Dictator’s island: Where in Europe you can see dinosaur footprint and hooligan parrot
Brijuni National Park in Croatia (photo: booking.com)
Brijuni National Park, a Croatian island that for decades served as the private residence of Yugoslav dictator Josip Broz Tito, has today turned into one of the most unusual national parks in Europe.
Daily Star shares the story of why tourists should visit and what makes it special.
Safari park with a political past
After opening to the public, the island of Veliki Brijun kept its main attraction — a unique collection of animals gifted to Tito by world leaders. Today, descendants of those exotic gifts and other “old residents” roam freely across the park. Among them is 54-year-old elephant Lanka, gifted in 1972 by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, as well as a herd of zebras presented by African leaders.
The true star of the park remains the African grey parrot Koki, a former favourite of the dictator. The bird is known for its mischievous personality: it not only shouts “Tito! Tito!”, but can also unexpectedly insult tourists with colourful profanity.
History of Brijuni Island
The history of Brijuni goes far beyond the Cold War era. More than 200 authentic dinosaur footprints have been discovered on the island, left around 130 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period.
History lovers can also explore the picturesque ruins of Byzantine settlements from the 5th–6th centuries, which local guides compare to a giant stone puzzle.
For those seeking exclusive experiences, the park offers rental of a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado cabriolet. Tito received this car as a gift from Croatian emigrants from Canada. He used it to drive his most distinguished guests around the island, including Queen Elizabeth II and Indira Gandhi.
When is the best time to visit
The best time to explore the island is in spring or early summer, when there is no exhausting heat or crowds. Visitors can get around the park by tourist train, rented bicycle, or electric cart, enjoying avenues of 100-year-old pine trees reaching up to 25 meters.
Getting to Brijuni is quite easy: the nearest airport is in the city of Pula, just 13 kilometers from the port of Fažana.
From there, regular boats operate to the national park. Tickets are best purchased online, with prices for adults ranging from about 38 to 44 dollars.
