An unusual historical reference point in Lukoran is the song “Zora puca, bit će dana”: according to local tradition, the Croatian poet Petar Preradović wrote it in the park behind the De Ponte summer residence in Mali Lukoran while courting Countess Paola De Ponte. Together with the surviving residence and the cultural heritage routes, this story offers a concrete way to explore the area’s history.

Cultural History in Stone and Oral Tradition

The cultural heritage complex of Trpinjin is located on Trpinjin Hill, an estate built in traditional dry-stone architecture. Parts of the complex are over 2,000 years old and date back to Roman times. Mali Lukoran is also home to another historical landmark, the Baroque summer residence De Ponte, which has been preserved in its original form. The ancient complex and the Baroque residence represent distinct periods in time.

Another local tradition attributes the construction of the Gothic church and the building below Zmorašnji Lukoran in the 14th century to Egyptian monks. This story adds local lore to the buildings, which you can place in context as you explore Lukoran’s past.

Cultural Routes and Cycling Route

The cultural heritage trail Staza Lukoran is marked with signposts and hiking trail markers. Martina’s Path differs in how it was built: the path is unpaved and constructed entirely using traditional dry-stone techniques with local stone. The oldest sections at the upper end date back to antiquity. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their specific features: Staza Lukoran is marked, while Martina’s Path is notable for its materials and the age of its upper sections.

The Skriveno blago cycling route offers another way to plan your journey. It is 33.9 kilometres long, passes the island of Ugljan’s only football stadium, and branches off towards Tala Bay in Mali Lukoran. Its stated length gives you a specific point of reference if you want to include cycling in your stay; the route described passes the stadium and heads towards Tala.

Coast, Harbour, and Nature

Lukoran Bay and harbour are sheltered from most winds. Exceptions include winds from the western quadrant, the Tramontane, and a stronger Jugo or Maestral. These exceptions are part of the description of local wind conditions and should be taken into account when planning time on the coast.

The beaches of Lukoran are surrounded by centuries-old pine forest. As a result, the old trees are part of the local coastal landscape, alongside the water. Another distinctive feature is the pond Cezunj, locally called Plava suza: because of the reflection of sunlight, it takes on a sky-blue hue at certain times of day.

Plan Your Stay

If you are looking for a hotel in Lukoran, first decide what you want your stay to focus on: cultural history, walking routes, cycling, or the coastal landscape. These themes offer different starting points for planning, with no fixed order to follow. If you would like to combine several of them, you can weigh your options according to your own interests and choose the focus that best suits your trip.

Discover more destinations: Sestrunj, Sutomišćica, Poljana, Ugljan, Preko

Return to the main travel overview: Preko.