Brijuni Archipelago, Croatia
From a fashionable resort of aristocrats, through a summer residence for Marshal Tito to a national park. The Brijuni archipelago passes through this, representing two small islands of incredible beauty. "Paradise Island of Tito" is a surreal picture - it intertwines the colors of green forests, the radiance of beautiful meadows, wild animals run on them and here and there are Roman remains. And all this surrounded by a blue frame - the blue waters of the Adriatic. All this can be found on the map by measuring 3 km west of the coast of the Istrian peninsula.
The Brijuni archipelago can tell a story of beauty and luxury dating back two and a half millennia. The story is sealed in ancient Roman villas, Illyrian fortresses, Byzantine palaces, medieval churches and the luxurious residence of the President, visited by some of the most powerful politicians and celebrities of the twentieth century. In the Bay of Virgo is a beautiful Roman palace with temples and outbuildings, which is a wonderful example of Roman architecture. Remains of a Byzantine fortress, a 5th century basilica and a 6th century church have been preserved in Dobrik Bay. Yugoslav President Tito's private resorts have been inaccessible to visitors for decades.
Veliki Brijuni and Mali Brijuni are the two islands of the Brijuni archipelago. They have been inhabited since prehistoric times. They were turned into sophisticated resorts for European aristocrats by the industrialist Paul Kupelweiser, who bought them in 1893 after an epidemic of malaria that depopulated them. The Austrian makes great efforts and turns the deserts into a superb park. Tito decides to put his hand on Brijuni and turns it into a hunting park. He skillfully shows his guests that everyone must bring at least one animal to his island. That's why zebras, camels, elephants, ostriches and deer roam freely on Brijuni today.
The Brijuni archipelago is one of the most unusual and romantic places in Croatia. Beautiful nature, unsuspected experiences, interesting animal representatives and a curious story adorn the business card of this place that has undergone many transformations.