Natural history collection
During his longtime political activities Josip Broz received a large number of gifts from visiting heads of state. Apart from the usual protocolary gifts, he also received animals, both live and stuffed ones. Some animals that were once brought to the Brijuni zoo or safari park, as well as their young born on Brijuni, were stuffed after they had died. This is how the large collection developed, which has been arranged and exhibited since 1986.
The derma-plastic exhibits are placed in dioramas with painted backgrounds and plants representing a scene from their natural habitat. Almost 200 exhibits are displayed in 19 dioramas, of which 7 represent African, 4 Asian, 1 Australian and 1 South African fauna. The others present European fauna, especially focusing on Brijuni fauna which can be partly discovered during the excursion program.
Today in this hectic world, when we are aware that several dozens of plant and animal species become extinct every day, we should at least stop for a moment to admire the beauty of nature. This exhibition will therefore contribute to a better understanding of nature and preservation of beauty, richness and diversity of our planet.
Exhibition of copies of frescoes and Glagolitic inscriptions of Istria and Kvarner
The Gothic church of St. German was built in 1481. It was dedicated to the brave citizen of Pula who at the end of the 3rd century dared to object to the city administrator for intolerance towards the Christians and was thus sentenced to death. The feast day of this martyr is celebrated on May 30.
The church was decorated with Gothic frescoes but the entire inventory was damaged in a fire at the end of the 19th century. It was renovated in 1911 when a black and white mosaic from the Roman villa in Verige Bay was built in its floor. The following year the sacristy was added in the shape of a typical Istrian chapel with atrium - lopica in the walls of which stone fragments from the history of Brijuni were incorporated.
Since 1958 the church houses the exhibition of copies of frescoes and Glagolitic inscriptions from Istria and Kvarner that most clearly represent the cultural heritage of the Middle Ages of this area. Therefore in one place you can see frescoes from Beram, Hum, Rakotule and Lovran as well as the most significant stone inscriptions written in the Glagolitic script.
Memories of an old Austrian
On the occasion of the centenary of the arrival on the island of Paul Kupelwieser, one-time owner and originator of the Brijuni, in 1993 an exhibition entitled Memories of an old Austrian was put on show.
The words of Paul Kupelwieser, quoted from his homonymous book as well as photographs, old postcards and printed material (books, magazines) illustrate a praiseworthy act of transforming a malaria-ridden island into a fashionable summer and health resort that became the meeting-place of European and world elite, and not only aristocratic but cultural, scientific, industrial and economic as well.
Josip Broz Tito on Brioni
The photo exhibition Josip Broz Tito on Brioni, which was opened in 1984 visually presents the activities of the Yugoslav president on the island from June 20, 1947 when he first arrived here until the very last day of his stay, August 29, 1979 when he left the Brijuni wharf to participate in the 6th Summit of nonaligned countries in Havana.
Over a period of thirty years numerous visits were recorded, ranging from various delegations, statesmen, associates and friends, as well as famous personalities from the world of culture, art and science. Brijuni were visited by numerous ministers, government and diplomatic representatives, ambassadors, as well as many state and party delegations.
The long series of flags shows 60 countries of the world whose representatives, 90 of them altogether, visited Brijuni. Between the first high-level state visit (Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, July 24, 1954) and the last (Luis Cabral, president of Guinea Bissau, August 13, 1979), the island was visited by many crowned heads from Europe and Asia, as well as presidents from four continents.