Osor

When we cross the channel between Mali Losinj and Osor (Ossero in Italian), we probably have to wait at the drawbridge, as it is drawn up twice a day to let the ships running between Losinj Channel and Kvarner Bay pass through. It is a spectacular view when sailboats, yachts, motorboats and other ships are passing through in a long line. The bridge is usually drawn up at 9 in the morning and once in the evening.

Being located at the crossing of land and sea ways, Osor used to be the centre town of Cres Island. They say that thanks to the channel dug by the Romans, Osor was able to keep this key shipping line under control in the middle ages. Until the 15th century Osor counted as a strong commercial, religious and political centre, but then the plague, the malaria and the new sea routes spoiled its economy, it began to decline. It started to develop only in our days as a museum village with churches and old 15th century streets in the centre.

Osor from Osorscica

Osor is easy to walk through in a day if we start from Mali Losinj or Cres, and it is definitely worth it. We had better take our swimming dress with ourselves, because near the village, behind the Franciscan monastery there are bays appropriate for swimming.

From ancient time Osor Bronze Age graves were preserved, from the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. we can still see large megalith walls that were used to back the town walls. Some Illyrian buildings remained, too. It is said that Osor was founded by Liburnian tribes settling here in the 1st century B.C. Osor preserved its ancient street network.

The Main Square

Lions reliefs / Relief lava

There are two lions reliefs in Osor. The coordinates (44.69405,14.3946) regards to the relief close to the cemetery. Another one can be found at citadel ruins.

Relief close to the cemetery

Relief close to the Kavada

Kavada

According to historians, the Kavuada (Cavanella in Italian), the channel that separates Cres form Losinj, was dug during Roman times. Kavuada Channel is about 100 metres long, 12 metres wide, and it can be used by ships of maximum 2.6 metres draft. At the southern part of the channel, on the road connecting Cres and Losinj, stands a windmill iron bridge (1.5 metres above sea level).

Crkva Uznesenja

The Church of the Assumption of Mary was built in the 15th century. Its main ornaments are the richly decorated Renaissance gate vault, the 17th century Baroque altar, and paintings of 16th -18th century Venetian masters. In the western wing of the church do not miss taking a look at the altar-piece picturing St. Gaudentius with snakes at his feet. According to a local legend, Gaudentius was born in nearby Trzic in the 11th century, he became a bishop, and he thought that his duty was to chastise local people for their sins and depravations, so later he was ousted. The desperate bishop went to a cave, became a hermit, and he cursed all the snakes on the islands.

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