The story of Sveti Stefan

Look at the small island joined to the shore by a narrow strip of land. In the 1800s about 400 people lived in its village; by 1954 just 20 remained. The Yugoslav government moved them to the mainland and turned the island into a luxury hotel.

Its story began earlier, as the capital of the Paštrovići community, which accepted Venetian protection in 1423 out of fear of the Turks, paying no tribute in return for ending piracy against Venetian ships. Legend says the fortifications were paid for with loot from Turkish ships moored off Jaz in 1539. At first, only twelve families lived in the fortress. The resort later drew Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Kirk Douglas, as well as chess players Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer.

One church of Praskvica Monastery was even turned into a casino. After the decline of the 1990s, Aman Resorts reopened it in 2009 on a 30-year lease, but the hotel has been closed since early 2020.