Elaphiti Islands

The Elaphiten (also Elafite, Elafiti, Elaphitische Islands, Deer Island, from gr elaphos "Deer" ) are to the Republic of Croatia, Dubrovnik -Neretva County, belonging archipelago off the southern Dalmatian coast.

They are located a few kilometers northwest of Dubrovnik and southeast of the Peljesac peninsula. Usually thirteen islands are counted as Elaphiten: Sipan, Lopud, Koločep, Jakljan, Daksu, Sveti Andrija, Ruda, Mišnjak, Kosmeč, Golec, Crkvine, Tajan and Olipa; the location immediately before the old port of Dubrovnik Lokrum Island (Italian Lacroma ) does not belong administratively to the Elaphiten, but the city of Dubrovnik. The Elaphiten are separated by the Koločeper channel from the mainland, the waterway between Lopud and Sipan Lopud passage means (literally "Gate of Lopud " ), the narrow, winding corridor between Sipan and Jakljan is called Harpoti.

Only the three largest islands of the archipelago are inhabited:

• Koločep (Italian Calamotta ), 2.5 square kilometers, two settlements on the coast ( Gornje Čelo, Donje Čelo ), about 150 inhabitants;
• Lopud (Italian lafota or mezzo, "The Middle " ), 4.5 square kilometers, a settlement of the same name on the coast, about 220 inhabitants;
• Sipan (Italian Giuppana ), 16.5 square miles, two settlements on the coast ( Sudjuradj, Šipan ) and four small settlements in the interior ( Frajga, Sutulija, Vonjevo Selo, Ođak ), about 450 residents.

Only A large part of the population lives in the tourist season on the islands and spend the winter months on the mainland.

• Jakljan is inhabited sporadically during the summer months, but hardly exploited for tourism. The buildings in a time of Yugoslavia established there summer camp for children is not currently used.

The remaining islands are uninhabited today, but were partially settled in former times:

• On Daksu, the closest island to the mainland, are the ruins of a resolution by the Republic of Ragusa by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808 repealed the Franciscan monastery and a 19 -meter high lighthouse.
• On Sveti Andrija (Italian Donzella ), the most widely placed toward the open sea island are the remains of a 1799 officially abandoned, but probably even before discontinued and a Benedictine monastery erected in 1873, has since then been converted lighthouse. Sveti Andrija also served the early 15th century as a quarantine station for the plague around here in the middle of the 16th century lived the Benedictine monk and poet Mavro Vetranovič ( 1482-1576 ) as a hermit.
• Latter-day settlement traces can be found on Ruda ( remains of a Dominican monastery ).

Geographical and climatic conditions, flora and fauna

The islands are karstified on the coasts partially and consist mainly of limestone and dolomite, the larger islands, however, are densely covered in the interior and wooded, the Roterdeboden ( Kalksteinrohlehm ) can also be agricultural use ( citrus fruits, olives, grapes, figs) to. Agricultural center is five kilometers elongated Šipansko Polje ( Šipaner field ) on which also livestock (cattle, sheep ) is operated. Until the time of the Second World War and the islands to the wild-growing herbs have been commercially exploited and partly exported. The highest elevation is the Velji Vrh on Sipan with 234 meters. The climate on the islands is subtropical hot due to the sheltered location with hot, dry summers and rain rich autumn and winter, the temperature is 15.1 degrees Celsius throughout the year, on average, there are 215 sunny days a year. Wild living species: wild boar ( which are native only been here for some time and are suspected of that they have reached the islands floating on the Peljesac peninsula off), otherwise only small mammals such as rabbits, including numerous birds, insects, reptile and amphibian species. Especially often one encounters snakes, but are said to be no toxic species including ( information provided by the Croatian Tourist information). Parts of the archipelago are protected.

History

The first written mention of the archipelago can be found in the Naturalis historiae of Pliny the Elder (c. 23-79 ), where he is already listed under his name still used today, whose origin is unclear. One possible explanation is that he from the Greek " elaphos " itself: "Deer" is derived; either because it could have actually given deer earlier in the islands (which is considered very doubtful) or because the shape of the island group as that of a deer was interpreted; another derivation of the name refers to Hellas (Latin: Greece) and " Phytos " (Greek: Plant), ie literally " islands of the Greek plant ," which possibly the olive trees could be meant. Both derivations are, however, speculative.

On the islands there are traces of settlement of Illyrian, Greek and Roman times. As possible - but not guaranteed - is that it has come in the year 47 BC at Sipan to a fight between the supporters of Caesar and Pompey.

The Elaphiten since the 11th century were probably under the administration of the Republic of Ragusa ( Dubrovnik), secured data are starting only in 1272 ago. Under the name Comitatus Trius Insularum or Comitatus Insulae Koločep, Lopud and Sipan were combined into one administrative unit belonging to one of the Ragusaner nobility, Comes by the Council of the Republic for one year (Rector ) were administered, which an administration official ( Registrar ) and a syndic -called official were supplied as standard for controlling body. Was for the 1410-1493 and the management of not belonging to the Elaphiten island of Mljet (Italian Meleda ) - - seat of the Comes was Šipan. 1457 the Comitatus insulae was divided, Lopud and Koločep were combined into a separate administrative unit with seat of the Rector in Lopud. This management structure remained essentially, apart from minor organizational changes, until the abolition of the Republic of Ragusa in 1808 in force. At the time of Ragusaner management (Rector palaces on Sipan and Lopud ), villas of wealthy patricians Ragusaner and numerous churches were built on the islands administration building, with most of these buildings were heavily fortified as protection against pirate attacks. On Lopud beginning of the 16th century was built on a hill above the village the Fort Španjola. After the devastation of Elaphiten by a Turkish invasion in 1571 additional towers and fortified churches were built from the late 16th century.

After the dissolution of the Republic of Ragusa by Napoleon in 1808 the Elaphiten were annexed to the Illyrian provinces under French control in the following year, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the end of the First World War, they belonged to the crown land of Dalmatia Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1918 to 1941 she was part of the so-called SHS - State (Yugoslavia), from 1941 to 1945 the Independent State of Croatia, since 1945 the Yugoslav Republic of Croatia. Since 1991 they belong to the own state Republic of Croatia.

During the six -month siege of Dubrovnik by the troops of the (Serbian - Montenegrin ) Yugoslav People's Army in the second half of 1991, the supply of the town partly by speedboats, backed by the Elaphiten, especially of Sipan from the naval blockade broke through was. Partly warning signs of landmines remember to Sipan today to these dramatic events of the recent past.

Cultural and historical marginalia

The German writer and philosopher Rudolf Pannwitz (1881-1969) lived and worked from 1921 to 1948 on Koločep. The Austrian writer Josef Friedrich Perkonig (1890-1959) moved the bulk of the plot of his novel published in 1938 Lopud, Lopud island of heroes on to ( further editions in 1943 and probably 1945). 1955 appeared a new edition under the new title Love Song at the Sea.

Economy

The population of the Elaphiten traditionally lived from fishing and agriculture, from the commercial exploitation of wild herbs and Koločep until the 18th century also from coral diving at Sveti Andrija. Many of the male inhabitants served in various grades, up to the captain, on ships of the fleet Ragusaner and partly also of the allied Spanish Armada (two sailors from Koločep belonged to the crew of the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus ). On Sipan and Lopud there was to the 16th century 's own shipyards. Already in the 19th century saw the beginning of the development of tourist infrastructure, which was intensified after the 1st World War and today is the most important economic factor.

Tourism

Koločep, Lopud and Sipan are touristy relatively well, though not developed to the highest level. On each of the three islands there is a greater Hotel: On Koločep the " villas Koločep " in Donje Čelo, in Lopud the " Lafodia " and the erected in 1936 and after years of decline now restored " Grand Hotel Lopud " on Sipan, the " Hotel Sipan " in Šipan. There are also numerous private houses of different category and price range. There are numerous partly excellent restaurants and cafes, as well as smaller grocery stores. Because of their small size are Koločep and Lopud ( almost ) car-free, on Sipan, there is a five-kilometer bus line that connects the two coastal towns Sudjuradj and Šipan about the Šipansko Polje together. There are hiking trails on all three islands, as well as bathing facilities at several places, the most attractive of the sandy beach of the bay Šunj applies to Lopud, that of the village of Lopud by the crossing of the island (about 15 minutes walk ) is reachable ( restaurant business ). Attractive places for divers there are Koločep. Tourist information, where also free general plans of the islands are available, and a weekday morning open post office there on all three islands.

Attractions

• Koločep: Church of the Assumption in Donje Čelo ( in the oldest dating from the 13th century, alterations to the 20th century), Church of St. Anthony in the middle of the walkway between Donje Čelo and Gornje Čelo (14th century, rebuilt in the 19th century) with cemetery, the remains of a fortified tower over the port of Gornje Čelo.
• Lopud: Lopud village with a harbor in a about a kilometer long bay, with houses from the 15-16. Century, Franciscan monastery with the church of St. Mary of Spilice ( 15-16. Century) directly at the harbor entrance, Trinity Church with the burial of Captain Vice Buna ( 15-16. Century) above the cliffs in front of the harbor entrance, parish St. Mary of Suni (15th century) with a cemetery close to the trail from the village of Lopud bay for Suni. Remains of several defensive towers and houses, as well as numerous medieval ruins, partly due to the 9-10. Century of declining chapels and church in the interior, of which Sveti Ivan Krstitelj ( St. John the Baptist ) offers panoramic views over the bay of Lopud. Ruins of the fort Španjola above the village of Lopud. Park Đorđić - Mayneri. Viewing pavilion on the promenade behind the hotel Lafodia.
• Sipan: Sudjuradj village with buildings from the 16th century, including Villa Skočibuha with towers ( 16th century) and Villa Getaldić ( 16th century), fortified church of the Holy Spirit ( 16th century) with a cemetery and the ruins of the Church of St. Stephan (13th century) on the outskirts, gothic church of the Holy Trinity on the Trinity hill above Sudjuradj. Inland: Many religious buildings, including the fortified church complex with churches of St. Mary of Mercy and St. Michael, vicarage and defensive tower in Pakljena ( 16th century), remains of the church of St. Michael on the Big Mountain (possibly 7. century), the remains probably of Illyrian grave mound on the mountain Sutulija. In Šipan: Villa Sorkočević with fortifications and gardens, the remains of a Roman villa, late Gothic church of St. Stephan (13th century), villas from the 19th century, above the village the remains of the Rector's Palace (15th century).

Many of the historic buildings on the Elaphiten are accessible in poor condition and not public. Also, the Regional Museum on Lopud no longer exists.

Accessibility

Koločep, Lopud and Sipan are - in this order - during the tourist season several times a day Gruž ( ital Gravosa ), which at the mouth of Ombla (Rijeka Dubrovačka ) located harbor of Dubrovnik, from blue and white ferries of state Jadrolinija ( Adriatic line ) is approached. With the same line Elaphiten are also accessible from Mljet from. The schedule is very limited outside of the tourist season and on Sundays and public holidays, also will not be on every ride all three islands is approached ( the most current schedule can be viewed online at the website of the German Jadrolinija ). Tickets must be purchased at kiosks or at the offices of the shipping line before each ride. During the tourist season over run, the red speedboats private Nova line. The other islands of the archipelago are only rented or own boats available, they are mostly uninhabited and have no tourist infrastructure.