As with much of the area nearby, the history of the Brijuni islands really starts in Roman times. The Romans first came to the islands in 177 BC and evidence of their inhabiting the islands is apparent by the ruins of Roman villas on the islands; the Brijuni islands were used for summer getaways for rich Romans back in the day. The Romans were in fact on the islands for around six centuries.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the islands were ruled by various groups before becoming part of the Venetian Empire in 1331, and then (skipping forward in time quite a bit!) also part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1815.
20th Century
For centuries, the islands were plagued by malaria, until 1893 when they were bought by Austrian industrialist Paul Kupelweiser. Prior to his arrival, the islands were completely neglected. Kupelweiser rid the island of the disease and set about creating an upmarket health resort – with hotels, baths, sports facilities, restaurants and even a casino (as well as improving the infrastructure of the islands). It is no surprise that the Brijuni islands became popular with wealthy Austrian holidaymakers.
The resort on Brijuni sadly detoriated after World War I, and in 1936 the islands were annexed to Italy. The islands were bombed by Allied forces towards the end of World War II, and a number of structures on them were destroyed.
Tito’s Summer Residence
The islands became part of Yugoslavia after World War II. They were subsequently used as the private summer residence of President Tito, as well as being used by other top officials in Yugoslavia at the time. Their use in this way meant the islands were entirely closed to the public.
What is today called Villa Jadranka (but used to be called Villa Madonna) on Veliki Brijun was the first residence of Tito. In 1952, President Tito “discovered” another of the Brijuni islands – the tiny island of Vanga – himself and that became his residence. Vanga is still closed to the public today.
Over the years, almost 100 foreign heads of state – including Queen Elizabeth II – were received by Tito on the islands, as well as many film stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida.
President Tito last visited Brijuni in 1979, before his death in 1980. The islands were given National Park status in 1983 and opened up to the public in 1984. The islands of course remained part of Croatia when it declared its independence 1991.