The National Park of Brijuni

Just off the coast of Pula lie the Brijuni Archipelago islands. These 14 small islands became the playground of the rich Roman elite. Their beauty seems to be a magnet for the powerful even in modern times. When Tito rose to power after WWII, he chose these islands to govern from 6 months out of the year. I guess if you are going to be the leader of Yugoslavia, and these islands are part of your kingdom, why not move in for half the year and govern from there. Signing decrees and dispatching diplomats is every so more pleasurable from a beautiful island getaway. His own personal residence was a restored Venetian villa Tito would host heads of state and Hollywood’s elite from his private islands. There is an exhibit recording the famous procession of people that included Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, other sex goddess. Tito had a fancy for exotic animals. So like Michael Jackson, on this neverland, Tito built his own private safari park. Many of the animals in this zoo were the gifts from the heads of state that paid him homage. With the death of Tito, most of the big game was shipped off to zoos. But there are still elephants, ostriches, zebras, peacocks and other African animals wandering around. You can also visit the ruins of the Roman villas from when they took up residence here to govern their subjects centuries ago.