Ancient city Brijuni

On the Brijuni Islands in Istria, Croatia, an ancient city extends, once considered the largest villa maritima on the Adriatic.

The origins of the ancient city date back to the late Republican period, when two villae rusticae laid the foundation. Under Emperor Claudius, the complex developed into an extensive villa maritima, spanning over a kilometer in length. It housed a large terraced residential building, a temple district with three temples, a library, cisterns, and a bath complex. An economic wing for wine and oil production was also part of it. Later, a dye works was established within the ruins. Throughout the archipelago, during the Augustan period, there were seven villae rusticae, a salt pan, and a quarry.