The Island of Lošinj is part of the Cres-Lošinj island group, which constitutes the western segment of the Kvarner’s islands inside the Kvarner Bay. The Kvarner Bay together with that of Trieste forms the most inland point of the Mediterranean Sea. The archipelago of Lošinj comprises the Island of Lošinj and smaller islands: Unije, Ilovik, Susak, Vele Srakane and a series of smaller uninhabited islands.

The islands of this archipelago form the natural bridge between Istria and Dalmatia. It is very particular that the island is positioned right in the middle between the Equator and the North Pole, where the 45th parallel passes through the north side of the island of Cres and the biggest part of the island is in the subtropical zone of the southern half of the northern part of the Earth.

The biggest island of the archipelago is Lošinj, the 11th biggest on the Adriatic Sea, 33 km long, with the width varying from 4,75 km in the north and middle of the island, to 0,25 km near the town of Mali Lošinj. The total coastline of the island is 112,7 km.

Many, many years ago the island of Cres and Lošinj where one, only after the channel of Osor was excavated, probably during the Roman period, two islands emerged. Today a bridge connects the islands and in the geographically trafficable sense they form one unit. In ancient times the islands where know under a common name of Apsyrtides.

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Positioned in the August Bay, the biggest closed bay of the island, and with 7.000 inhabitants, today it is the biggest island town in the Adriatic. Mali Lošinj dates back to the 12th century when twelve Croatian families settled in the eastern bay St. Martin. First Croatian settlers were farmers, later they also turned to fishing, sailing and shipbuilding, and with that the settlements moved towards the coast.

The golden age for Mali Lošinj was the end of the 19th century when thanks to seafaring the “small village” turned into a maritime town. Because of the big changes and the maritime crisis in the region, due to passing from sail boats to steam boats, it seemed that the destiny of this and similar towns was sealed. Upon discovering the health benefits of the climate, and growing of the new economic realm, tourism, a new page in the island’s history was open.

Today Mali Lošinj is one of the main tourist centres on the Adriatic known in all European tourism circles, which is proofed by an ever bigger number of guest that visit the island every year.

Mali Lošinj was the recipient of the title „Champion of Tourism 2007“, and in 2009 Mali Lošinj won a silver medal in the prestigious international competition The Golden Flower of Europe (Entente Florale Europe).

Over a hundred catering facilities operate on the Island of Lošinj, as well as the surrounding islands. Numerous restaurants, taverns, bistros, buffets and pizzerias provide a rich and diverse culinary offer of the area. Specialties based on seafood, dishes made according to traditional recipes with the ever-present wild-growing plants and aromatic herbs, natural condiments and olive oil are the basic features of the island cuisine.

One feels the rich cultural heritage of the island at every corner. Churches, monasteries, Renaissance buildings, basilicas and remnants from the ancient times can be found all over the island.

An exceptionally rich art collection by Croatian artists donated by Andro Vid and Katarina Mihičić, and a collection by European artists donated by Giuseppe Piperate, are stored at the gallery in Mali Lošinj.

Kula, a museum-gallery space located in Veli Lošinj, testifies to the maritime tradition of the island. The permanent exhibition presents the rich history of Lošinj highlighting its famous maritime past. Apart from the permanent exhibition, additional space is provided for occasional art and museum exhibitions.

The discovery of the famous sculpture, presenting Apoxyomenos, a Greek athlete, which was found in 1999 in the Lošinj underwater, also testifies to the rich cultural life of the island.

Aurora Hotel is located in the beautiful Sunny Bay, surrounded by the blue sea and green centuries-old pine-wood. It is only 50 m far from the sea, next to the sports facilities, and a 20-minute stroll from the centre of Mali Lošinj. The Hotel is completely renovated in 2007 / 2008.

All the rooms are air-conditioned, in every room there is a telephone, Internet connection, SAT-TV, hairdryer, mini bar and a safe