Text taken from: https://visitcroatia.com
Mljet has long been one of Croatia’s most alluring islands; a verdant escape home to unspoiled nature, surprising history, rustic villages, picturesque beaches, and an air of tranquility unrivaled in Dalmatia. Yet somehow, this paradisical island remains largely off-the-beaten-path, sharing its charms only with the select few who venture to its shores.
Located in southern Dalmatia, between the coastal city of Dubrovnik and the island of Korčula, Mljet is the eighth largest Island in Croatia. It is nicknamed the “Green Island” due to the rich forest of Alepski Bor (Aleppo Pine) that extends from the sea’s bed to the highest point of the island’s surface. The Aleppo Pine was brought to Mljet from Alepa (Israel) before the time of Christ. The sap of the trees produces an aroma that is hypnotic, especially for first time visitors. It is a perfume which scents the air across the island.
Mljet’s main attraction is its National Park, which occupies the western part of the island. Here, visitors will find pristine natural beauty; untouched and protected. In the center of the park lie two enchanting cerulean saltwater lakes, Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero (Big Lake and Small Lake). In the middle of the large lake lies the small Isle of Saint Mary, home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Around the lakes, a blanket of thick forest stretches across the island interrupted only by olive groves, vineyards, and a handful of tranquil settlements.
Just off the coast, numerous shipwrecks and sunken Greek amphora hint at the island’s history. It is said to be Mljet, not Malta, which is the island “Melita” on which Saint Paul was shipwrecked. Similarly, it is Mljet, not Gozo (off the coast of Malta), which claims to be the mythical island of Ogygia described in Homer’s Odyssey. On the southern shore of the island, not far from Babino Polje, the island’s largest settlement, travelers can visit the limestone cave believed to be where Odysseus drifted after his shipwreck. There, he came across the beautiful nymph Calypso, who held him captive for seven years until his release was ordered by Zeus.
The recommended ports of arrival for those planning to visit the national park are Pomena or Polače. During the summer, the small fishing village of Pomena functions as the island’s main city, with plenty of waterfront restaurants serving tasty local cuisine.
