June the 28th, 2026 – The southernmost point in Croatia is closer to neighbouring Italy than it is to Split, and while it isn’t entirely impossible to get there, it’s a task and a half…
Far out in the open Adriatic, near the maritime border with Italy, lies one of Croatia’s most remote corners: the tiny islet of Galijula, the official southernmost point of Croatia.
Part of the Palagruža archipelago, Galijula is a small, uninhabited piece of rock surrounded by the deep blue of the Adriatic. It is so isolated that it feels more like a place from another world than part of a European country.
The islet sits closer to Italy than to Split, highlighting just how far south and out to sea this part of Croatia extends. The Palagruža islands are located roughly halfway between the Croatian and Italian coasts, making them among the most isolated places in the country.
Galijula itself is not a typical tourist destination. There are no settlements, no roads and no facilities — reaching it requires a boat and favourable sea conditions. The surrounding waters, however, have long been famous among fishermen for their rich marine life.
Nearby Vela Palagruža, the largest island of the group, rises dramatically from the sea with steep cliffs and a famous lighthouse that has guided sailors for generations. The archipelago has a unique ecosystem, including several endemic plant species found nowhere else in all of Croatia.
Despite its isolation, Palagruža has an exceptionally long human history. All sorts of fascinating archaeological evidence shows that people were present there and living thousands of years ago, while today the only permanent resident is the lighthouse keeper on Vela Palagruža.
A tiny dot on the map, Galijula represents a wilder, more mysterious side of Croatia, a place where the country ends, but the Adriatic continues on and on.
