PALAGRUZA - ISLAND IN THE HEART OF THE ADRIATIC

FASCINATING ISLAND
Palagruza's silence was broken by man's first steps on the island in the 6th century B.C. Ever since, man has not stopped visiting the secluded island whose beauty and serenity have attracted many civilizations making it easier to cross the Adriatic. Archeological discoveries, beginning from the early Neolithic period, are an account of Palagruza's importance. The precious ceramic fragments found on the island, made in Athens in the 6th century B.C., are particularly interesting. The legend of Diomedes is the answer to the question of how these fragments made their way to this small, open-sea island with no source of drinking water.

DIOMEDES' ISLAND
Recent archeological discoveries on Palagruza prove that the island fascinated the Greek hero Diomedes, survivor of the Trojan War and one of the most famous Greek warriors along with Odysseus. After the Trojan War, Diomedes made his way to the Adriatic where he fought the Ilyrians. It is believed that Diomedes' final resting place is on the island. Legend has it that, after Ilyrians killed Diomedes' warriors, Zeus transformed their souls into birds. Ever since, they have been guarding the Trojan hero's grave.

THE LARGEST LIGHTHOUSE ON THE ADRIATIC
The lighthouse on Palagruza was built in 1875 and is the largest lighthouse on the Adriatic. There is a lighthouse keeper and two apartments that can each accommodate four guests. The bottom part of the lighthouse was built with stone from Palagruza. As it was a very hard stone the rest of the lighthouse was built with a lighter type of stone brought from the island of Brac. The light machine, made in 1873 by Henry Epoulte from Paris, is still in function. There is also a small archeological collection in the lighthouse.

THE RICHEST FISHING WATERS IN THE ADRIATIC
The waters of Palagruza are the richest fishing waters in the Adriatic Sea. The tradition of organizing all day regattas from Komiza, a small fishing settlement on the nearby island of Vis, was kept till the twentieth century. Falkuse, authentic fishermen's boats built in the same way for centuries on the island of Vis, were used in these regattas. In the past, during the lobster and pilchard season, it was possible to see up to 500 fishermen's boats around Palagruza.

UNDERWATER SECRETS
The underwaters of Palagruza are ideal for divers. Divers can see many fish that can rarely be found in other parts of the Adriatic such as the Mediterranean morays, laying their eggs outside of caves, forkbeards, groups of some 20 young lobsters hiding in the rock cracks, Madeira rockfish, lying on the sea bed and schools of Cuckoo wrasses often called 'barracudas of the Adriatic'... The sea bed is mostly flat and rocky, but there are also some sandy areas. The water is clear and visibility is high especially in the morning. The island of Galijula, located 3 nautical miles south of Palagruza, has something special for divers in its shallow waters 'Papak' - a steamboat wreck. A medieval galley sank at the same location.

NATURE RESERVE
The island is a nature reserve with numerous flora (220) and fauna (120) species. Many of them are endemic. There are bushes of handels and their beautiful flowers all over the island, while oleanders and wormwood can be seen by the trails. From autumn to spring, the wolf-milk bushes (Euphorbia dendroides) are in full bloom. Although beautiful, they are dangerous and it is better not to touch them.

If you would like to find out how to get to Palagruza, click here and adriatica.net will show you the way!

Take a look at the other lighthouses in our offer:
Sv.Ivan na pucini, Porer, Veli rat, Sv.Petar, Prisnjak, Plocica, Struga, Susac.