• THE FIRST HOTEL in Mali Lošinj was named Vindobona, built back in 1887. Exactly one hundred years later, Mali Lošinj was proclaimed the Champion of Tourism. Today, Lošinj is the first destination in the Mediterranean awarded the prestigious Green Destinations certificate!
• THE FIRST TOURIST: 140 years ago, on January 21, 1885, Dr. Conrad Clar arrived in Mali Lošinj with his son Walter, who was recovering after a serious illness. He was the first tourist in Mali Lošinj, and with his arrival tourism began!
• CLIMATIC HEALTH RESORTS
Based on the results of Ambroz Haračić and their own research, Prof. Dr. Leopold von Schrotter and Dr. Conrad Clar proposed that Veli and Mali Lošinj be proclaimed winter climatic health resorts. In September 1892, a state law officially recognised them as climatic resorts, placing all medical and health resort activities under the supervision of a special commission.
• OBSERVATORY
In 1893, Spiridon Gopčević, known under the pseudonym Leo Brenner, founded the Manora Observatory in Mali Lošinj, which became a special attraction. It quickly gained international fame, attracting astronomers from across Europe and America.
• FAMOUS VISITORS:
» 1895 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, spent six weeks recovering in Lošinj.
» 1910 – Franz Ferdinand returned, this time aboard his yacht, visiting Mali and Veli Lošinj and meeting Archduke Karl Stephan.
» 1922 – In May, King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy and Queen Elena visited Mali Lošinj.
» 1953 – On August 2nd, President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito visited the island.
• 150 YEARS OF THE WIND ORCHESTRA AND “THE VISIT OF EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH”
Exactly 150 years ago, history was written in Lošinj – the musicians of what is today Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra gathered for the first time to welcome Emperor Franz Joseph to the island. It was the first public performance by the people of Lošinj in honour of the Emperor, and at the same time the beginning of a century-and-a-half-long musical tradition that continues to this day. To mark this anniversary, on May 2, 2025, a scenic re-enactment of the arrival of Emperor Franz Joseph was held in Mali Lošinj. After the ceremonial welcome, the “Emperor” gave a speech at the Museum of Apoxyomenos, greeted citizens, and rode in a horse-drawn carriage through the town centre, accompanied by the Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra, before visiting the Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On May 13, 2025, a special monograph “150 Years of the Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra” was presented at the Vladimir Nazor Cinema in Mali Lošinj.
• THE CONFERENCE “LOŠINJ 140 – A STORY THAT LASTS”
On March 28, 2025, exactly 138 years after the Tourism Society of Mali Lošinj began its work (March 28, 1887), the island hosted the conference “Lošinj 140 – A Story That Lasts; From a Climate Health Resort to the First Green Destination of the Mediterranean” that brought together many interested locals and guests.
• FEATURE FILM PREMIERE ABOUT AMBROZ HARAČIĆ – “ZELENI BARBA”
This is an inspiring story about Ambroz Haračić – the visionary responsible for the lush forests of Lošinj, the founder of the Meteorological Station in Mali Lošinj, and the leader of the reforestation of the island. He dedicated his entire life to studying the climate and vegetation of his homeland, and thanks to his commitment, the barren and desolate areas of the island are today covered with pine forests. Through authentic archival materials and dramatic reconstructions, the film tells the story of the man who forever changed the landscape and future of the Island of Vitality.
• 14 LAYERS OF CROCCANTE FOR 140 YEARS OF TOURISM - As part of the celebration of 140 years of organised tourism on the island, a brand-new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD was set on the main square of Mali Lošinj – the LOŠINJ CROCCANTE, almond brittle, became the tallest sweet creation of its kind in the world! This impressive structure, made of almonds and sugar, stood 2.73 meters high, featured 14 layers, and weighed 57.5 kilograms.
» See the feature on 140 years of tourism in Lošinj in Novi list:
