Mamula Island

About Mamula Island

Originally known as Lastavica due to its abundant bird population, this small circular island sits at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, separating the two peninsulas of Prevlaka and Lustica. The island's identity has been shaped by dramatic historical events spanning nearly two centuries.

The Fortress

The island features a defensive fortress dating back to 1853. Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula ordered its construction to protect the entrance to Boka Bay. The circular fortification was an impressive feat of military engineering, designed to control access to the entire bay system.

A Dark Chapter in History

Following its use as a detention facility during World War I, the island took on a far more sinister role during World War II. It was Benito Mussolini's army that utilized the island's territory to hold thousands of people captive, transforming the fortress into a concentration camp. A memorial stone on the island commemorates the Montenegrin victims of this dark period.

Mamula Today

Despite its troubled past, Mamula Island remains a place of haunting natural beauty. Government officials approved a 49-year lease for resort development, though the plans remain controversial given the island's historical significance. Our boat tours pass close to the island so you can photograph the fortress from the water and hear its history. We do not land on Mamula.