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Osor (Ossero) is a
village and port on the island of
Cres (Cherso). Administratively, Osor is today part of the town of
Mali
Lošinj (Lussinpiccolo). In 1945, at the end of World War II, the
village had a
population of 289, while in 2021 it was 26.
Osor lies at a narrow channel that
separates the islands of Cres
(Cherso) and Lošinj
(Lussino) which were once a single
island. The channel at Osor was built in Roman times to cut across the island. The separated islands are now connected
with a rotating bridge.
The first settlements of the area
date to prehistoric times. In Roman times the town was called
Apsoros (Ancient Greek:
Ἄψωρος), also used to refer to the whole
island of Lošinj (Lussino). It became an important center of trade
on the route to the ports of the Northern Adriatic. After the fall
of Roman Empire, Osor became a part of the Byzantine Empire and was
a diocese seat since the 6th century. In 840 A.D. the town was
burned down by the Saracens, then came under Croatian rule in the
10th century. In the 14th century Osor became part of the Republic
of Venice. From the 15th century on, the town lost its strategic and
commercial importance. Due to
malaria, the town was ultimately abandoned as the administrative
center of the island in favor of the town of
Cres (Cherso).
Religion:
Genealogy:
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