Mali Lošinj is the biggest settlement on the island, found on the southern side of the Bay of Lošinj, which thanks to this position has become a very important maritime and commercial centre, and today, also an important tourist destination.
Positioned in the August Bay, the biggest closed bay of the island, and with 7000 inhabitants, today it is the biggest island town in the Adriatic. Mali Lošinj dates back to the 12th century when twelve Croatian families settled in the eastern bay St. Martin. First Croatian settlers were farmers, later they also turned to fishing, sailing and shipbuilding, and with that the settlements moved towards the coast
The golden age for Mali Lošinj was the end of the 19th century when thanks to seafaring the “small village” turned into a maritime town. Because of the big changes and the maritime crisis in the region, due to passing from sail boats to steam boats, it seemed that the destiny of this and similar towns was sealed. Upon discovering the health benefits of the climate, and growing of the new economic realm, tourism, a new page in the island’s history was open.
Today Mali Lošinj is one of the main tourist centres on the Adriatic known in all European tourism circles, which is proofed by an ever bigger number of guest that visit the island every year.
Mali Lošinj was the recipient of the title „Champion of Tourism 2007“, and for 2009, Mali Lošinj is the Croatian candidate for the Golden Flower of Europe 2009.
Nerezine is the first place we encounter on the island of Lošinj. It is situated at the foot of Osoršćica hill on the north eastern coastline of Lošinj and was already mentioned as a larger settlement on the island as far back as the 14th century.
It was a place which gradually grew from field labouring and shepherding to a fishing and seagoing settlement with shipyards known for their skilled workmen and construction of wooden ships.
As a tourist resort, Nerezine was already discovered in the 19th century, primarily thanks to Osoršćica hill which delighted all its visitors, including the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Rudolf Habsburg, who climbed to the top in 1887. Nerezine is the starting point on the tourist trail for the ascent to Osoršćica and it is not without reason that it has been proclaimed the most beautiful island mountain in the Adriatic.
Two tourist settlements, two camps, two small family hotels as well as a large number of private rooms and apartments offer pleasant accommodation along with restaurants’ delicious cuisine.
The old dockyard is still operational and a new marine, which will supplement the tourist offer, is being revamped.
