Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Sophia Loren, along with foreign politicians and royalty, were the glamorous guests entertained by Yugoslav President Tito on the islands of Veliki Brijuni, his beloved private summer retreat from 1945 to 1980.

Veliki Brijun is the largest of 14 pine-scented islets within Brijuni National Park, and its beautifully maintained parkland reveals Roman archaeological remains. It’s also home to a number of exotic animals such as elephants, llamas, zebras and ostriches (given to Tito as gifts by visiting dignitaries from South America, Africa and Asia), as well as deer and peacocks.

Except Roman ruins, the island boasts another highlight: a massive 1600-year-old olive tree, one of the few remaining trees of what was once an ancient olive grove planted here by the Romans. The tree still amazingly bears fruit, which is picked at each harvest-time and pressed for oil.

Finally, the island is small enough to explore it on foot, or you can always rent golf buggies instead.

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