Island of Hvar – a description, beaches, places, photos, - Croatia

Island of Hvar – history

Hvar is the longest island in central Dalmatia and in front of its western part a group of 17 small islands called Pakleni otoci is positioned there.  It is located between the islands of Brač, Vis and Korčula in addition to peninsula Pelješac. Hvar is considered to be the warmest and sunniest place in Croatia with 2,718 sunny hours per year. Inhabited since the Stone Age it is not surprising that Hvar is rich with sites. Out of numerous cultural and historic monuments most prominent place is given to a municipal theatre building in Central Square. Built in 1612. theatre is one of the oldest in this part of Europe.

Places and sights

The core of town Hvar is made up out of the Renaissance Square and Cathedral of St. Stephen along with the 16th century Bishop’s palace, Duke’s palace and late Renaissance City lodge.  During their walking tours visitors will encounter numerous outstanding villas such as Gregurić, Hektorović, Paladin-Lucić, furthermore nowadays Centre of Hvar Cultural Heritage Institution is located in the Renaissance mansion of the poet Hanibal Lucić.

In last few years the island of Hvar has been repeatedly enlisted in Top ten most beautiful islands in the world by Traveller magazine.

The Old Town was built on the ruins of the Greek Pharos settlement that erected in the 4th century BC. Small fishing village Vrbovska lies in a deep bay and to its east side place called Jelsa is surrounded by the pine forests, vineyards and olive trees. Not far from Jelsa on hillside named Grabak a cave was discovered along with numerous artefacts from the Stone Age.

Famous people:

Petar Hektorovic (1487-1572) – noblemen from Hvar who had written down majority of Croatian folk songs, his best known work is called “Fishing and Fishermen chicanery”

Hanibal Lucic (1485-1553) – he wrote the first Croatian drama called „The Slave“

Ivan Vucetic (1858-1925) – as Head of identification department in Argentinean police where he came as immigrant he was in charge for fingerprint classification. Ivan Vucetic established a new avocation known as “expert identifier” and even though the fingertip classification system modified over time without a doubt experts say that he created a foundation of what is now called forensics and is popular worldwide in TV series CSI.

 Not to miss:

• Old Dalmatian saying goes: “Wine is food, wine is the cure” and given the ideal soil and terrain with mild climate that is great for thousand years old wine manufacturing every visitor of island of Hvar can not afford to miss to taste at least one of Hvar’s wine varieties considering they have distinctive quality, flavour and bouquet which include red sorts such as  Plavac, Plavac mali, Hektor, Opolo Nobile and white sorts like Zlatan plavac, Posip, Bili potok , etc….
• Along with these wines it would be wise to taste a traditional dish – “gregada” special type of stew that is combination of several fish sorts and potatoes.
• Visit 16th century Hvar fortress which is housing nowadays a collection of amphorae and other artefacts dating back to ancient times and Middle Ages. In addition to beautiful panoramic scenery you can also enjoy in local cuisine at the restaurant which is at the top of the fortress.