Hvar, Croatia
Hvar is the longest and sunniest island of the Adriatic: the sun shines here for 2718 hours a year! Small medieval towns, numerous bays and lavender that can be smelled everywhere, lush subtropical vegetation and mild climate make this island one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Croatia. And in the capital of the island of the same name, life does not stop day or night.
Hvar stretches for 68 km in length, the area of the island is 300 square meters. km, and the length of the coastline is more than 250 km.
The best time to visit the island is in June, when soft purple lavender and pink oleander bloom, making the island fantastically beautiful and fragrant. By the way, the weather at this time of the year is already good for relaxing, there are still few tourists, and prices are low. Check maternityetchic for customs regulations and visa requirements of Croatia.
Phone numbers
8-10-385-21-phone number
How to get there
You can only get to the island by water – that’s why it’s an island! There are three ferry lines connecting Hvar with land: Jelsa – Bol – Split, Suchurai – Drvenik, Stari Grad – Split. You can also take a catamaran from Split.
Already in the harbor, travelers can see gratifying pictures of island life: thickets of oleander, olives, grapes hide picturesque houses with red tiled roofs and make the streets shady.
A bit of history
The island was inhabited in ancient times, archaeological finds date back to 3-4 millennium BC. e. Slavic tribes came to the island in the 8th century, and before that the island was inhabited by the Greeks, then the Romans. In 1147, the island was occupied by the Venetians, then it repeatedly changed hands, like many settlements and islands in this region. The island became part of independent Croatia in 1990.
Hotels and restaurants
Finding accommodation on the island (as, indeed, throughout Croatia) is not a problem: numerous hotels, private villas and apartments will welcome tourists. The main thing is not to make a mistake in the choice, but the choice is a purely personal matter. The island’s restaurants offer a variety of seafood dishes, which is typical for any island in this region. All seafood is fresh, tasty and prepared according to local traditions. But for those who do not accept such food, there are always international dishes on the menu. Regardless of which cuisine is preferred, it is better to drink one of the local wines with a meal.
Transportation
It should be noted that there is practically no public transport on the island, so there are two ways to ensure that you can freely move around the island: the first is to rent a car (a more familiar way), the second is to rent a moped (more authentic).
The main resorts of Hvar
Jelsa, a port town on the northern coast of the island of Hvar, is one of the first naturist centers in Croatia. There are beautiful sandy beaches here, to the east of the center of the town is the sandy bay of Milna, and on the small peninsula Glavica there is the Soline thermal clinic.
Shopping and souvenirs
The most popular tourist souvenir from the island of Hvar is lavender, which grows here in abundance and during the flowering period makes the island simply magical. Lavender is brought from the island in all forms: it is a sachet with dried flowers that exude a delicate pleasant aroma, and lavender cosmetics and perfumes with wonderful properties, and just a panel depicting blooming lavender.
- Map of Hvar
Entertainment and attractions of Hvar
Of the sights of the island, it is worth highlighting the oldest public theater in Europe, built back in 1612, as well as the Renaissance-style cathedral with an original bell tower, a rich sacristy and paintings by old masters. In addition, the Franciscan monastery in Hvar, the residence of Hektorovich in Stari Grad, the church in Jelsa and the Venetian castle in Suchurai.
The capital and largest city on the island is Hvar. This is a beautiful old city of great importance in European culture: it is included in the UN list of historical Mediterranean cities. The main attraction and semantic center of the city is the Cathedral of St. Stepan, built in the 16th century. In the 17th century, a bell tower was attached to it, which offers a wonderful view: you can see not only the city and the island on which it stands, but also the nearby islands. In the cathedral you can admire a collection of old paintings and religious objects. An interesting point: on the square in front of the cathedral is the City Well.
Due to natural features, there are difficulties with fresh water on the island, so the attitude towards wells is respectful here. On the picturesque hill of Sveti Nikola, a fortress has been standing since Napoleonic times. Of course, it has long lost its strategic importance, but it also offers a wonderful view of the surroundings. The question even arises, was it built for military purposes? Maybe just out of love for beautiful panoramas? The third point from which you can look at a large space is the clock tower. The monumental building of the arsenal, built in the 16-17 centuries, although it looks ponderous, decorates the city. By the way, one of the first public theaters in Europe was opened on its second floor in 1612. Not far from the town of Hvar, there is a Franciscan monastery in the bay of Kriz. Its vaults hide the richest collection of antiquities: amazingly beautiful, expensively designed books, coins from different periods, paintings by old masters, among which are many works by the Venetian Palma del Vecchio. It is interesting to walk along the covered gallery of the monastery, built in the Renaissance style.
Life sometimes brings amazing surprises. For example, there are Hell’s Islands not far from Hvar. They got their name in ancient times: resin was boiled here to impregnate ships. Today, the place with such a chilling name is a world-famous nudist resort with wonderful pebble-sand beaches.
