At the very south of Istria, on the sunbathed hill kissed by the fresh breeze, there is Ližnjan. It is a real discovery of an ideal destination. Embraced by the broom plant, which, like gold, covers the entire region, the town is calmly overlooking the full beauty of blue sea and the islands of Kvarner. The coast of Ližnjan is 28 kilometers long and it is rich in truly beautiful and untouched beaches where it is still possible to find the pleasure of personal connection with the Mediterranean - a solitary piece of beautiful coastline in the company of waves and crickets. Its history is truly fascinating, told by over 7000-year old settlement sites, remains of Roman villas, pieces of amphorae, wrecks (which are still in its waters), old lighthouses (which still show the way to sea travelers), ancient churches and the charm of typical Mediterranean houses densely placed in the city center.
The picturesque harbor shows that today its inhabitants are, as they were thousands of years ago, engaged in fishing. The rich sea lavishes them with its gifts that everyone should try in one of Ližnjans’ restaurants or homes of hospitable hosts. There is another undiscovered jewel, the island of Levan, located in front of its coast with a sandy beach and two restaurants, an ideal place for those looking for adventure and a different marine experience.
Ližnjan and its sea are marked down on many windsurfers’ and divers’ maps who consider it as one of the best and most beautiful locations for their passion. The coastal cycle routes with landscapes of exceptional beauty make Ližnjan a unique location for those seeking an active vacation.Ližnjan is not a noisy tourist resort, it offers much more than the usual tourist destination. Ližnjan is the Mediterranean that you dream of and which can still be found.
History
The territory of Ližnjan has been inhabited since the prehistoric times. Recent discovery of an ancient settlement called Kargadur (nearby the protected bay of Kuje) has revealed that the man was present here even 7000 years ago. Old hooks, ceramics, volcanic glass, jewelry, arrowheads for hunting were all found at the site as well as the wheat from that time and numerous other items that illustrate life in that period and make this an unique site in Europe. This was a fishermen’s village in which, during the course of history, life went away and came back again. In the bay Kuje, where today there is a church, once was a Roman villa with spa. The floor mosaics are still preserved. In this bay, amphorae from second to fourth century BC (when the seashore was 10 meters lower ) were found. Here, the lamp with a picture of Jesus Christ from the 5th century was found. On the hill Svetica, a fortress was found. The village was first mentioned in 1149 as Lisianum, although there are earlier names from 990 for a rural villa named Liciniana or Liciniaum. During the Roman Empire, the area was important for the traffic control between Budava, the main port of ancient Histri, and cape Premantura around which all traffic from north to south passed.
During the Byzantine Empire, it was an important village as evidenced by the remains of the church from the 6th century. Until 1331, it was part of the estate of the diocese of Pula and then fell under the authority of the Patriarch from Aquileia. From the 14th century until the end of the 18th century, it was under the Venetian rule, after which there was France, then the Austrians and then the Italian government. In 1918, an Italian warship Cesare Rossarol wrecked in front of Ližnjan and it can still been visited today by experienced divers. In that period, a fish cannery was built where many residents worked. During World War II, the residents of Ližnjan and nearby areas participated in the anti-fascist struggle and added Ližnjan to the former Yugoslavia. In 1991, Ližnjan became an integral part of Croatia.
Recommendations
The Church of Our Lady of Kuj - from the 17th century, built on the site of a Roman villa with mosaics still visible beneath the glass floor of the church
Church of St. Martin - from 1879, built on earlier remains, with the statue of the Saint Titular
Church of Our Lady of Grace - from 1704 and the old cemetery from 1779
The remains of the Cesare Rossarol warship – wrecked in 1918
Diving locations - Lighthouse Marlera, cape Marlera and Albanež with the remains of the merchant ship, amphorae, endemic plants and the truly beautiful underwater scenery
Lighthouses - one located on a cliff and the other on shore, the lighthouses Lanterna and Galiola are an unavoidable place for visitors
Cycling – the long coastline of Ližnjan is one of the most beautiful cycling routes
Fishing - a place known for being rich in fish
Svetica (Monte Madonna) - Prehistoric fort with two ramparts, the remains of Roman buildings, buildings from the Austrian rule, and once secret underground bunkers of the Yugoslav Army
Island of Levan - a small island in front of Ližnjan with a beautiful sandy beach
Events
Klupska gara - a traditional competition in underwater fishing - 18.04.
Šišan, Fair of Sv.Feliks and Fortunato - Festival of rural culture with autochthonous products and customs - 11.06.
Night of Ližnjan - traditional folk festival, 04.08.
Assumption of Mary - folk festival with music and food specialties, 15.08.
Šišan, feast of the Assumption of Mary - Assumption celebration 15.08.
