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Brijuni Islands

The Brijuni islands in the southwest coast of Istria were declared a national park in 1983. They occupy 2700 hectares, and are composed of fourteen islands, the largest of which are Veliki and Mali Brijun.

The islands are covered with Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean vegetation, offering tourists an atmosphere of untouched nature. On the islands, there is a zoo, a pheasant park and a safari park, with many various species from around the globe. Traces of man on the island date from the early Neolithic period. Among many archaeological sites, the most significant one is a prehistoric settlement on a hill named Gradina. In Verige Bay, there are remains of a representative Roman temple summer house, and in the west coast there is a late antic – Byzantine castrum and a Byzantine Saint Mary’s church from the 6th century.