Martinscica

Martinšćica, in Italian San Martino is a very small tourist resort on the western part of the island of Cres. At the ports, berths are few, consisting of dead bodies and have basic services such as water and electric light. There are three piers, two to the east of which the southernmost one is used by the ferry to Rijeka and the northernmost one has a depth of 1 to 2 meters, so it is recommended to make a landing with the bow turned toward the quay. The best location is the pier to the west (where the red light is), depth 3 mt. Mooring is present and the ports provide good shelter from the bora but not in southerly winds. Entrance signaled by red flashing light (4 seconds). Approach with caution.

The port of Martinšćica is to be considered a suitable port of call for medium and small boats, and given the fairly poor services it is advisable to drop anchor in one of the numerous bays between Martinšćica and Valun which have a depth of more than 6 meters, we are in the Bay of Kvarner and therefore such a solution is not to be considered in case of bora, here the gusts can be strong. If conditions force an anchorage with bura pay attention to the choice of the bay, preferable are those with vegetation, deep bottoms and protected from winds coming from the north and northeast. Between Martinšćica and Valun, precisely in the bay of Zanja, there is also the blue cave, one of the most striking places on the island, a gash in the rock several meters long and at least 15 meters high where thanks to a special play of light the waters take on enchanting colors.

If you have decided to go ashore in the area near Martinšćica, the advice is to visit the lake, a rarity on these islands, reach the quaint little village of Vidovici from which you can enjoy a complete view of the bay and look for some good seafood restaurants. Also all over the island is lush vegetation that you will not find continuing down in other areas of Croatia. In fact, at one time on the island there was an ‘important production of aromatic oils based on vegetables found locally such as mainly rosemary, bay leaves and sage. There are numerous beaches that are distinguished from others in the area by the presence of white pebbles, which are immediately visible on the beach adjacent to the port. Near Martinsica one can also consider visiting the charming bay on the western side of the uninhabited island of Zeca, an anchorage with a good seabed and a depth of 5 meters.