ABOUT THE ISLAND

The Island of Lošinj is part of the Cres-Lošinj island group, which constitutes the western segment of the Kvarner’s islands inside the Kvarner Bay. The Kvarner Bay together with that of Trieste forms the most inland point of the Mediterranean Sea. The Cres-Lošinj island group extends in a northwest-southeast direction for 99 kilometres with a total area of 513 km², which comprises 16% of the total area of the Adriatic islands.
The west part of the Kvarner islands consists of the following islands: Cres (409 km²), Lošinj (75 km²) and smaller islands of Unije (17 km²), Ilovik (6 km²), Susak (4 km²), Vele Srakane (1 km²), and a series of smaller uninhabited islands. The islands of this archipelago form the natural bridge between Istria and Dalmatia.
This archipelago lies in the middle of the northern hemisphere because a part of it goes through the 45th degree of the northern latitude. The biggest part of the archipelago is in the sub-tropical zone of the southern half of the northern hemisphere, which influences its climate and the way of life of its inhabitants.
Lošinj is the 11th biggest island on the Adriatic Sea, 33 km long, with the width varying from 4,75 km in the north and middle of the island, to 0,25 km near the town of Mali Lošinj. The total coastline of the island is 112,7 km. The whole coastline abounds in attractive bays and coves, ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
Lošinj’s highest hill is the wooded hill of Osoršćica (588 m), which is some 10 kilometres long and stretches along the northern part of the island. On the island of Cres, which is generally higher than Lošinj, the highest hill is Sis (650 m). Cres has a freshwater lake – Vrana, which is a natural phenomenon. It is needless to say that so much drinking water on a karst island represents a real treasure. This enormous natural tank of fresh and healthy water contains more than 200 million m³ of water and supplies all the towns and villages on the islands with fresh drinking water.
Many, many years ago the island of Cres and Lošinj were one, only after the channel of Osor was excavated, probably during the Roman period, two islands emerged. Today a bridge connects the islands and in the geographically trafficable sense they form one unit.

According to Köppen’s classification of climate, Lošinj has a moderately warm rainy climate, with the warmest month of July with the mean temperature 24.5°C and the coldest month of February with the mean temperature 7.7°C. The daily mean temperature above 20°C can be expected from early June to late September. The swimming is convenient from early June to early October when the sea temperatures are above 20°C.
Cold days with sub-zero temperatures are very rare. On the contrary, warm days with the highest daily temperature above 25 °C appear between May and October, and in July and August nearly all days are warm. During July and August the highest daily temperature often exceed 30°C (hot days), while the night temperature does not drop below 20°C (tropical nights). The mean annual cloudiness is about five tenths. There is more cloudiness in the winter when over half the sky is overcast. In the spring the amount of cloudiness decreases, and in the summer it reaches the lowest values – in July and August only three tenths of the sky are overcast.
With over 260 days of insolation a year, or an average of about 7 hours per day, Lošinj belongs to the sunniest areas of Croatia. From November to February it has an average of 4-5 hours of sunshine a day, and in the sunniest season, in the summer, the sun shines on the average over 10 hours a day. Clear days when the mean daily cloudiness is under two tenths, are more frequent than cloudy days, when over eight tenths of the sky are overcast. During July and August more than a third days in the month are clear. Most cloudy days occur between November and March, but even then there are not more than 10 cloudy days a month on average.
The mean annual precipitation in Mali Lošinj is about 918 millimetres. Most precipitation occurs in winter, which is a characteristic of the maritime precipitation regime. About 59% of the total precipitation occur between October and March, and in that period there are about 7 to 10 rainy days per month. The warm season has less precipitation and fewer rainy days, while in the summer there are only 3 to 5 rainy days per month.
In the annual wind rose mild winds prevail. The most frequent winds come from the north-north-east, followed by winds from the south. This winds regime is characteristic of the whole coastal area, indicating the appearances of the bora and the jugo (scirroco). In the summer, about midday, a characteristic flow comes from the west quadrant, the well-known mistral, which is insignificant in the total annual wind rose.
The average thermal sensation, influenced by the temperature, humidity wind and solar radiation, ranges from very cold to slightly warm. On average from mid-November to mid-March it is cold in the afternoon, while mornings and evenings are very cold. Early spring and late autumn are cool. In May and from mid-September and in October it is slightly cool, while June and the beginning of September are comfortable. Summer mornings and evenings are comfortable, afternoons slightly warm and only in late July warm.
The distribution of thermal sensation at 2 p.m. shows that the in March prevail cool afternoons, while in April and May it is slightly cool or comfortable, so this time is very convenient for the active holidays with walks and sport. Due to prevailing sensation of comfortable and warm during summer, it is possible to stay in the open all day, and in the warmest part of the day a refreshing sea bath will mitigate the feeling of warmth.

FLORA
Due to the foresight and initiative men, as Professor Ambroz Haračić, large areas of the island rockery were reforested at the end of the 19th century on Mali and Veli Lošinj. The gentle climate of the island of Lošinj is seen in its richness of plant types.
According to research, about 1100 plant types were identified, of which 939 belong to the autochthonous flora. 230 of these plans fall under medical herbs. About 80 types of plants, mainly exotic plants, were brought from other parts of the world by masters and sailors from Lošinj, who planted them in and around their home gardens. Because of the typical climate plants from south Dalmatia and Sicily can be grown.
Here grow agaves, Mexican cactus (opuntia), palm trees, magnolias, mirth, pistachios, mimosa, fig tree from India (karmus-nassarah), lemon, orange and mandarin trees (brought from Vietnam to Palermo, and then to Mali Lošinj). Thick pinewoods around Mali Lošinj became the green belt that protects the town and the harbour from the north wind. On the side of Čikat the woods slowly changed into a park. Today the thick pinewoods of Lošinj are the symbol of the island and a valuable asset in its tourist development.
The Čikat has been nominated a forest park. In Veli Lošinj’s park, established by the Hapsburg Archduke Charles Stephen, there are some 200 different species of trees from all parts of the world. The vegetation on the island is growing luxuriant during all seasons.
Based on professor A. Haračić’s research the state of vegetation makes the climate better. The culmination of vegetation is in May when most plants flourish. The most beautiful months on Lošinj are from March until May, because of the mild temperatures, richness of flourishing vegetation and the aromatic scents in the air.

FAUNA
It is significant that there are no poisonous snakes on the Lošinj archipelago. There are just lizards and non-poisonous snakes. The island of Lošinj is the habitat of geckos, small lizards of the gekkonidae family. Geckos are protected species. Killing geckos is forbidden and punished by law. Jakov Matunci from Mali Lošinj, was placed third in the World Competition in Environmental Protection Volvo Adventure in Goeteborg, Sweden, for his project of protection of geckos, small Mediterranean lizards found on most Adriatic islands, in May 2004.
There is small game, as well as big game on the island – fallow deer and moufflons, which have been colonized in this area. There is a lot of feathered game. The birds of prey found in this area include hawks, sparrow-hawks, falcons and giant griffon vultures. Because of the small number of preserved individuals griffon vultures have been protected by law as an endangered species. The most common domestic animals found in this area are sheep. The sheep on the rocky pastures in the northern part of the island of Lošinj present an idyllic picture.
Because of the indentedness the sea that waters the coastline of the island is extremely rich with plant and animal life. Endless currents between the bays give the sea special clearness and limpidness, cleanliness and sheerness. In our seas live 95 types of fish, 71 types of crabs, mussels, snails, and different types of marine flora.
Dolphins are regular visitors, playful and ready to establish contact with humans, not unlike in adjacent local waters where they are completely extinct. They are excellent biological witnesses of the state of nature in which they live.

In ancient times the Cres and Lošinj archipelago was known as the Apsyrtides. The name is derived from that of the mythical hero Apsyrtus.
In times of old the islands of Cres and Lošinj used be a whole. The islands were later separated by an artificial canal at Osor to satisfy the needs of sea trade on the so-called Amber Route. Historical changes have hit these islands like sea waves. Millennia have passed like a storm. The presence of small and big nations that have conquered this area has left permanent traces of their material culture, brought with them or created on this soil. The oldest island settlements (Lubenice, Osor, Beli) have more than 4000 years of history. The Roman town of Osor was the seat of the bishopric in the 9th century.
Lošinj, which had been almost uninhabited until the middle of the 13th century, developed into a leading regional maritime power by the 19th century. The town of Lošinj became the second most important port in the Adriatic, immediately after Trieste. The inhabitants of Lošinj were not only known for their skillfulness in constructing sailing ships but they were also known as the best seamen in the Mediterranean. The architectural appearance of the centre of Mali Lošinj, which has remained almost the same until the present day, was determined in that period.
The beginnings of tourism date back to 1885, when health tourism began to develop on the island. On 21st January 1885 the first tourist was registered.
The first hotel in Mali Lošinj, named Vindobona, was built in 1887.
Owing to the exceptional characteristics of the climate Lošinj was proclaimed a climatic health resort by a decree of the Ministry of Health of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy in 1892. Soon it became a popular holiday destination of the Austrian-Hungarian aristocracy, who built numerous villas and summer residences on the island.
Lošinj is still a famous climatic health resort suitable for treating diseases of the respiratory tract and allergies. The island offers ideal conditions for a physical and psychological recovery, particularly during the winter, spring and autumn. The local hotels offer weekend and week’s anti-stress and wellness programmes.

One feels the rich cultural heritage of the island at every corner. Churches, monasteries, Renaissance buildings, basilicas and remnants from the ancient times can be found all over the island.
An exceptionally rich art collection by Croatian artists donated by Andro Vid and Katarina Mihičić, and a collection by European artists donated by Giuseppe Piperate, are stored at the gallery Fritzi in Mali Lošinj.
Kula (The Tower), a museum-gallery space located in Veli Lošinj, testifies to the maritime tradition of the island. The permanent exhibition presents the rich history of Lošinj highlighting its famous maritime past. Apart from the permanent exhibition, additional space is provided for occasional art and museum exhibitions.
The discovery of the famous sculpture, presenting APOKSYOMENOS, a Greek athlete, which was found in 1999 in the Lošinj underwater, also testifies to the rich cultural life of the island.
This unique museum is dedicated to the statue of Apoxyomenos whose story begins at the very entrance in the blue room on the ground floor. The nine scenes of each room offer exquisite sensory experiences. By means of taste, smell, hearing, and vision, the visitors can fully and individually experience the Apoxyomenos, as well as the destination of the island of vitality, one of the most beautiful spots on the Mediterranean.
The town of Osor is in fact an outdoor museum in which artists from all stylistic epochs have left their marks (it includes works by contemporary artists such as Meštrović as well as remnants of ancient walls, forts, and the first Early-Christian basilica). It is a town-museum with gardens and parks in which traces of ancient villas, Renaissance portals and monasteries are hidden. During the summer, this town that represents history and a museum at the same time becomes a unique scene abounding in cultural events among which we put special emphasis on the Osor Musical Evenings.