Susak / Sušak

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The Island of Susak is located south of Istria in the Kvarner Bay, about 7km west of Island of Losinj (check map here). It covers an area of about 4 km2 and has about 200 people permanently living on the island. The island also called Sansego (in Italian).

This is a unique island among all other Croatian Islands as the limestone bedrock of the island is covered by thick layers of fine and fertile sand, which eroded from the Italian River Po. The highest peak of the island is under 100 meters high, making Susak one of the lowest Croatian islands.

The island is one one of the furthermost islands from Croatian Mainland. Therefore, it has retained many original traditions, such as archaic dialect and folk-costumes that are unique only to this little island. Due to its unique geological structure, Susak is one of the Croatian Islands that has nice sandy beaches but luck stones 🙂

Susak Village

At the eastern side of Susak, in the bay Dragoca, lies the only village on the island also called Susak. The village is formed of two parts – the older one at the top of the small hill, called Gornje Selo ( Upper village) and seashore part called Donje Selo (Lower village). Gornje Selo was founded around the former Benedictine monastery of Sveti Nikola from the 11th century and its Sveti Nikola church.

Susak has a long tradition in growing vine, even from Roman times, so it is considered that wines here are one of the best in Croatia.

The island was called Sansagus at the time in 1071 when Croatian King Kresimir gave this little island to Benedictines. Before WW2, the island used to have almost 1700 inhabitants, but most of them immigrated in the USA in years after that and it is considered that nowadays about 2500 people from Susak lives in the USA.

The village has its post office, tourist office as well as its medical centre and a couple of shops, restaurants and cafes. The famous song from Susak is Sansigu, gradicu, ti si na Vrsicu

Susak is connected with Croatian mainland with regular ferry link from the Island of Losinj, Cres and Rijeka – check here ferry timetables that connect Susak Island.