2019-06-01+Woman+and+Home

T

hetiny,unspoiltislandof

Lošinjis closertoItaly’sVenice

thanDubrovnik.Gettingthere

usedtoinvolvea drivefrom

Zagrebfollowedbya ferryride,but

there’snowthemucheasieroption

ofa 50-minuteflightfromthecapital.

A mere 20 milesbytwo,Lošinj

(pronouncedloshing)is knownasthe

islandofwellnessandvitality,renowned

foritshealingair.It offersa pleasingmix

of beach,cultureandmountains,plusover

2,500sunnyhoursa year.Landingin

jet-setstyleontotheisland’stinyrunway,

dailylifestressesmeltawayasweinhale

theheadyscentofherbstheislandis

famousfor.A shortdrivetakesusto

picture-perfectČikatBay,surrounded

byfragrantpinetrees.Thebayis ideal

fora cycle,jog,walkorsimplylounging

waterside,andtheclearblueseahas

mereachingformyswimwear.

ČikatBayis thelocationof thesuperbly

luxuriousfive-starBoutiqueHotel

Alhambra,anArtDecoMediterranean-

stylevillabuiltin 1912,whichblends

seamlesslywithitsmorecontemporary

architecture.Someoftheelegantly

decoratedroomsfeatureclassicroll-top

baths– theperfectvantagepointfor

people-watchingalongthebay.Nearby,

themoremodern-styledsisterhotel,

Bellevue,is idealforfamilies,withvast

poolsanda greaterchoiceof restaurants.

Theislandbecamea renowned

healthcentreover 100 yearsago.Today,

Bellevue’s mammoth spa clinic is the real

From£2,255for7 nights

half-boardatBoutiqueHotel

Alhambra,withtheoptiontodine

aroundinninelocalà la carte

restaurants(foodonly);The

Bellevuefrom£1,514for7 nights

half-board;losinj-hotels.com

Returnflightsfrommainland

CroatiatoLošinjwithSilverAir

privateplane,£207perperson;

silverairtravels.com

This part of Croatia is a worldaway from its better-knowndestinations

Abathwitha view.

Above:MaliLošinj.

Below: Veli Lošinj

Hidden Croatia

LoSinj iSLa nd

dealin termsofitsbeautymenu,plus

medical,aestheticandholisticwellness

services.Butthere’sa lovelycosiness

aboutBoutiqueHotelAlhambra’s

sumptuousCubeSpa,andaftera relaxing-

but-unknottingTheTravellerFullBody

Massage,a dipin thetherapeuticseawater

colour-changeindoorpoolis a treat.

Lošinj’scuisineis deliciously

Mediterranean-based.BoutiqueHotel

Alhambra’sAlfredKellerRestaurant,

headedbyCroatianchefMelkiorBašić,

makescleveruseoffreshlocalproduce.

Theisland’sherbsareusedin dishes

includinga carpaccioofseabass,John

Doryandmonkfish.Oh,andin the

homemadeherbbutters,whichmeans

I can’tstopnibblingthefreshbreadrolls!

Furtherdiningoptionsin thebay

includeRestaurantCigaleČikatBay,

withsimple-but-flavour-packeddishes

includingfriedfishwithpolenta.I’mstill

dreamingaboutthetrofiepastawith

Parmesanandtruffleoil.Anda boattrip

onthesparklingwatertothetinyisland

ofIlovikoffersanothermemorablelunch

at restaurantDalmatinka– a hugeshared

oventrayofroastedfishandvegetables.

Culturecanbefoundin twopostcard-

perfecttowns.VeliLošinj’sStAnthony’s

ChurchrevealsexquisiteItalianpaintings,

whileMaliLošinj’smust-visitMuseumof

Apoxyomenosis dedicatedtojustone

exhibit– a ratherrevealingstatueofa

youngGreekathletefromthe1stor2nd

centuryBC.Enroute,stopoffatLošinj

Aromatic Herb Garden, where fragrant

herbsaregrownandusedtomake

giftssuchasteas,oilsandliqueurs.

Finally,enjoyselfiesandsundowners

atProvidencaLookout,fromwhereyou

canreflectonyournew-foundparadise

while sipping a local myrtle liqueur. w&h

woRDS

EMMA BADGER

pHoToGRApHS

ALAMy, GETTy IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

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