Svetac was inhabited in prehistoric era, as evidenced by archeological remains, the oldest of which were found in Tovorski bod, a cave in the south part of the island. A Benedictine monastery built on the island was abandoned in late 15th or early 16th century. In 1760, a small
pine tar factory was opened. After the pine forest on the island was completely cut down, the factory was closed, and Svetac was acquired by members of the Zanki family, who settled there. The population census on Svetac from 1951 was around 60, all members of the Zanki family. The last one of the group that lived there all year round was Antonija Zanki, an elderly woman who died in 2001. Now members of the Zanki family effectively live there four to six months a year, from late spring to autumn, still keeping up the houses of their grandfathers, fishing, making red wine and olive oil. Most members of the Zanki family who own this, largest private island in Adriatic, live in Komiža now (14 nm east). Svetac island is in open seas, without any natural protected bay, and members of the Zanki family survived there for centuries. ==Environment==