Lastovo
Remote Adriatic archipelago with Venetian architecture and nature park status.
Lastovo, also known as Lagosta, is an archipelago and municipality in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia, consisting of 46 islands with a total population of 792 people, of which 94.7% are ethnic Croats. The largest island, also named Lastovo, covers 46 square kilometers and hosts the majority of the population. The island is noted for its 15th- and 16th-century Venetian Renaissance architecture, numerous small churches reflecting its Roman Catholic tradition, and the major cultural event of the Poklade carnival. In 2006, the Croatian Government designated the island and its archipelago a nature park.
- Location
- Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia
- Population
- 792
- Land area
- Approximately 53 square kilometers (20 sq mi)
- Largest island area
- 46 square kilometers (18 sq mi)
- Ethnic majority
- 94.7% Croats
- Highest point
- Mount Hum, 415 m (1,362 ft)
- Annual sunshine
- Around 2,700 hours
Lore & Background
Lastovo was first mentioned by 6th-century lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium as Ladesta, drawing from 4th-century BC Greek historian Theopompus. The island was settled by Illyrians in prehistoric times, with evidence of habitation in Rača cave from the late Neolithic Age. Ancient Rome conquered and settled the area, naming it Augusta Insula, and left traces such as villa rustica estates and water catchment areas. After the Avar invasions and Slavic migrations in the 7th century, Croats settled most of Dalmatia, including Lastovo. In 1000 AD, Venetians attacked the settlement as part of a broader campaign to assert control, though the settlement was not completely destroyed. In the 13th century, Lastovo joined the Republic of Ragusa, enjoying a certain level of autonomy until the republic's conquest by the French under Napoleon. The island then came under Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary rule for a century, followed by Italy for 30 years after World War I, and finally Yugoslavia until becoming part of independent Croatia.
Reader's Guide
Lastovo's significance lies in its layered history, from Illyrian and Roman settlement through Venetian domination and incorporation into the Republic of Ragusa, which granted it internal autonomy codified in the Ragusa Statute of 1272 and its own Statute of Lastovo in 1310. The island's 15th- and 16th-century Venetian Renaissance architecture and numerous small churches attest to its long-standing Roman Catholic tradition. Its remote location, 13 kilometers south of Korčula, makes it one of the most remote inhabited Adriatic islands. The landscape features 46 hills and 46 karstic fields, with about 60% forest cover despite major fires in 1971, 1998, and 2003. The underwater life is the richest in the entire Adriatic, supporting lobsters, crayfish, octopus, and high-prized fish. The island's designation as a nature park in 2006 and its reliance on natural environment for tourism underscore its ecological and cultural legacy. Some conservancy groups have demanded heritage status for the island.
Did You Know?
- Lastovo was first mentioned by 6th-century lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium as Ladesta, based on 4th-century BC Greek historian Theopompus.
- The island has no venomous snakes.
- The major cultural event is the Poklade, or carnival.
- The Romans named the island Augusta Insula, meaning 'Emperor's Island'.
More in Territories of the Republic of Venice 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record