well as the opportunity to participate in many environmental programs and projects, as well as to walk freely in nature.