Dugi otok
For magic holidays you do not need a magic formula. It is sufficient to spread maps and look out for Croatia, Antic Zadar and Dugi otok. Geographically, it is the island of peculiar contrasts and the largest island in the North Dalmatian archipelago. It is about 45 km long and between 1 and 4 km wide, the highest peak Vela Straža is 338 m high. The south-west coast of the island is steep with fascinating cliffs, and with line of bays, the most beautiful among them Sakarun and Telašćica.
The pride of island is a significant landscape with dominating lighthouse on the north-west side, and the Nature Park Telašćica the south-east. The sea fruits together with the various fruit of the rocky soil make this islandthe unique ecological unit.
Around 1500 inhabitants live on the island in 12 villages. The road connecting all places on the island offers a magnificent view. The island is well connected with the mainland by ferries and fast ships.
When there is Dugi otok in question, you can find many attractive places and natural fineness; this is the trip through the world of the tradition as well as through the modern way of living.
The island of Dugi otok was first mentioned in the mid-10th century by Byzantine emperor Constantine Porfirogenet, who refers to it in his work De administrando imperio, under the name of Pizuh. Furthermore, at the beginning of 11th century the island was called Insula Tilagus in written documents and that name was preserved in the name of bay-cove, today’s nature park Telašćica.
The island was inhabited very early, which is confirmed by archaeological excavations from Krševanje polje and Veli Rat, dating back to the Old and Middle Stone Age (Paleolithic and Mesolithic). The island has remains of Illyrian settlements (Omišenjak, Koženjak, Veli Brčastac) with or without castle ruins (Vrtlaci), there are also numerous tumuli (Gominjak, Čuh polje) and one graveyard on the flatland (Dugo polje).The most suprising and yet to be excaveted is cave Vlakno that has given us a new insight of the first settlers at the end of Ice Age…
Early Christian and pre-Romanesque periods are accompanied with numerous churches, many of which are well preserved, such as the church of St.Pelegrin in Savar.
As to secular housing architecture several examples from the period between the 16th and 18th century are preserved. These buildings make a valuable contribution to insular, as well as to secular architecture of the city of Zadar from Mannerism and Baroque.
When coming to the island of Dugi otok you are returning to your roots. You can indulge your body, as well as your personality, idling on the beaches of Dugi otok, alone or with someone, swimming in amazingly clear sea. In Sali you can become a member of a scuba diving club and dive like a fish.
Get more information:
www.dugiotok.hr | www.telascica.hr | www.kornati.hr