Villa Vrelo

Lokrum is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, just 600 metres off the coast of Dubrovnik. The first written record of the island comes from the 11th century when a Benedictine abbey and monastery were founded on the island and its name comes from their time on the island. The Benedictines began the tradition of planting exotic plants on the island and Lokrum comes from the Latin “acrumen”, meaning sour fruit.

Today the island is a natural paradise still dotted with lemons and oranges, that is a popular day-trip destination. Regular ferries depart from the Old City harbour in Dubrovnik and take visitors across to the island in just fifteen minutes. With a rich and fascinating history and an incredibly scenic setting, Lokrum is the perfect place to recharge your batteries once you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and are a little tired from days of darting around the city.

In the past two posts in this series, we have been discussing the lovely island of Lokrum and its spooky history. A beautiful mass of land located just off the coast of Croatia by Dubrovnik, it is a must-see for anyone who has found a holiday rental in Dubrovnik. In addition to its various attractions, it has a rather creepy reason to visit, especially if you are someone who is interested in such things; the Curse of Lokrum. From its origins as the punishment left behind by exiled monks to the numerous lives lost and ruined by the curse, it is a fascinating tale and continued into the 19th century where our tale picks up...

This week, given that Hallowe'en is fast approaching, we are discussing the beautiful island of Lokrum, off the coast of Dubrovnik. Already a key day trip destination for those who have found a holiday rental in Dubrovnik for many reasons, one more spooky reason and one more fascinating thing about the place is the Lokrum Curse.

Rooted in the removal of monks from the monastery on the island, which had been built to honour a saint who had saved Dubrovnik from a great fire in the 11th century (read the first part here to find out all of the details), it immediately resulted in the deaths and misfortune of those who became involved with the place.

We have mentioned the beautiful Croatian island of Lokrum, located just off the coast of Dubrovnik, many times before. However, given the time of year, we thought it was about time that we mentioned the Curse of Lokrum and, if you're someone interested in the spookier side of things, it's just one more reason to plan a day trip to the island once you have found a holiday rental in Dubrovnik.

Legend has it that, in 1023, a great fire broke out in Dubrovnik and the inhabitants of the city decided to make a vow to Saint Benedict, promising that they would construct a monastery in his name if only he might intervene and help save them. Miraculously, the fire was extinguished instantly and, true to their word, the people built a Benedictine monastery and church on Lokrum, which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

If you have always wanted to float in the Dead Sea but can't quite make it to Israel or Jordan, then why not find a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and head to the pretty island of Lokrum?

“Why?” you may ask. Well, the answer is simple; they may not have the famous Dead Sea but they do have their own miniature Dead Sea called the Mrtvo more, which is similarly easy to swim in and, therefore, has become one of the most popular attractions on the island.