The town of Cres is situated in the northeastern part of a large and well shielded bay which abounds in spacious and attractive bathing areas. The human activity, dating back to the Antique period, has left a whole range of monuments which help us to imagine how difficult life must have been on this island.
The panorama of present day Cres is marked with the medieval harbour "mandrac", Gothic and Renessaince churches and monasteries, noble families' palaces and the remains of town walls. Until the end of the period of Venetian domination Cres remained confined within the town walls, two monasteries being the only buildings located outside the walls. It was a development of seafaring and shipbuilding in the middle of the 19th century that brought about great changes.
The town started spreading to the south and west. At the turn of the 20th century Cres provided catering services for its guests in two hotels "Miramare" and "Excelsior". A more intense development of tourist industry started in the 60s and 70s of the previous century.

* source ( http://www.tzg-cres.hr/)