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  HVAR is situated on the
south-west coast of the island in a beautiful bay protected by Pakleni
otoci. It is the administrative and the cultural center of the island of
Hvar and one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Adriatic.
The climate is mild, apt for rehabilitation, it is characterized by lots
of sun, mild winter, few rainy days and almost without snow. The island
is characterized by natural beauties, rich vegetation (palm trees,
agaves, laurel, rosemary, pine trees, cones), clean sea with stone and
small sandy beaches.
The most attractive beaches are situated on Pakleni
otoci (islands): Jerolim, Ždrilica, Palmižana, Pokonji dol and so on,
which are connected to the city by boat services.
The guests have at disposal quality and diverse accomodation in hotels
and apartments just like numerous possibilities for sports and
recreation.
Hvar is a town with rich and abundant cultural herritage. Lots of
monuments are preserved depicting its ancient history. In the Late
Middle Ages, the construction of the town walls began, in the 13th
century a citadel was elevated on top of the hill. In 1551 a new
fortress was built, redecorated during the 18th century. The center of
the old part of the town is a town square, shaped in the 15th ct. Above
the square, inside the city walls there are partly preserved palaces of
Croatian nobles, and on the southern part of plebeans. There is the
Arsenal on the square, the most grandiose monument of the civil
architecture, built from 1579 till 1611. By
the Arsenal there is a building with a big terasse (Belvedere) where, in
1612, a store-house for cereals and other supplies was decorated. The
Croatian prince Semitecolo who had the Belvedere constructed, later
elevated a floor in the Arsenal and decorated the theater hall(1612). It
is one of the first community theaters in Europe and the oldest theater
in Croatia which is still in function (it was reconstructed in 1806)
 There is the Renaissance chatedral of St Stephen dating back to the 16th
or 17th century. There is also a church-tower from the 17th ct next to
the cathedral. In the treasury of the cathedral there are some old
paintings, liturgical objects and a crosier. In front of the cathedral
there is a city well from 1529. On the northen side there is the
Paladini palace. A characteristic street with stairs leads from the
square to the fortress Fortica. There is also the unfinished Hektorovic
palace (Gothic, 15th ct) and a tower watch – Leroj (the construction
started in 1466 in the late Gothic style). The Town loggia was finished
in 1479. In the old part of the city there are churches of Saint Kuzma
and Saint Damjan (15th-16th ct) with the wooden ceiling and the church
of Holly Ghost (Gothic) with a collection of valuable paintings. On the
eastern side, outside the city walls, there is a Renaissance summer
house which belonged to Hanibal Lucic (16th ct). On the cape between two
bays there is the Franciscan monatery with a church of Our Lady of
Mercy, built from 1465 till 1471. There is a grave of Hanibal Lucic just
like a collection of valuable paintings.
Among the most famous souvenirs of Hvar is an agava lace, produced by
nuns of the Benedictine convent in Hvar. They used to collect leaves of
agava, at least 3 years old. Then they pulled out 1 meter long treads
from it, which was manufactured in three different ways for more than
100 years. Hvar is also famous for its lavander – sun-dried flower or
oil, and also is famous for its rosemary oil.
During the summer all kinds of events and performances take place: the
cultural summer of Hvar, concerts of the famous Croatian singers, folk
and entertaining events and fishing festivals.
Hvar is also famous as a popular and fashionable summer resort with
numerous meeting points and leisure places.
Young can choose between various disco bars and popular spots opened
till dawn and often visited by famous people from the world of sport,
entertainment or fashion business from all over the world. |
