The islet of Galevac – Školjić in the Zadar archipelago has been an oasis of peace, faith and beauty for centuries

Located on the northeastern coast of the island, opposite the historic town of Zadar, Preko is a tourist destination on the island of Ugljan that offers numerous attractions and activities for all tastes.

Preko was created in the early Middle Ages when Croats settled on the island of Ugljan. It got its name from the fact that it is located right across from Zadar, with which it is connected by a ferry line.

Preko and the islet of Galevac, Photo: Ventura69, Dreamstime

But this is not a story about Preko, but about the islet of Galevac (Školjić), about eighty meters away from Preko, on which the monastery of St. Paul the Hermit. Locals, monks, and all islanders call Galevac – Školjić.

According to some historians, the islet was first inhabited by Pauline monks, whose protector was St. Paul the Hermit, and to whom they dedicated the monastery. 

 

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Franciscans of the third order have been in Školjić since 1446. They got that islet from Zadar’s nobleman Milanje, and in 1454 Pope Nicholas V confirmed their possession.

The best accommodation near by can be found at the Heritage Hotel Dunatovi dvori.

The church was repaired in 1516 and 1564, and it was consecrated in 1596 by the Bishop of Nin, Horacije Bellotti, according to the evidence above the entrance to the church.

In the past, the monastery was turned into an infirmary several times, so the monks, at the cost of their own lives, took care of the plague patients.

In the first half of the 20th century, a gymnasium with public rights operated in the monastery, where many monks, as well as Croatian intellectuals of various professions and occupations, were educated.

Galevac islet, Preko, Photo: AleXXw, CC BY-SA 3.0

The afforestation of the islet began in the 19th century, and today, it is adorned with a rich and dense, mostly pine forest. Galevac is an oasis of peace and beauty that offers a perfect vacation with its natural beaches. It is a favorite place of many tourists.