Today we are taking you to the
lowest and least populated island of the
Sibenik archipelago and the Adriatic - the
island of Krapanj. This charming Dalmatian island is located only 300 meters, which is a
5-minute boat ride, away from the small Sibenik town called
Brodarica. Its altitude does not exceed
1.25 m, its surface area is smaller than
half a square kilometer and today it has only about
200 inhabitants. When describing the island of Krapanj, we can use various adjectives such as “
the smallest” and “
the lowest”, but the tradition and history of this Dalmatian island are
generous and worthy of praise. The people of Krapanj are extremely proud of their
centuries-old tradition of diving, sponge harvesting, and fishing, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
There is a good reason why this island is popularly known as the
Mecca of Adriatic sponge diving and one of the
symbols of Croatia's maritime heritage. The story begins at the end of the 17th century when the priest Fr. Antun, an immigrant from Crete, also known as the cradle of sponge diving, introduced the people of Krapanj to
diving and processing sponges. From that time until today, sponge diving has become a
traditional island activity. In the beginning, the people of Krapanj fished for hours in
heavy diving equipment, stabbing with traditional fishing spears at a depth of 15 meters, but with the arrival of the first diving tool in 1839, this craft became a
very lucrative business that most families from Krapanj engaged in to survive the
difficult and demanding island life.
One of these families was the
Tanfara family, which was particularly distinguished in sponge diving because it has been engaged in this business since 1896. However, for this family, the work of sponge diving was not only physically demanding but also mentally, because, over the years,
several family members lost their lives in the sea depths. But the Tanfara family cherishes their love for sponge diving despite everything, and they
maintain this tradition with a gallery and museum on the island called
Spuga 2.
Here, the visitors can find
old photographs of divers, see their original and sometimes up to 200 kilos of heavy diving equipment
from the 19th century, and learn a lot about the
sponge processing method. The Tanfara family is on-site and you will have the opportunity to learn firsthand why sponge diving is a very demanding job and how this tradition has been kept alive for so long among the family lineage.
Take a part of this tradition with you in the form of an original island souvenir for your loved ones -
the Krapanj sponge.
Krapanj is an ideal place for all those who want a
peaceful vacation in nature and day trips away from the city crowd. This island is known for its
untouched "wild" beaches and true Mediterranean climate. The entire island can be
crossed in less than an hour on an easy path, and visitors will be able to feel the
true Dalmatian flair of this island passing through its narrow stone streets.
Here is some
interesting information about this lovely island:
- The island of Krapanj is called Croatian Venice because the island, like Venice, is slowly sinking. For this reason, the construction of residential units is currently prohibited.
- The oil mill of St. Lovro, which dates back to 1584, presents visitors with the old way of processing olives and making olive oil.
- There are no cars on the island of Krapanj and you can expect very few people.
- A traditional women's rowing regatta is held on Krapanj: The idea was born in honor of the women who had to row to reach their fields on land, while their husbands went sponge diving in the Adriatic
The island of
Krapanj is an ideal place for a trip away from the crowds, be sure to
put it on your bucket list.
You can find the ideal accommodation in a
villa with a private pool in Sibenik, which is located in the immediate vicinity.
Anna Loncar
17.5.2023
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
