Marina di Isto – Dalmazia

Theisland of Ist, located in the Zadar Archipelago, has a small pier with a dock for docking pleasure boats. The port is located in the village of Ist overlooking Siroka Bay. It has 66 berths and is well equipped making the island a very attractive landing spot for sailors.

Dead bodies, power and water can be found on the breakwater and at the small North Pier. In high season one can moor at a wooden pier secured to the south side of the breakwater, paying attention to the shallow rocks. With the Bora there are very strong fallout gusts and the Sirocco forms a bit of a wave. Anchoring west of the pier for ferry passage is not allowed. The ports has mooring buoys, so in windy weather it is best to tie up inside the seawall. The marina is open during the period from April to November.

To reach the ports, one must cross Cape Jabučni to the southeast of the island and proceed through the Zapuntel Strait between Ist and the neighboring island of Molat and then enter Široka Bay. The village of Ist is located at the end of the bay and protected against the Scirroco by a large pier. At the head of the pier docks the passenger ship that connects Ist with Zadar.

Ist for its shape resembles a butterfly flying northward, whose wings are separated by a short, narrow valley between two inlets. In the village are stores, restaurants, the harbormaster’s office, the post office and a diving center. A path leads to Mount Straza (174 meters above sea level) overlooking the village where there is a small church. From the top there is a view of Molat Island and Dugi Otok.

The hillsides are wooded and covered with olive groves and vineyards. Off the western coast are a number of islets, more are found southward near the island of Molat from which Ist is separated by a channel. The coast is steep and covered with bushes except in the southern part. Here are sandy beaches washed by crystal-clear waters within small bays shaded by pine trees.

Ist restaurants serve excellent wines and oils that accompany dishes of freshly caught fish, lobster, octopus, crab, and snapper.