Beli is
one of the oldest settlements on Cres which used to play
a prominent role in the past. A settlement organised
like an acropolis, Beli is situated on a 130m high hill
above the eastern coast of the northern part of the island,
on the site of a prehistoric hill-fort. Today it is a
typical, closely- built, seaside village, rich in cultural
and historical monuments. Let us name just some of them:
a parish church with a semicircular apse of an older
Romanic church, in which several valuable Glagolitic
inscriptions are to be found, the Romanic church of St.
Maria with a museum collection, the Gothic one-nave church
of St. Anthony situated at the town cemetery, prehistoric
stables at the entrance to the town and a Roman bridge
over the canyon. A stone head of king Abel should also
be noted. The inhabitants of Beli used to be engaged
in agriculture, fishing and cattle breeding. Today Beli,
with its beautiful pebbly beach and well protected harbour,
has grown into a tourist resort, whose economy is based
on family and camping tourism. Due to the fact that beautiful
forests of Tramontane are in its neighbourhood, Beli
becomes increasingly popular as a starting point of long
walks in the countryside.
ECO CENTER "Caput Insulae", an organisation which undertakes programmes of the
preservation of natural versatility, original values and the cultural and historical
heritage of Cres, opearates in Beli. In order to make it easier for visitors
to learn more about the heritage of Tramontana they have established a network
of eco-educative paths functioning as a single exhibition "History and art in
nature". The permanent exhibition "Biodiversity
of the archipelago of Cres and Lošinj" is on display in
the premises of the centre . You may wish to use it as
a starting point of the similar exhibition on display in
the surrounding nature. The center also carries out the
programme of integral protection of griffon vulture.
* source ( http://www.tzg-cres.hr/) |