Lopud is economically the most developed of the Elaphiti Islands, and can be reached by boat from Dubrovnik, Trsteno, Orašac and Zaton.

The central island known as Elaphite (Deer) archipelago 7 NM away from Dubrovnik and with an area of 4.6 square km was a frequent station of ancient Greeks and later Romans.

In the 9th century the island was inhabited by Slavs, a fact supported by four old Slavonic churches and a bulk of archeological finds.

Thanks to the prospering shipping industry and sea trade (even with Americas) as well as shipbuilding and agriculture the island was a highly cultured one.

During the Astro-Hungarian rule, Lopud people subsisted on fishery, agriculture, sailing on merchant ships and working abroad, particularly in USA.

During the aggression against the Republic of Croatia from 1991 to 1995 business was operated in war conditions and enterprise going bankrupt as a consequence.

The so-called privatization, the sell-off the hotels and real estate, as well as devastation, unemployment and job insecurity led to population decrease and young Lopud people had to look for life opportunities elsewhere.

Despite the natural resources and potentiality of comfortable life, since 1992 Lopud has been passing the saddest period in its long history.