The Brijuni or the Brijuni Islands (also known as the Brionian Islands) are a group of fourteen small islands in the Croatian part of the northern Adriatic Sea, separated from the west coast of the Istrian peninsula by the narrow Fazana Strait. The largest island, Veliki Brijun Island (also known as Veli Brijun), (5.6 km2), lies 2 kilometres (1 mile) off the coast. The second largest island is Mali Brijun with an area of 1.07 km², and twelve much smaller islands. Famous for their scenic beauty, the islands are a holiday resort and a Croatian National Park.
The Brijuni islands were called by ancient Greeks Pollariae or Pullariae (Πολλάριαι), and later, they were called Brioniano.
The Brijuni Islands had some Ancient Roman settlements, but up to the late 19th century the islands were mainly used for their quarries, which have been worked on for centuries. The islands belonged to Venice from the Middle Ages, and stone from the islands was used to build the palaces and bridges of the city. The islands were part of the Illyrian Provinces after Napoleon’s brief annexation.
In 1815 the islands became part of the Austrian Empire, which later became Austria-Hungary. During this period the islands’ quarries first supplied stone to Vienna and Berlin. With the erection of a naval base in the harbour of Pula, the Austrians built a strong fortress, “Fort Tegetthoff,” on Veliki Brijun Island Island, together with minor fortifications on some of the others.
The Austro-Hungarian Navy abandoned the fortress, and in 1894 the Viennese business magnate Paul Kupelwieser bought the whole archipelago and created an exclusive beach resort. In 1900 Kupelwieser invited Robert Koch, the renowned microbiologist, to conduct his malaria eradication experiments on Brijuni. Koch and his associates were successful, and in 1901 the island was declared malaria-free.
The estate included first class hotels, restaurants, beach resorts, a casino and a yacht harbour and became a focal point in social life on the Austrian Riviera. Kupelwieser also established a sailing regatta and golf course. Due to the flourish of Austrian Culture – various musical concerts and literature events. The Brijuni islands became popular as a destination for the Viennese upper class. Many members of the Imperial family and other wealthy European bourgeois and aristocrats visited and stayed. During The Great War the Austro-Hungarian navy had a submarine base here.
In 1918 after World War I Brijuni became part of the state of Italy. Karl Kupelwieser, the son of the founder of the estate tried to maintain the former splendor. After the economic crisis following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the estate went bankrupt and Karl committed suicide. In 1930 the Italian government acquired ownership of the islands due to the bankruptcy. They remained part of Italy until the capitulation in 1943.
In 1945 after World War II the Brijuni became part of Yugoslavia and President Marshal Josip Broz Tito made the Brijuni Islands his personal State Summer Residence. Almost 100 foreign heads of state visited Tito on his islands. The famous list includes film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida. Tito died in 1980. The islands a National Park of Yugoslavia by 1983.
In mid-July 1956, President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser, Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, and President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito. They met here to discuss their opposition to the Cold War. These ideas later crystallized into the Non-Aligned Movement. Vijay Prashad has compared this meeting to the Yalta Conference. Brijuni hosted the 1987 Mediterranean Non-Aligned Countries Ministerial Meeting as well.
In 1991 Croatia gained independence and made the Brijuni Islands an International Conference Center. Four hotels on Veliki Brijun Island re-opened, as well as a Safari Park, which holds animals given to Tito.
On the Brijuni there are several archaeological and cultural sites.
Discoveries of over 200 dinosaur footprints at four sites on Veliki Brijun Island. All of the many footprints date back to the Cretaceous Period.
There are also several archeological sites worth seeing. The 13th century AD St. Mary’s Church built by the Knights Templar. There are also two ancient Roman villa remains, from the 2nd Century BC and remains of a Byzantine fort. The last remaining is Hill-fort. This indicates a Bronze Age settlement on the island dating back to 14th century BC.
The island houses an exhibition dedicated to Josip Broz Tito.
There are also several exhibitions including natural history, arts, and archaeological collections.