Hvar Island in Croatia stretches 80 km from west to east in the Adriatic Sea on the Coast of Dalmatia. It’s a true paradise for its visitors. Travelers from all over the world go exploring all four major parts of Hvar Island, as its surprises are numerous and varied.
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A rose by any other name would smell as sweet
During its lifetime, Hvar Island in Croatia went by several names, depending on the community to which it belonged. It was first identified as Pharos, and around the 3rd century BC, it was renamed Piteyeia, as we learn from the Greek poet Apollonius of Rhodes. Later on, while it was under Roman law, it was known as Pharia, and then as Fara.
The Slavs, the people who inhabited the island during the Middle Ages, are the ones who called it Hvar Island. But even while the longest island was under Slav occupation, many of its inhabitants were still Latin-speaking, and they managed to change the official name again to Quarra.
In the 11th century, the Italians changed the name to Lesina (meaning forest), a term that made a lot of sense because at that time the sunniest island was a wooded terrain. This name was kept until the 19th century when it became once again Hvar Island in Croatia.
Discovering Hvar Island in Croatia
This place may be known today as Hvar Island in Croatia, but the Hvar Culture went extinct a long time ago. It is said that this culture existed between 3500 and 2500 BC.
Hvar Island occupies an important spot in Croatia’s history, being one of the country’s most significant literary centers during the Renaissance. Nowadays, it is recognized for producing lavender, honey, and wine.
A fascinating fact about Hvar Island in Croatia is that it gets 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. So there is no way for someone to get bored on this Croatian island because it brings together history and culture but it can also be the perfect place to relax by soaking in the sun and admiring nature.
The Hvar Island in Croatia is thought to have been inhabited starting 5000 BC. Since then, a lot of different cultures living there in each age known to man have left their own fingerprint on the place. The Neolithic proves its existence on the island through a fragment of pottery dating from the year 2500 BC. Bronze pottery and some hilltop sites mark the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age left behind a lot of settlements including a castle. Most of these settlements were even equipped with some rudimentary forms of defense.
After that, the ancient Greeks became very interested in the Hvar Island in Croatia. The remains of the Greek colony can still be seen, as some of the walls raised for protection are still standing today.
Since the Greeks, many different civilizations left their legacy to the people of Hvar, such as the Romans, the Byzantines, the Slavs, the Venetians, the Turks. Even newer states, such as Austria, France, England, and Russia, had their own influence.
What to see on Hvar Island in Croatia
There are several cities to visit on Hvar Island in Croatia, each with its own story and attractive features.
- Hvar town had a population of just over 3,700 in 2011. Travelers choose it because it is where is the location where the first public theater was opened in Europe, back in 1612. Next to Hvar Old Town, you’ll get to enjoy the clear waters and fantastic hidden beaches of the Pakleni Islands.
- Stari Grad, in the northern part of the narrow island of Hvar, had almost three thousand inhabitants in 2011. It is the site of some of the first human settlements of the Antiquity in the Adriatic Sea.
- Jelsa, a town in the central-northern part of the island, had only bout 1,801 inhabitants in 2011.
- Vrboska, the smallest town on Hvar Island in Croatia, a hidden gem in the depth of the bay.
- Sucuraj, a picturesque city located on the east cape of Hvar Island in Croatia. Said to be 2,300 years old, Sucuraj has been blessed with a mild climate and lovely countryside, making it even more suitable for reflection and relaxation. Its 357 inhabitants live off tourism and fishing, so any traveler interested in this destination will be welcomed with open arms and offered a wonderful time.
The party island of Hvar is a perfect spot for a holiday, with plenty of things to do. One of the few places where you can escape from the big city life and all its issues on an island, it’s a travel destination where you can really breathe and relax. Stroll along the forested paths by the sea or discover the peaceful living in one of its picturesque villages to take a break from civilization.
Hvar Island in Croatia is not just the sunniest spot in the country. It also has a lot of interesting attractions, such as Saint Lawrence’s Church, well known for its collection of paintings by old masters. And this travel destination is also home to one of the largest naturist camps and a party destination with lively nightlife. In short: there’s absolutely no way you can get bored on Hvar Island!
One of the few places that man has not yet destroyed, Hvar Island in Croatia is a must-see, just like many other famous places in the world. The only difference is that it didn’t get the same exposure, which is exactly why its beauty remains untouched.
Visit Hvar Island to enjoy the scenery and see how the locals live. It will give you an idea of how our forefathers made a living without having to work in noisy plants and toxic conditions.
As a matter of fact, Hvar Island in Croatia is one of the best places to visit and relax completely.
Your Hvar Island travel guide
Mirela Letailleur is a Romanian travel blogger living in the South of France. She writes on The Travel Bunny travel blog about affordable travel in Europe, creator of unique free travel guides, local travel expert. Problem solver. Wannabe coffee guru.
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