Hvar APARTMENTS - PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION - TOURIST INFO - ACCOMMODATION Hvar

Island Hvar (Croatia, Central Dalmatia) is located in Central Dalmatia region. It is along the island Cres longest Croatian island (68 km) and 4th by its area (300 m2). Hvar has horizontal road 84 km long which connects Hvar on on the west side and Sucurje on the east side.

Hvar is naturaly one of the most beautiful places in Croatia. You can see it in plateau between St. Nicholas hill and Hum which is partly under pine wood and partly under arable. Island Hvar is the sunniest town in Croatia with 7.7 sunny hours per day, 2715 per year and average temperature in January 8.4 C°. There are only 3.8 cloudy hours per day. The highest recorded temperature was 37 C° in 1935.

Those are main reasons which enable winter tourism on island Hvar. It has mild winters and hot and sunny summers. Autumns are warmer than springs. Those are main reasons why Hvar has developed tourism and health tourism.

Island Hvar has mountain chain which divides island on north and south side. It passes through the middle of island. Highest peaks are: Cernica, Gvozd, Sveti Nikola and Hum. The flat part of the island Hvar is used for vineyards. They produce about 50000 hectoliters of wine per year. In Samotorac valley there are beautiful spots accessible through a tunnel near Zavala. The island Hvar is bent towards south and it is composed of Mesozoic limestone and dolomite. There have been done geological reconstructions that show that Hvar used to be a mountain on the mainland 722 m high, because sea level used to be lower than today. On the edge of today`s Hvar Channel, where from cold and dry winds blew, and Stan Grad Plain, today undergoing through the swift process of erosion, there are three bays and villages and it is most fertile plain in Adriatic.

The waters around island Hvar, area around Pakleni otoci, Lukavac, Peljesac and Scedro, are known to be rich with oily fish. The great researcher Grgur Bucic (1829.-1911.) is known for researching island Hvar. He discovered many marine life in this area. He was in touch with many European scientists. Island Hvar is today Eco-clean zone, it got the Declaration of the Central Dalmatian Islands and it is one of the most studiest islands in Croatian Adriatic.

There are many beautiful towns and villages on island Hvar: Zagradace, Humac, Maslinovik, Rasnik, Prilozi, Gornja Prapratna, Malo Grablje and Zablace. Tourists can visit cottages made for shepherds and enjoy folk architecture and households used before. You can enjoy in many Hvar`s traditions such as Behind the Cross (Za Krizem), which is kept in Holy Week in the circle of 5 parishes: Jelsa, Pitve, Vrbanj, Vrboska and Vrisnik Svirce. The proccession starts at midnight in the direction of sun`s circle. That way they don`t meet, because it is believed that it brings bad luck. The procession started in 1510. when the miracle happened: Small Cross started release tears of blood.

Island Hvar is known for production of wine, lavander, honey and rosemary oil.

Hvar is known for production of stone, but less than its neighbors Brac and Korcula, and it has many known stonemasons named in the books of travel writers. The production of stone was almost forgotten. There are records that show that some parliament and government buildings, such as in Berlin, where made of limestone that was exported from Hvar.

Hvar is known all around the world for wine production. It was exported to France and Hungary from 1870. till 1894. After wine illness destroyed vineyards in Dalmatia in 1894. many inhabitants moved in the beginning of 20th century to North and South America and became famous in wine production, especially in California.

It is known Hvar`s rosemary oil production. Rosemary is collected from June till August during the sunny days. It is exported to Trieste and to many parfume factories in Germany, England and France. The production of rosemary oil has grown up to 20000 kg. Queen`s Wash is the pure distillation of rosemary oil. Island Hvar is also known for plant lavander, which is spreaded all over island Hvar. It is used for parfumes and lotion. It is collected from June till August. It is very important production of saffron since 16th century that inhabitants use as the ingridient of famous Hvar cakes from Stari Grad.

- From 8th till 13th century town was abandoned. There was St. Mary`s monastery where today is Cathedral.
- 1510. Small Cross had bloody tears.
- In 1579. there was an explosion of gunpowder that provoked large destructions on island.
- In 1858. first Croatian meteorological station was made in the tower of Veneranda monastery. It helped to develope tourism on Hvar.
- In 1868. first touristic society was founded.
- In 1900. Hotel of empress Elizabeth was opened on ruins of the Duke`s Palace. Today it is called Hotel Palace.
- The road from Jelsa to Vrisnik was made in 1907. and from Jelsa to Hvar 1936.
- 1991. Hvar offers accommodation for war refuges.

Tourism appeared on island Hvar a long time ago. First many researches, adventurers, archeologists and naturalists were visiting island. They came to study minerals, vegetation and island`s history as well. Bishop Juraj Dubokovic starts to develope organized tourism with the Hygienic Society of Hvar in 1868. In that time there was a hotel in Dubokovic`s house with 13 rooms and a restaurant. Inhabitants were directed to fishing, vinegrowing, aromatic plants, olive and figs growing, tourism...

Till 20th century inhabitants used vessels to connect with mainland. They didn`t have normal connections with the mainland. After the World War II, island Hvar starts to develope even more. In 20th century motor ships are used, and Hvar has direct ship service with Split.

Hvar offers accommodation in many hotels, private houses, villas, apartments, rooms, camps... You can try some Hvar`s specialties in many restaurants and taverns. You can look for fun in night bars, caffe bars, cultural exhibitions, recreation centers, water sports...

Attractions in Hvar:

- Fort Fortica,
- St. Stephan`s Cathedral,
- Hvar`s theater,
- Franciscan monastery...

If you are looking for vacation in paradise, island Hvar is your greatest choice. Beautiful beaches, rocks, woods, rich history heritage should make your vacation best ever...

Welcome to Croatia, island Hvar!

Greeks named island Hvar Pharos (the lighthouse), Romans Pharia and Croats Hvar in Middle ages. Island Hvar lays on important sea routes. Town Hvar was used since history as port for ships. It is well protected port. Island Hvar keeps rich cultural and historical heritage. Due to archeological findings, Hvar`s culture is known from 3500 years BC. That is testified by Grapceva and Marko caves. Those findings are encrusted and painted pottery with spiral motives.

The town Pharos was founded in 385 BC. It is founded in the deepest bay on the island. It was usually an agrarian colony. Pharos had no protection for attacks. After Roman attacks against Illyrian tribes, island Hvar comes under Roman rule. They used Hvar for farming, fishing, vine growing, trade and vacation houses and its port for strategic purposes. Islet Scedro used as refuge camp for boats. During Roman time there was a lot of buildings on island. Eastern settlement Sucuraj kept its prehistorical ways of life.

You can find many ship wrecks that testify life on Hvar in ancient times.

During Venetian rule (1147.) Croatian-Hungarian king Bela the 3th brought Hvar under his rule in 1180. In 1510. Matija Ivanic`s 5 years lasting uprising against nobelmen demanded for equal rights for all. They managed to crush nobels. The uprising was crushed by Venetian army. Hvar was from 15th till 18th century under Turkish influence.

In 1921. Hvar comes under Yugoslavian rule, and in 1991. becomes part of independent Republic of Croatia.