Osor

Osor sits where Cres and Losinj are separated by the Kavuada, a channel about a hundred metres long cut through the isthmus in antiquity to let ships pass without rounding the islands - the two are technically separate islands only because of it. A swing bridge opens twice a day to let boats through. The town was Apsorus in Roman times and a bishop's seat from the sixth century until 1828, and it was substantial; plague, malaria and the shift of trade reduced it to a village of around a hundred people. What remains is a fifteenth century cathedral, a town hall, bronzes set among the buildings and a summer series of concerts.

Highlights

• A canal cut in antiquity - the reason Cres and Losinj are two islands.
• A swing bridge opening twice a day - the only crossing.
• A bishop's seat until 1828 - in a town now of about a hundred people.
• Summer music evenings - concerts in the cathedral and square.

When to go

June to September for the concerts and open services. Half a day.

Good to know

The bridge openings hold up all traffic between the islands, which matters if you have a ferry to catch. The village is very small. Services are seasonal. Mosquitoes are heavy near the channel in still weather.

Nearby

Lubenice is north on Cres; Mali Losinj is south.