The legend of the Brijuni lovers and Verige Bay

Verige Bay (Photo: NP Brijuni)

In Verige Bay, one of the quietest and most distinctive parts of the Brijuni archipelago, surrounded by pine trees and the remains of a Roman villa, local tradition holds that the tragic love story of Lidia Priscilla and Gaius Lucanius unfolded.

Their love was born in secrecy, exposed during a voyage towards Brijuni, and ended with the mysterious disappearance of the young Gaius in the villa’s underground passages.

Legend says that while the doors were sealed, love itself never disappeared. Instead, it became etched into the stone, carried by the sound of the sea and preserved in the sunsets over Verige Bay, a place still often described as one of the most romantic spots on the Adriatic.

In the foreword to the tragedy Legenda o Brijunima (The Legend of Brijuni), published in 1958 by his brother Tugomil, Vitomir Ujčić attempted to prove that the lovers from the legend had truly existed.

According to the story, the wealthy and ageing Aul Faesonius lived in a magnificent villa and, later in life, married a twenty-year-old slave woman, Lidia.

However, she fell in love with Gaius Lucanius, the son of Aul’s closest friend, Terentius Bassus, who lived nearby. Gaius was renowned as an unbeatable chariot racer.

After one of his victories, Gaius and Lidia recklessly revealed their feelings while sailing by boat towards Brijuni. Their secret did not remain hidden for long. Rufus, the overseer of the slaves, informed the jealous master.

Aul soon began plotting his revenge. He organised a lavish feast in honour of Gaius’ victory and, in the midst of the celebrations, led the young man into the underground passages of the villa under the pretence of showing him his treasures.

In collusion with Rufus, Aul extinguished the torch, leaving Gaius disoriented, and then sealed him behind an iron door. The slaves later bricked up the entrance, and the young man vanished without a trace.

A search was launched, and rumours spread that Gaius had been kidnapped by bandits on the road to Fažana, where his parents traded amphorae.

Verige Bay (Photo: NP Brijuni)

According to Ujčić, this was not merely a legend but a true historical event, allegedly confirmed by archaeologists invited to the island by Paul Kupelwieser to investigate Brijuni’s ancient remains.

While excavating underground corridors near the steam baths of a villa in Verige Bay, they reportedly discovered a bricked-up doorway and a skeleton curled in a confined position.

The remains were said to have been wearing a gold bracelet bearing a plaque engraved with the name Gaius Lucanius Bassus. For Vitomir Ujčić, this discovery proved the truth of the legend.

However, these claims were later challenged by Štefan Mlakar, a retired senior curator of the Istrian Archaeological Museum, who devoted much of his career to the scientific study of archaeological sites on Brijuni.

“This is nothing more than a fabrication for tourists, invented by Otto Lenz, the author of the Guide to Brijuni published in 1936. That is all,” Mlakar stated. “The renowned archaeologist Anton Gnirs, who researched Brijuni at the beginning of the 20th century, never mentioned a gold plaque, nor was a skull found among the ruins.”

Valentine’s Day Excursions: 14–15 February

To mark Valentine’s Day, special excursions to Brijuni will take place on 14 and 15 February. Designed as a peaceful walk across the island, the programme combines nature, history and an enduring love legend.

The excursion includes a guided visit to the Roman sites in Verige Bay, with time spent outdoors during the quietest and most atmospheric part of the day, when the island is at its most evocative.

Ticket prices:

• Adults: €17.00
• Children (7–18 years): €12.00
• Children under 7: free entry (ticket collection required)