Adriatic sailing around Brioni islands

The Brijuni (or Brioni) Islands are a group of two small islands and 12 tiny islets on the west coast of the peninsula of Istria in Croatia, three miles NW of the large port of Pula. The islands are separated from the mainland by the narrow Fažana Strait. An exclusive beach resort in the 19th century during the period of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the archipelago was subsequently appropriated as a summer residence by President Tito after the establishment of the Republic of Yugoslavia in 1945. In addition to most of the world’s heads of state, visitors to the islands during the post-war period included royal celebrities and film stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida. After the death of Tito in 1980, the islands became a national park and exclusive holiday resort. The islands now host a conference centre, four hotels and a small safari park as well as still hosting the occasional state visit. The two largest islands, Veli Brijun and Mali Brijun, can be visited by yacht, but charges are deliberately kept astronomically high to deter all but the wealthiest or most committed of yachting visitors. A more economical way to visit the islands is on a day excursion from Fažana - typical cost (2011) per person from 210 kuna (high season) to 125 kuna (low season) - which includes a guided three-hour tour of the main island on a mini tourist train. Day trip boats also visit from Pula, but usually just tour round the islands rather than landing.

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