|
 STARI
GRAD is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is situated on the north-
west part of the island Hvar in a deep and protected bay. The city has a
special touristic charm, and is located at the place where deep sea bay
exceeds into a fertile valley planted with vineyards, olive trees and
lavender.
It is an ancient city and a city of cultural monuments in which almost
every stone has it’s own story. The original village Faros was founded
by Greek colonists in 4th century BC. It was surrounded by walls with
remainings preserved till the present day. The ancient land-registry of
Starogradsko field was also conserved.
Remainings of the Roman and the ancient Christian Times are also
preserved (a paved mosaic from the Roman Ages, the early Christian
baptistery and the church of St John). In the center of the city there
is the fortress Tvrdalj (1520)-the fortified summer house of the poet
Petar Hektorovic with Croatian and Latin inscriptions, fish pond
surrounded with arcades and garden, and in front of the house there is a
monument of the poet. A Renaissance church of St Roko dated from 1569
and the Baroque parish church built in the 17th century. A Dominican
monastery was founded in the year 1482, it was burned during the Turkish
attacks in 1571. Later on it was renewed and fortified.
 The monastery
has an old library, archives, painting collections, a collection of
stone monuments, a coin collection and a fossile collection. Near by
there is the St Nikola’s church with the wooden Baroque gold plated
altar. In the eastern part of the town there is a picturesque square
Skor formed in the Baroque period with couple of family houses, and on
the way to the bathing area there is the St Jeronim's church.
Quality accomodation is offered in hotels, apartments and bungalows.
Restaurants and konobas have splendid menus of local specialities and
famous vines of Hvar.
During the summer many cultural and sport events take place:
Starogradsko summer, concerts, manifestations, International summer
music school and Faros maraton-Croatian international championship in
the long distance swimming. |
