When one leaves Dubrovnik in west direction, the first island to come across is Kolocep (also known among the locals as Kalamota). It is 3 nautical miles away from Dubrovnik. The island has two settlements: Gornje i Donje Čelo (Upper and Lower Forehead). The name of the island is also Calaphata (from Greek: Beautiful nights) and Calamota (fishing rod). The Kolocep inhabitants were historically great fishermen and coral gatherers, harvesting corals not only in Adriatic but also in

Aegean and throughout Mediterranean Sea. In Donje Čelo there are still ramparts of of a 16th century fortress which used to be defense point and a shelter for the inhabitants from frequent pirate attacks.

Lopud is the next island when one continues westward. It is 7.5 nautical miles away from Dubrovnik. It was initially Greek and later Roman colony (Delaphodia, Lafota). In the history it held summer mansions of many of the Dubrovnik nobility who have often competed among each other who will have better decorated garden and more exotic plants which were brought to Lopud by many sea merchants from all parts of the world. Some of those species are still left on the island such as ones in park Mayneri. By 16th century there were two monasteries (Benedictine and Franciscan monastery) as well as more than 30 churches (most of them being votive churches) and chapels. The most famous

is votive church of Holy mother of Sunj (the other cove of the island from which the wives and girlfriends of sailors would stay for many days preying and looking into the vast blue distances waiting for their loved ones to come back from their voyages). Today Sunj beach is the most beautiful sandy beach in the shoal of Dubrovnik Region, often packed with both local tourists and locals who play the most popular beach game in this area of Croatia – Picigin!

Sipan is the third Island from Dubrovnik going westward. It is also the biggest island of all Elaphiti, most elongated and with highest peak... Velji Vrh, 244 m. It has two bigger settlements – Sudjuradj (facing Dubrovnik) and Sipanska Luka (the Port of Sipan – facing Peljesac Paeninsula). There were over 60 summer mansions on Sipan built from 14th century to 16th century, with most beautiful and most representative being Skocibuha Castle...belonging to rich merchants and nobility from Sipan... the Skocibuha family. The castle was

a summer mansion, surrounded by gardens and terraces but also used as defensive fort and a shelter against the pirates. There is also a rector’s palace (the island used to have its rector) and a parish church of Saint Mary on Sudjuradj while in Sipanska Luka there is a parish church of St. Stephen.