St. Marko Island

The Island of St. Marco had a name of St. Gabriel and there was a church with the same name there since the very old times. According to the legend, since the early times this island was known by its charming nature and fragrant pine trees growing on the coast of the Adriatic. Due to the belief, the Greek gods sent there their best soldiers to recover after fights, cured their wounds and recovered emotionally. Greek soldiers rested on the island, enjoyed long walks, shared with each other their military exploits and heroism and glory...When there were not so many wars, the soldiers enjoyed staying in the island and decided to stay to live there. They felt blame for the all bad that they had done in wars, they prayed the Goods to save the peace, and by the way they wanted the island where they lived to be always the same. In return they promised not to start wars, but only to protect from the enemy if they would be attacked and as the sign of their will they planted olive tree, from which later the whole olive grove grew. But a spirit of war has awoken in the hearts of the soldiers again after some time, and they forgot their promise and again set for the wars. It made gods furious and they sent an awful storm to the island and sunk all the ships and killed all the soldiers. The island became empty, only olive trees indicate those times and that terrible event. In honor of the dead Greek veterans, residents of Tivat decided to give the island the name Stradioti that means «warriors» in Greek. Up to these days, people sometimes use this name for the island of St. Mark's Square.

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