A heart-shaped island off Croatia is for sale

property

From Maria K Jacob

February 13, 2023 | 3:17 p.m

It’s the heart of the deal.

A slice of a tiny Croatian island nicknamed the “Island of Love” for its perfect heart shape has hit the market for nearly $11 million — and just in time for Valentine’s Day.

If you’re looking to gift a loved one a natural wonder for the holidays, especially in a country that saw a major surge in tourism almost 20 years ago, this one comes with a celebrity pedigree. Known locally as Galešnjak and lying in the Pašman Channel of the Adriatic Sea, the island has attracted a who’s who of household names.

“Beyoncé had her 39th birthday on the island and she’s there for several days or even weeks every year, Michael Jordan was there last year, Jeff Bezos was there too, there’s no shortage of celebrities in this area,” said Silvestro Kardum, a representative the owner, Reuters said.

Though there are no hotels, villas, or restaurants on the island, the A-list set is known for bringing yachts to the heart-shaped landmass during the summer months for a private, uninterrupted time in paradise.

Proceeds from the sale would be invested elsewhere in the local community, Kardum added. But at the risk of causing heartbreak, the entire spread can’t be yours. About a third of the island is for sale – and offered for development.

Known as one of the most famous Croatian islands, it has been included in many “best of” travel lists.

In 2019, scientists from the Department of Archeology at the University of Zadar discovered that people lived there more than 7,000 years ago.

Spread over 10 hectares, Kardum has revealed potential buyers are already calling about the offer every day.

“Over a million photos are taken on and around the island every year and I think their popularity is really high,” Kardum told Reuters.