NATURAL BEAUTIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, PAKLENI OTOCI

Not hell, but heaven! Pakleni or Paklinski otoci, for local people simply "Škoji", are a fairytale-like island group near the island of Hvar, not far from the town of Hvar itself. No, their name doesn't derive from the Croatian word for hell ("pakao"), nor the Paklenica National Park on Velebit mountain, rather they are named after "paklina", a type of pine resin used in shipbuilding. These twenty islets and reefs are a paradise for all lovers of the Croatian Adriatic, from less demanding tourists to scuba divers and sailing enthusiasts. The shores of Pakleni otoci are rocky and highly indented, the passages between some islets and cliffs are shallow, and some are not even navigable, so they are not recommended for boats in stronger winds. The largest island of the archipelago is Sveti Klement. There are three settlements, as well as curious remains of a Roman villa, which was probably a site of minor ancient salt pans. Sveti Klement also features Palmižana, a sandy cove in the shade of old pines with an exotic botanical garden of the old Meneghello family. Generations of this family had been bringing unusual plants there, and a unique symbiosis of nature and art was created by the collector Dagmar Meneghello, who enriched the garden with numerous works of art. A truly special place! Therefore, it is no wonder that Pakleni otoci became protected as an important landscape as early as 1968. They are also part of the Natura 2000 ecological network due to the posidonia sea plant, their sandy bottoms permanently covered by the sea and their sea caves. With a climate with little precipitation and lots and lots of sunshine (it is said it snows there once every twenty years), Hvar and Pakleni otoci have long been an irresistible draw for tourists, and there is accommodation available as well. The exceptionally clean sea and countless coves have made the beaches of these islands irresistible, and diving enthusiasts have long had their oases there. With 2718 hours of sunshine per year, they are indispensable to Croatia's tourism. Hrvoje Dečak, mag. nov