Veli Lošinj ( it, Lussingrande) is a village on the island of

Lošinj Lošinj (; it, Lussino; vec, Lusin, earlier ''Osero''; german: Lötzing; la, Apsorrus; grc, Ἄψορρος) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the ...

Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Primorje-Gorski Kotar County ( hr, Primorsko-goranska županija, ) is a county in western Croatia that includes the Bay of Kvarner, the surrounding Northern Croatian Littoral, and the mountainous region of Gorski kotar. Its center is Rijeka. The ...

in western

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. Veli Lošinj has a mild climate and caters to tourists. It is located 5 km from the town of

Mali Lošinj Mali Lošinj ( it, Lussinpiccolo, vec, Lusinpicolo) is a town in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, on the island of Lošinj, in western Croatia. At the time of the 2011 census, there were 8,116 inhabitants, of whom 86% were Croats. The favourabl ...

. It was an important port and fishing centre until the late 19th century. Today it is known as a tourist and

aromatherapy Aromatherapy is based on the usage of aromatic materials including essential oils and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological and physical well-being. It is offered as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative m ...

centre. Veli Lošinj has 901 inhabitants (2011 census). Located in the south of the island of Lošinj, east of central Mali Lošinj, which is the administrative centre of the island. Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj form a single conglomeration along the coast. Veli Lošinj faces the sea from the south. It is at the foot of Kalvarija mountain.

History

Antiquity

The area of the present village was mostly unpopulated, and resorted under the rule of the city of Osor on northern Lošinj which counted 20,000 inhabitants at that time. For a period Veli Lošinj was the seat of the bishopric due to the plague visiting nearby Osor. After a single year, the bishopric was disbanded and merged with the bishopric of

Krk Krk (; it, Veglia; ruo, Krk; dlm, label= Vegliot Dalmatian, Vikla; la, Curicta; grc-gre, Κύρικον, Kyrikon) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kot ...

Middle Ages

The first mentioning of the town dates back to 1398 by the name of "Velo selo". The oldest core of the city was built between the 13th and 14th centuries around the Romanesque church of Sv. Nikola (Saint Nicholas) from 14th century. The town grew along agricultural alignments, not along lais-out city streets. In the 15th century the still-standing defensive tower was built, erected to defend the harbour and the settlement, but also to protect the locals from pirate attacks. In the 17th century the town continued to develop in a circular form around the bay of Veli Lošinj. It became urban in appearance and Baroque in style with a central square near the sea and two main streets of which one leads to Velo Selo, and the other to the settlement of Rovenska, where a fishing village with stone houses was erected. The City church of Sv. Antun Opat Pustinjak (Saint Anthony of Egypt) was built in place of an earlier smaller church in the 15th century. In the 17th century the old church was demolished and construction of a larger basilica began in 1774. It was built on the foundations of its predecessor and still stands this day in all its Baroque glory. The church contains one of the richest collections of work by Italian masters on the Kvarner islands, for instance by:

Bartolomeo Vivarini Bartolomeo or Bartolommeo Vivarini (c. 1432c. 1499) was an Italian Renaissance painter, known to have worked from 1450 to 1499. Biography Bartolomeo's brother Antonio Vivarini, and his nephew (also possibly his pupil) Alvise Vivarini, were als ...

Bernardo Strozzi Bernardo Strozzi, named il Cappuccino and il Prete Genovese (c. 1581 – 2 August 1644) was an Italian Baroque painter and engraver. A canvas and fresco artist, his wide subject range included history, allegorical, genre and portrait paintin ...

Lattanzio Querena 200px, The Deposition of Christ San Zanipolo Lattanzio Querena (1 November 1768, in Predella in Valle di Scalva – 10 July 1853) was an Italian painter, depicting historical and sacred subjects,Francesco Hayez Francesco Hayez (; 10 February 1791 – 12 February 1882) was an Italian painter. He is considered one of the leading artists of Romanticism in mid-19th-century Milan, and is renowned for his grand historical paintings, political allegories, and ...

, Francesco del Cossa, F. Polenzo. Not far from harbour in Veli Lošinj the church of St. Marija (Saint Mary's, also known as the "Gospe od anđela" or Our Lady of the Angels church) built in 1510. Later, the church was refurbished in the Baroque style. It contains an art collection by Venetian painters: "Saint Francis and Saint Hildebrand" by F. Fontebasso, eight paintings by G. A. Pellegrini, and a few paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries. One of these is a work by

Titian Tiziano Vecelli or Vecellio (; 27 August 1576), known in English as Titian ( ), was an Italians, Italian (Republic of Venice, Venetian) painter of the Renaissance, considered the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school (art), ...

Modern era

When "Malo Selo" - Mali Lošinj started to develop, Veli Lošinj stagnated. There was a shipyard in Veli Lošinj which produced sailboats but in the time it was active, sailboats went out of use. A new shipyard was constructed in Mali Lošinj which turned out motor-powered ships. After World War I, Veli Lošinj did not have enough economic clout to develop new projects.

References

External links

WebCam Veli Lošinj
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veli Losinj Populated coastal places in Croatia Populated places in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Lošinj Spa towns in Croatia