Towns emerged and developed around a local church that was located at the centre of things. This was also the case with Dramalj, which back in the 18th century was called Zagorje. After the renovation of the local church, it was renamed Sveta Jelena (St. Helen), a name which it retained until after World War Two.
The church was built on the spot of an ancient chapel, which was renovated in the Baroque style and expanded in the 18th century, when Dramalj was the chaplaincy of the parish of Belgrad. In 1796, Giuseppe Capovilla, a famous artist from Rijeka, made the marble altar for the church. The parish of St. Helen was established in 1809, and the Parish Office and Church of St. Helen were built after 1812. The interior of the church was furnished in the 19th century: the pulpit was added in 1837, and the main altar in 1845.
At first a fishing village surrounded by olive groves, Dramalj eventually transformed into a tourist resort after the construction of the first accommodation properties with the number of guests and visitors increasing over time.
great history..