Veli Iž

The small island of Iz lies in a safe and prominent location as if it had been placed into the protective arms of the Ugljan and Dugi Otok Islands, lying near the port city of Zadar in the holiday region of North Dalmatia. The sleepy seaside town of Veli Iz and its 400 inhabitants reside on the northern coast of the Luka Bay. The former fishing village has a ferry operating regularly to Zadar. Veli Iz is known for it traditional pottery pieces, called Iški Lopizi, and for the Izer olive oil. Here you will find the only pottery workshop on the Dalmatian coast as well as an old oil mill. There are several restaurants and grocery stores in town.

Every year, on July 29th, the residents carry out the long-standing tradition of organizing the King's Election - a two-day Iska Festival donning traditional costumes, singing and dancing. The tradition goes back to the antiquity era. The last time that Veli Iz chose a king was in 1879, until the practice was revived in 1970. The festival's date, however, has been moved to be celebrated during the summer to attract tourists, rather than on the traditional Feast Day of December 26th. Also interesting is the small marina, which has 45 berths on the water. The numerous islands and its proximity to the Kornati National Park in particular, make Veli Iz a paradise for boaters. Along the coast there are beautiful walking paths and romantic beaches.