Go to the cave via our hiking map:
Today one of the least known but paradoxically most visited caves in Croatia,
Biserujka started attracting tourists as early as the 19th century. Some of
them left graffiti inside the cave. The cave is located on the outskirts of the
Municipality of Omišalj above Slivanjska Cove and next to the village of
Rudine. The cave has been known since ancient times. Legend has it that its
name comes from pirate treasure that was found there (biser is Croatian for
pearl). From the first half of the 19th century, the cave was recorded in court
documents as a shelter for smugglers who came from the other side of the narrow
sea channel. This suggests that the pirate treasure isn't just a legend, as
this part of the island of Krk was regularly visited by the Uskoks from Senj in
the 16th and early 17th century. These were notorious for plundering the rich
cargos of Venetian galleys. Even in later years, the Venetians were not able to
control the illegal trade of the inhabitants of Krk with the neighbouring
Vinodol area.