Brijuni National Park

Brijuni National Park encompasses an archipelago of 14 islands off the coast of Istria near the town of Fažana, 6 kilometres south of Pula. The park is accessible exclusively by authorised boat from Fažana harbour, and the islands can only be visited as part of an organised national park tour or through private sailing permit. The park's most significant island, Veliki Brijun, served as the official summer residence of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito from 1947 until his death in 1980, and the complex of villas, guesthouses, and a residence known as the White Villa (Bijela vila) remains preserved as a museum complex documenting Tito's meetings with world leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Haile Selassie. The island also contains substantial Roman ruins including the remains of a large 1st-century villa rustica at Verige Bay, with mosaics and walls that make it one of the most extensive Roman sites in Istria. A safari park on the island houses descendants of exotic animals given as diplomatic gifts to Tito: giraffes, zebras, elephants, and antelopes roam a fenced reserve. Dinosaur footprints preserved in coastal limestone at several points around the island date to approximately 100 million years ago. The island circuit is covered by electric train or horse-drawn carriage during the official tour, supplemented on foot. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded on the islands, and the surrounding sea is a protected marine area with clean water ideal for diving.