Island of Hvar – one of the largest and most beautiful Adriatic Islands
The island of Hvar is one of the largest and most beautiful Adriatic islands. It boasts the highest number of sunny days per year, which is a guarantee of a perfect holiday.
Hvar is also called Croatian Madeira just because of its extremely mild and favorable climate. The snowy or freeze weather is a real rarity here. Island has a lot of greenery and offers lots of historic towns and mountainous villages full of charming stone houses. The entire island is about 300 square kilometres large, making it the fourth largest island in the Adriatic Sea (just after Cres, Krk and Brac). There are about 11,500 inhabitants living on the island in 47 settlements. They live mainly from the tourism, but also from agriculture, especially viticulture, fishing, olive growing and aromatic plants. Almost every house is surrounded by vast fields which are handled by the whole family. Owners are selling the crops directly at their homes – in most houses you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, wine or cheese.
There are two main ports on Hvar connected with the mainland by regular ferries. Faster journey is from Split to Stari Grad on the island. The old way is shorter and leads from the town of Drvenik to Sučuraj. Besides the two mentioned are among the main centres of the island also the main town of Hvar, Jelsa and Vrboska, all hiding extraordinary cultural heritage.
In particular, the town of Hvar is an administrative center and a remarkable Gothic-Renaissance town. Once it was the main Venetian port in this part of the Adriatic Sea. In the period of humanism became the center of sciences and arts. It still managed to preserve almost intact historic core, which is a unique testimony to the cultural past.
Hvar is also one of the famous archaeological sites. In the caves on the island were found the remains of a prehistoric man, finding one of the most thoroughly researched paleoarcheologickým locations on the Adriatic islands. Found objects of priceless value are now stored in archaeological collections in Hvar, Stari Grad and Split. These include primarily Hvar ceramics, coins and gems. Archaeologically significant findings are later Illyrian fortified settlements, called Gradin, or findings of tumuli, such as the village or the village of Jelsa Belief in the west of the island.
Besides archeological and architectural monuments Hvar island has much to offer lovers of art, it is mainly the paintings and sculptures of eminent old masters in churches and monasteries, but also the works of modern Croatian artists in galleries and art collections.
The island of Hvar is offered as an ideal place for a summer vacation, stay at sea you can thanks to the pleasant weather to enjoy it to the fullest in May. The rich offer of accommodation will satisfy a wide range of ideas tourists. There is a comfortable camping “for the buck”, pleasant The suites in private and luxury hotels. It depends on you whether you are looking for in higher pension resort, in a small little village or in a secluded cove. The goals include favorites such as camping in Vrboska, which is reserved for nudists. From my own experience I would recommend an apartment in one of the picturesque villages. Enjoy indeed undisturbed rest, soak up the local atmosphere, sit on the terrace in the evening with a glass of wine overlooking the sea or the mountains, depending on the mood … Ideally, you would still have to Hvar by car and due to its small size it the whole tour, you will not regret it.
Photo by nesikaj1
