Lastovo is an island in the south of Croatia surrounded by crystal clear seas and well known for the beautiful nature and its unique chimneys - fumari. But Lastovo is different from the other islands because of one more special thing – stars.
The island and the archipelago around it are so far from land that they are protected from every kind of pollution, including light pollution, which results in a view of the sky turning into an unforgettable experience.
The sky in the night time, covered in shining stars, leaves the onlooker breathless. This lay impression was confirmed by foreign astronomy photographers two years ago when they announced that Lastovo is probably the best destination in Europe for watching the sky.
The stone houses with the imaginative fumari give Lastovo its recognizable personality and stamp. Nobody knows why the inhabitants made sure that their chimneys were so heterogeneous and it is a fact that on the island, especially among the older houses, two similar chimneys can seldom be found. This centuries old tradition of building unusual fumari has been preserved until today.
Lastovo was proclaimed a nature park in Croatia in 2006 with the intention of preserving its natural and cultural values and also the biological diversity of the island, its sea and underwater. The island is full of beautiful bays with popular tourist destinations. The most famous are Zaklopatica and Pasadur on the north shore, Skrivena Luka and Ubli on the south shore and Lučica, at the foot of the village Lastovo.
The church of St. Kuzma and Damien, the patron Saints of Lastovo, which dominates the village, should also be mentioned as a historical treasure. It was built 700 years ago and holds a rich treasury with numerous valuable relics. Knežev dvor (the prince`s castle), which is called Palac by inhabitants, is also an important sight. The people of Lastovo on their own accord, agreed to come under the rule of the Dubrovnik Republic, which in return gave them autonomy so their Prince could keep court at Palac.
The island is first mentioned in written documents in the 6th century under the names Ladesta and Ladeston. As it is strategically important, Lastovo became a ‘military island’ after the Second World War, so up until 1988 this was a forbidden area for foreigners. This lead to economic stagnation and the moving of inhabitants off the island but at the same time nature was being preserved.
Accommodation on the island can be found in private apartments, the hotel Solitudo, located in the small village Pasadur where the two most beautiful bays on the island connect, and the camp in the bay Skrivena Luka.
The Tourist Board of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County
www.visitdubrovnik.hr
The Tourist Board of Lastovo
www.lastovo.org
Nature Park Lastovo
www.pp-lastovo.hr