The Isle of Saint Mary

St. Mary Islet is the cultural highlight of Mljet National Park, a tiny wooded island in Veliko Jezero (Great Lake) crowned by a Benedictine monastery and Romanesque church. The monastery complex was built between 1177 and 1198 and remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Mljet.

A visit fits naturally into a day around Mljet's lakes. The park boat crosses to the islet according to a seasonal timetable, and one return boat trip to St. Mary Islet is included with the standard Mljet National Park entrance ticket.

Is St. Mary Islet worth visiting?

Yes. If you are already visiting Mljet National Park, St. Mary Islet is one of the easiest and most rewarding stops to add to the day. The boat ride is short, the monastery complex is compact, and the combination of Romanesque architecture, wooded shoreline and the calm water of the Great Lake is quite different from the rest of Mljet.

You do not need several hours on the islet itself. Around 45-60 minutes is usually enough to explore the monastery and church at a relaxed pace, although your total visit depends on the current boat schedule and how long you choose to stay before the return crossing.

How to get to St. Mary Islet

St. Mary Islet is reached by the National Park's passenger boat across Veliko Jezero. Boat departures change through the season, so check the current timetable rather than relying on a permanent departure time.

From Pomena

From Pomena, follow the promenade towards Malo Jezero (Small Lake) and continue to Mali Most. Mljet National Park includes this route in its recommended walking itinerary, with boat boarding for St. Mary Islet from the lake area.

From Polače

From Polače, you can walk or hike through the National Park towards the lakes and continue along Veliko Jezero to Pristanište, one of the main boat boarding points for the islet.

From Vrbovica

If arriving by car, Vrbovica is the main parking area close to the Great Lake. From there, National Park routes lead towards Pristanište and the boat to St. Mary.

Check current Mljet National Park information

Boat ticket and National Park admission

You do not normally buy a separate first boat ticket for St. Mary Islet. The standard Mljet National Park entrance ticket includes one return boat trip to the islet, together with access to the park's inland sites and marked walking trails.

If you want to make an additional return boat trip after using the included one, the park sells an extra boat ticket. Entrance prices can change by season and year, so check the current Mljet National Park price list rather than relying on old ticket prices.

The Benedictine monastery and Church of St. Mary

The Benedictines arrived on Mljet after Desa, ruler of Zahumlje, granted the island to monks from Pulsano on Monte Gargano in 1151. The monastery and church on St. Mary Islet were then constructed between 1177 and 1198.

The church was originally a single-nave Romanesque building influenced by the Benedictines' Apulian tradition. Its central Romanesque structure survives, although later centuries brought substantial Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque alterations.

The monastery itself was also rebuilt repeatedly. Today it has the appearance of a two-storey Renaissance complex, with arcaded courtyard wings and defensive elements added as security became increasingly important.

How the monastery changed over the centuries

St. Mary Islet was not a static medieval complex. The buildings changed as architectural tastes and defensive needs changed around them.

• Romanesque period: the original monastery and Church of St. Mary formed the core of the complex.
• Gothic and Renaissance periods: the monastery expanded and new architectural elements, including stairs and additional spaces, were introduced.
• Defensive phase: walls and towers strengthened the complex during periods of Ottoman and pirate threat.
• Baroque period: further alterations changed parts of the church and monastery while leaving the Romanesque core recognisable.

The result is a compact complex where several centuries of Mljet and Dubrovnik-region history are visible in one place.

Why the monastery was important

The Benedictine community on Mljet was more than a religious settlement. The monastery became an important centre of literacy and culture for the island and the surrounding region.

The monks maintained a scriptorium where liturgical texts, scripture and Latin works were copied. The monastery also held one of Dalmatia's notable Benedictine libraries.

Their influence extended into everyday island life. The Mljet Tourist Board credits the Benedictines with spreading knowledge of agriculture, viticulture, olive growing, construction techniques and music among the local population.

What to look for on St. Mary Islet

Although the islet is small, several details are worth slowing down for:

• The Romanesque church: the oldest architectural core of the site.
• Renaissance monastery: the later two-storey building arranged around arcaded courtyard spaces.
• Defensive elements: walls and towers added when the monastery needed greater protection.
• Marble columns: historic stone elements whose origins have long attracted interest.
• Archaeological traces: finds on the islet indicate activity predating the medieval monastery.
• The setting: views back across Veliko Jezero are as important to the experience as the buildings themselves.

Combine the visit with Mljet's lakes

St. Mary Islet works best as part of a wider visit to Mljet National Park. The walking and cycling paths around Veliko and Malo Jezero make it easy to combine the monastery with swimming, cycling and longer lake walks.

There is plenty of shade around the lakes, which is especially useful in summer. If you are cycling, plan the boat trip around the current timetable rather than assuming you can cross at any time.

Practical tips for visiting St. Mary Islet

• Check the boat schedule first: the islet does not have one permanent year-round timetable.
• Allow around 45-60 minutes: enough for the church, monastery and a relaxed walk around the small islet.
• Keep your park ticket: your included return boat crossing is linked to National Park admission.
• Combine the visit: St. Mary is much more rewarding as part of a lake walk, cycle or swim than as an isolated attraction.
• Summer: carry water and use the shaded lakeside routes during the hottest part of the day.
• Weather matters: strong wind can affect boats or boarding arrangements.

Getting to Mljet Island

If you are arriving from Dubrovnik, check the current Dubrovnik to Mljet catamaran connections.

If travelling with a car from the Pelješac Peninsula, see the Pelješac to Mljet car ferry.

Location

Area: Veliko Jezero, Mljet National Park
Nearest settlements: Goveđari / Pristanište / Pomena area
Island: Mljet, Croatia
Official park information: Mljet National Park - Isle of Saint Mary