Palmižana

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Location of Palmižana among the other islands of Croatia
Location of Palmižana among the other islands of Croatia

Palmižana is a small Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, located off the Dalmatian coast at 43°09′8″N, 16°24′4″ECoordinates: 43°09′8″N, 16°24′4″E. Palmižana is administratively part of the Split-Dalmatia county of Croatia. Palmižana is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Palmižana is renowned for the highest number of sunny hours in the Mediterranean. The tourist complex of the Meneghello family comprises 3 square kilometres of uninhabited virgin territory, a protected nature preserve, known for its lonely sand beaches and distinctive stone bungalows surrounded by an exotic botanical park and crystal clear sea. There are no roads on Palmižana, thus making the air pure.

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[edit] Location

Palmižana is part of the Paklina archipelago, positioned south of the island of Hvar. The island belongs to Croatia.

[edit] History


[edit] Life

Life on Palmižana is lived in the hot sun of its many beaches, in the shade of its old pines and on the restaurant terrace and private terraces of the bungalows. Near the restaurant terrace, there is a gallery, and the restaurant and bungalows are also full of artwork. Palmižana has a marina with room for 200 boats, a small shop and a tourist information office.

[edit] Tourism

Tourism on Palmižana was established in 1906 by Professor Eugen Meneghello on his 300-year-old estate. He imported exotic plants from all over the world and created the rare and magnificent botanical park. Eugen's son, Giorgio Meneghello Toto, one of world's best grouper fishers, built the island's complex and his wife, Dagmar (née: Gebauer), has been managing Palmižana for over 30 years. Currently, Dagmar manages Palmižana with the help of her three children and her grandson.

[edit] Fame in the Media

Palmižana was declared one of the "10 Dream Points of the Adriatic" in 1999. In a poll by the Cruising World magazine thousands of yachtsmen said that the coast of Croatia is the most beautiful in the world, together with that of the Caribbean.

[edit] Plants

The rosemary, which blooms several times a year on every slope on Palmižana, filling the air with its heady scent, gave Palmizana its second name: "The Island of the Rosemary". Aloe, another plant, also grows everywhere.

[edit] Sites

This area of the Adriatic hides the greatest number of antique shipwrecks and places on the sea-bed where one can easily find amphore. The Meneghello family amphore collection is one of the biggest in the Adriatic because of this. The sea around the Palmižana is a treasury of fish, coral and incredibly beautiful undersea landscapes.

The botanical gardens of Palmižana are full of exotic plants, tree-like opuntias, agaves, numerous other cacti and succulents, mimosas, eucalyptuses, laurels, olives and different kinds of aromatic herbs and plants.

[edit] Cuisine

Exquisite traditional Palmižana cuisine is praised for its delicious specialities, based on fish, lobsters, scampi, shellfish and other sea-food served with fresh vegetables from the island gardens. The cuisine has been declared on of the best in the Mediterranean by the German Magazine Boote, English Traveler and Croatian magazines Gloria and Playboy.

[edit] The Marina

ACI marina Palmižana lies in Palmižana Bay on the northeastern coast of St. Clement Island. The marina is protected from all winds except those from the north and northeast, while strong south and southwest winds can cause swells. The marina has room for 200 boats and is open from the middle of March to the end of October.

The marina has 160 berths, all with water and power supply. The harbor has a reception facility, exchange office, restaurant, toilets and showers, and grocery store. The nearest gas station (2.5 Nm) is in the Hvar harbor (Križna luka). Since August, 1999, ACI marina Palmižana has continuous power supply and more power supply at the marina piers.

The marina is situated in one of the safest natural harbors on the Adriatic Sea, renowned for its safety since ancient times. It is situated 3,5 km from Hvar. It offers 190 moorings with optional connections to the water and electric power, telephone and VHF links.

[edit] External links