Brijuni National Park are a group of fourteen islands situated off the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, and famous for their scenic beauty and long, exciting history. The two largest islands are Veliki and Mali Brijun.The Romans built summer villas on these islands northwest of Pula; the Austro-Hungarians spent their holidays there, and Yugoslavian president Tito chose them as the site for his private residence and official retreat.
About
Brijuni are a group of fourteen islands situated off the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, and famous for their scenic beauty and long, exciting history. The two largest islands are Veliki and Mali Brijun.The Romans built summer villas on these islands northwest of Pula; the Austro-Hungarians spent their holidays there, and Yugoslavian president Tito chose them as the site for his private residence and official retreat.
Today Brijuni are a national park and an official state residence. Only two of the islands – Veliki Brijun and Mali Brijun – are open to visitors, who must arrive via organized tours unless they are staying at one of Brijuni’s hotels.
Traffic
The islands can be reached by boat from Fažana, which is a half-hour drive from Pula. Boats depart three to five times per day, depending on the season. The trip to Brijuni from Fažana takes about 20 minutes and the guided land tour takes about 4 hours.
Visit
The White Villa was the residence of Joseph B. Tito during his reign as president of Yugoslavia and there he received many public officials and delegates. For 30 years Tito spent 6 months of the year receiving world leaders and celebrities amid Brijuni’s natural wonders. As he was an animal lover, he received many exotic animals as gifts from visitors from all parts of the globe. Today there are more than 600 indigenous plant species, mostly Mediterranean, and in the northern part of Veli Brijun there is a safari park where there are deer, zebra, ostriches and other animals.
More than 200 dinosaurs’ footprints have been discovered at four sites on the island of Veli Brijun (Pogledalo, Ploče, Kamik/Plješivac and Trstike/Debela Glava). They can be traced to the Cretaceous Period (145 to 65 million years ago), so it can be rightfully said that the island has a “Cretaceous park“. Right after leaving the boat and landing on the jetty in Brijuni harbor you can see traces of dinosaurs! In the limestone block brought from one of Brijuni’s quarries, a three-toed dinosaur”s footprint can clearly be seen.
The guided tour also includes a visit to 1st-century Roman villa complex at Verige Bay; the ruins of a Byzantine fortress; the “Old Lady” – a 1,600-year-old olive tree; a small archaeological museum and Church of St. Germaine, with copies of Baščanska ploča (the Baška Tablet) and “Dance of the Dead” fresco from Beram; and Josip Broz Tito Memorial Museum.
Recreation
It’s possible to book yachting, golf and diving expeditions, as well as hire a bike or a small electric car.