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 Cres
island
Valun Beach
 The
island of Cres, by size the second island in the Adriatic,
is located in the northern part of the Bay of Kvarner. Its
southern part, i.e. the town of Osor, is linked to the island
of Losinj by a trestle bridge. Cres is a hilly island, 66
km long and ranging in width from 2 to 12 km. The island's
coastline , 248 km long, is indented; its western and southern
part have a plenty of bays and pebbly beaches while the
northern and eastern part are characterized with steep and
rough rocks. The island's true gems are undoubtedly its
many beaches, nestled mostly on the western shores, midway
between Sveti Blaz and the Bay of Ustrine. Some of them
have the look of a hollow shell, slowly disappearing into
the emerald-blue sea. These shells have been washed out
by centuries of rain and sea waves, waves that in time were
able to round and smooth the limestone sediments from which
these shores have been formed. Some of these beaches can
be reached by walking on the age-old pathways that lead
you past the "gromacas", the green spruces and olive tree
trunks, while being accompanied by the scents of rosemary,
thyme and mint. Others can be found by the camping sites,
such as the almost 500m long Slatina Beach, while again
others can only be reached by sea.
 Valun,
a picturesque seaside village, is situated around a small
harbour in the southern part of the Bay of Valun. For many
it is the msot beautiful and the most romantic place on
the island.
There are two beautiful pebbly beaches, Little Valun beach,
backed by a steep mountain, is so quiet and secluded, you'll
find it hard to tear yourself away.
You can also rent a kayak for a perfect romantic day exploring
little coves and surely you will discover the perfect place
for you. Extraordinary scenery, Mediterranean scents and
surreal beauty of water and sky color, will soon make you
forget about the time. After a romantic day at the beach,
treat yourself with a romantic dinner in one of Valun's
restaurants.
And if you ever get tired of Valun, which is hard to believe,
the island has other breathaking places and beaches where
you can enjoy quietness and sense of untouched nature.  Lubenice,
for example, is situated 382m above sea level and overlooks
the bay of Kvarner. Down below is a small pebbly bay with
a virgin beach, which can be reached by foot or by boat.
It will take you 50 minutes to get down and approx. 1 hour
to climb back. But it's well worth all the effort.
 Beli
is another perfectly romantic place, one of the oldest settlements
on Cres. A settlement organised like an acropolis, Beli
is situated on a 130m high hill above the eastern coast
of the northern part of the island. Today it is a typical,
closely- built, seaside village, rich in cultural and historical
monuments. Beli becomes increasingly popular as a starting
point of long walks in the countryside. And yes, there is
a beautiful pebbly beach near by.
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