In Ston, a seaside town in southern Dalmatia, in Croatia, the Mali Ston Oyster Festival takes place annually in mid-March, when the shellfish have reached full maturity. The bay of one of the villages into which the municipality is divided (in the cover photo) is a nature reserve known for the ancient tradition of growing oysters of the genus Ostrea edulis, one of the most appreciated qualities, as well as mussels. The area is also renowned for the production of wines, especially the red ones made from Plavac Mali grapes.
To reach Ston from Italy, the Ancona – Split ferries may be useful, taking between 9 hours and 11 hours and 30 minutes to complete the journey; after disembarking in the Croatian port, you have to travel about 180 kilometers by road to reach your destination.
Mali Ston Oyster Day
The day of the European flat oyster of Mali Ston (fraction of the municipality of Ston) is held every year in the period of Saint Joseph, usually on 18 or 19 March, time of the year in which the bivalve mollusc is properly matured and tastier, ready for harvesting. The village is famous for the production of oysters, which takes place on the seafront.
We are located in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, on the Pelješac peninsula, also known for its viticulture, in southern Croatia.
Traces of farming in the bay exist since the period of Roman domination in this area. It is an ideal environment, as there is a unique blend of fresh and salt water, both because there is the mouth of the Neretva River and because of the abundance of winter rains; that’s why these oysters are delicious and received the European protected designation of origin in 2020, as well as the Grand Prix award and the gold medal at the General Trades International Exhibition in London in 1936.
The one-day festival offers visitors the opportunity to taste oysters, but also mussels and shellfish, rigorously paired with high-quality wine from the Pelješac area.
2023 program
In 2023 the food and wine event is held on Saturday 18 March in Brijesta, another fraction of Ston overlooking the sea, from 11:00 to 17:00. Going to the boats and barges of local shellfish farmers, it is possible to enjoy this gastronomic delicacy. To further enliven the day there are also musical performances with Dalmatian songs, accompanied by wine and other traditional local products. The restaurants in the area, moreover, offer a wide range of flavours.
The oysters are prepared in various ways, but everyone agrees that the best preparation is the simplest one, i.e. raw, freshly caught and seasoned with a few drops of lemon juice. And this is precisely the experience that it is possible to have, shared with the local fishermen.
The territory
The municipality of Ston is located near the isthmus that connects the Pelješac peninsula to the rest of Dalmatia and it is characterized by salt pans and an important historical and artistic heritage, consisting of almost intact ancient fortifications, Gothic and Renaissance palaces and churches.
The defensive walls are more than 5 kilometers long and are called the Great Wall of China in Europe; they were built in the 14th century to defend the Republic of Ragusa. Studded with towers, the walls extend from the Old Castle (Veliki Kaštio) to the Crown Fort (Koruna) of the hamlet of Mali Ston, which has five watchtowers, passing through the New Castle (Pozvizd).
The Pelješac peninsula has also been connected to Komarna since 2022, when the construction of the bridge was completed. The local economy is based on tourism and shellfish farming; viticulture is also important, with the fine red wines Dingač and Postup, made from Plavac Mali grapes, with a high alcohol content and a high content of tannins.
