DID YOU KNOW?
There is a legend associated with the Lopud orphanage that is linked to the island of Sv. Andrija. The story goes that a Dubrovnik lord sent his only son to Lopud to recover from an illness. While staying there, the young nobleman fell in love with an orphan girl named Maria who had lost her mother and was from a common background. Unfortunately, the captain, who was the young man’s father, drowned, and Maria’s mother died of grief soon after. This left Maria to live with her brothers, and she avoided noblemen as she feared the social stigma of being in a relationship with one. However, the young man was persistent and their love grew.
When the young man’s father saw that the relationship was becoming serious, he sent him to become a Benedictine at St. Andrija. However, the young man secretly continued to meet with Maria. They agreed to light a fire on the island at night whenever he could leave the monastery, and she would swim to him by following the direction of the fire. She could easily see the fire as she lived in Biga, which was directly opposite St. Andrija.
Sadly, Maria’s brothers eventually found out about their agreement. One evening, they sailed towards the islet and from its shore carried the fire to the stern of their boat, moving further and further away from the open sea. Maria followed the fire, but she passed the island and eventually drowned. Her body was washed to the shore of the island. The young nobleman was devastated by her death and retreated to the monastery. Since then, the island has been popularly called Donzella.