LASTOVO, an island in the southern Dalmatian archipelago, 13 km south of the island of Korcula, separated from it by the Lastovo channel. It stretches in the direction east - west. Between numerous hills on the island (the highest peak is Hum, 417 m) are karst valleys and fields. On the southern coast is a large and deep bay, which provides safe shelter during the bora and westerly winds. On the eastern side of the bay is the place called Skrivena Luka (Hidden Harbour), with a low, sand coast. The western coast of Lastovo and the eastern coast of the islet of Prezba enclose a number of picturesque coves, well protected from the bora: Velo Jezero in the south and Malo Jezero in the north.

West of the island of Lastovo is an unpopulated islet of Kopiste, largely covered with forests. The north-western coast, with a large bay which branches into several coves, is a pier for small fishing ships. Sheltered coves have nice sand beaches. In front of the north-eastern coast of the island of Lastovo is a group of unpopulated islets and reefs - Donji Skoljic. Major islets are Cesvinica, Krucica (with the highest peak of the entire group, 83 m), Saplun and Stomorina. Saplun has beautiful sand beaches. East of Donji Skolji is another group of unpopulated islets and reefs - Vrhovnjaci, comprising the islets Sestrice (Little Sisters), Vlasnik and Glavat (lighthouse).

West of Lastovo is the islet of Mrcara (area about 2 sq km). The Mali Brod (Small Boat) strait divides it from the neighbouring island of Prezba. The sea around Mrcara abounds with spiny lobsters.

Lastovo was mentioned as early as during the Greek colonization of the Adriatic, under the name of Ladesta. The cove of Ubli features the remains of Roman buildings and several structures from the early Middle Ages. At that time the island was under the Byzantine rule and in the 9th century it came under the Nerentani (Narentini). In AD 998 it was taken by the Venetians; in the 11th and the 12th centuries it belonged to Zahumlje (the pre-Roman-esque church of St. Luke near Lastovo dates back to those times); in 1185 it fell under the power of the Hungarian-Croatian kings; in 1221 it was again under Zahumlje, and in 1252 came under Dubrovnik (in 1310 Lastovo got its communal autonomy and the Statute). In the period 1808-1813 Lastovo was occupied by France, from 1813 to 1815 it belonged to the British and from 1815 to 1918 to Austria. Under the Treaty of Rapallo, Lastovo (together with the neighbouring islands) was ceded to Italy. After the Second World War the island passed to the mother country Croatia.