Intrigued by a stretch of water that whispers tales of ancient mariners and hidden isles? You are about to experience the Mljet Channel. This channel separates Mljet from the Pelješac peninsula. It is more than just a body of water. It is a passage through time.
Here in front of the Mljet Channel, imagine ancient Greco-Roman geographers charting these waters. They recorded their observations and descriptions. Scylax of Caryanda first described Mljet in the 6th century BC. He called it Melite. Apollonius of Rhodes supported this name. Later, Agathemerus and Pliny the Elder also referred to it as Melita.
The Mljet Channel has witnessed countless journeys. The Benedictines from Pulsano in Apulia sailed through these waters in 1151. They arrived at Sutmiholjska cove. Desa, Grand Prince of Serbia, built the Church and Monastery of Saint Mary for them. It stands on an islet in the Big Lake. Pope Innocent III consecrated this church in 1198.
Consider the island’s name. Ancient Greeks called it “Melita” meaning honey. Over centuries, this evolved into the Slavic name Mljet. The Mljet Channel served as a lifeline. It facilitated trade and connected communities. In 1410, the Republic of Ragusa formally annexed Mljet. The municipality paid 300 perperas each year according to their contract with the Benedictines.
Imagine the Benedictine monastery in the 16th century. It became the center of the Mljet Congregation. This Congregation gathered Benedictine monks from the Republic of Ragusa. Mavro Vetranović, abbot and famous poet, was its first president. Ignjat Đurđević, another great poet, also served as abbot here in the 18th century.
However, the monastery’s importance waned over time. The seat of the Mljet Congregation moved to Sveti Jakov near Ragusa. In 1809, Napoleon disbanded the Mljet monastery. Later, Austria used the building for its forestry office. Between the world wars, the Diocese of Ragusa owned it. In 1960, it became a hotel. Finally, in 1998, it was returned to the Diocese.
The monks even dug a channel from the Big Lake to the south coast. They wanted to ease their transport problems. This turned both freshwater lakes into seawater-based ones.
Think about the island’s geography. Mljet stretches 37 km long and averages 3.2 km wide. The Mljet Channel separates it from the mainland. The island is volcanic in origin with many gorges. Babino Polje is the longest gorge connecting the north and south. Port Polače, the main harbor, welcomes tourist ferries.
Mljet’s climate is Mediterranean. January averages 9 degrees Celsius. July averages 24 degrees Celsius. Rainfall occurs mostly between October and April.
Today, ferries connect Mljet to the Pelješac peninsula and Dubrovnik. You can take a car ferry or a faster catamaran. The D120 road spans the island. Scheduled buses travel once or twice a day.
Standing here at the Mljet Channel, you are at a crossroads of history and nature. You have heard the echoes of ancient mariners. You felt the pulse of monastic life. You saw the resilience of an island shaped by time and tide. The Mljet Channel is a gateway to Mljet’s stories. It invites you to explore further.