Hvar
The ancient Pharos
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At First Property Croatia, we believe that life is a mosaic of choices. From our point of view, choosing a place to live or to spend holidays with your family and friends plays an enormous role in overall quality of life, because not all places are the same. With its enchanting natural beauty, abundance of historical and cultural monuments, vibrant, beautiful cities and pleasurable lifestyle, Croatia is one of the few places in the world where all of this beauty can be experienced in such a small territory. If you realized that Croatia is the place you want to spend holidays or the rest of your life, or you just want to enjoy healthier, wealthier life, we will be happy to help you settle in your new home. The island of Hvar, the sunniest place in Croatia is located in Split-Dalmatia County and belongs to the central Dalmatian islands surrounded by Brač, Šćedro, Pakleni otoci, Korčula and Pelješac. It has been inhibited since the prehistoric times – archaeologists have found traces of life (called Hvar culture) which date back to 3500 BC. Today, Hvar has become known as party capital and one of world’s top destinations with frequent visits by a number of world’s celebrities. The largest settlements on the island include two towns, Hvar and Stari Grad, and two villages, Jelsa and Sućuraj.
Split, Peristyle
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Stari Grad Stari Grad (ancient Pharos, founded in 384 BC) is the first known settlement on the island. It is assumed that it was founded by Greek settlers from the island of Paros. The city was built on the site where the deep bay becomes a fertile island field, planted with vineyards and olive groves for centuries. Pharos was organized as an independent polis-state whose population was mostly engaged in agriculture and trade, and till 1278 was the seat of the Archdiocese of Hvar, which was later moved to the New city, later called (city of) Hvar. Past centuries and exciting history etched the skin of the Old City, and now a simple walk around the town turns into a unique encounter with history. The Baroque spirit of 17th and 18th century inspired the majority of churches and town houses, and in the 19th century, when the city was a port with its own large fleet of sailing ships, formed the urban coastal fronts. In the twentieth century the town turned to tourism, wine and olive oil, which are form the core of the island economy. Stari Grad has numerous small squares, with the most picturesque one being Škor. Traditional houses with picturesque roof windows and typical Dalmatian stone terraces with steps (sulari and skalinade) surrounding this irregular shape, inhabited by the spirit of ancient Dalmatia. St. Stephen’s square, in front of the baroque Church of the same name, the former Cathedral is the most important public space of Stari Grad. In the past, it was the place where verdicts was made and contracts signed, while today it is the place of peace and contemplation, after the rush of daily rhythms and visitors has moved to the waterfront.
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Petar Hektorović’s Tvrdalj, with a pond and dovecote above it, is the most famous building of Stari Grad. This Renaissance poet had been building throughout his entire life, and it was just as significant as his literary work. In this building he succeeded in making the idea of microcosm a reality - a small, closed world of all God’s creatures - fish, birds, plants and people living in harmony. Stari Grad Plain (ancient Hora) is one of the few almost completely preserved monuments that have remained from the times of Greek colonization in the fourth century BC. The land is divided by stone walls and fences, and testifies the ancient Greek land division system. If you find yourself in Stari Grad, you’ll find a number of facilities which will surely enrich your time in this town. Different cycling routes offering beautiful views of the island of Hvar archipelago, breathtaking diving locations and a number of events for children, such as Little sailing and swimming schools, Children festival and Gitarastra, local guitar school, make Stari Grad an ideal family destination.
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The city of Hvar The city of Hvar is a unique fusion of Mediterranean nature, rich cultural and historical heritage and an elite tourist destination. Due to its excellent position in the Adriatic, the town has been developing from the earliest beginnings of sailing. The most important event for today Hvar occurred in 1278 when the people of Hvar made a decision to enter under Venetian rule. This event was crucial for the development of the town of Hvar, which had, due to the afore mentioned favourable location, become one of the most important cities of the Venetian Republic. Turbulent history of the city has left many cultural monuments and sites that make this city a tourist pearl. The central city square of St. Stephen (Pjaca) is the largest square in Dalmatia with an area of 4,500 m2. Originally the square was a bay where the sea stretched to the present Cathedral, which has been filled up with sand over the centuries, to finally gain its present form in the late 18th century.
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The construction of the City fortress begun in 1278, the year of Hvar’s transition under Venetian rule. This fort was built on the site of the present one and was connected to the city walls. In 1551 the new fortress was built which was rebuilt several times to its present form in the late 18th century. The old city walls also had their beginning in the year 127, and gained their present form in 15th century. Hvar Arsenal (built in the 14th and again in the 16th century) is one of the best preserved in Europe. The Arsenal is a monumental stone building on the coast with a large port open to the west. It served as a shipyard, and storage for equipment and storage for galleys and other ships. Prince Semiticolo, former administrator of Hvar, which has managed to reconcile commoners and landowners, to commemorate the achievement of peace, built the first public theatre in Europe on the first floor of the building. In addition to the cultural heritage, the city of Hvar is famous as the capital of entertainment and nautical tourism. With its many nightclubs and crazy parties until dawn, it has become especially attractive to younger audiences who are looking for maximum of entertainment. Lunch at one of the many Hvar restaurants enjoying local specialties and excellent wines will surely prove very relaxing and enjoyable. The amazing Paklinski islands whose beauty will leave you breathless are just ten minutes away by boat. With its beautiful, crystal clear see, bicycle trails, picturesque bays, numerous cultural monuments and plenty of fun, Hvar certainly deserves to be placed among world’s top destinations.
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Jelsa & Sucuraj Jelsa is a small town located on the north and south coasts of the island. The area around Jelsa, just like the rest of the island, has a richly indented coastline with numerous bays and islands. Jelsa is surrounded by two highest island peaks, St. Nicholas on the west and Hum on the east. At first glance, Jelsa have urban and architectural form of the recent settlement with some characteristics of 19th century construction. However, the resort and the surrounding area feature traces of life since prehistoric times, from ancient to medieval material testimonials of habitation. Jelsa has developed in the Middle Ages as the port of the village of Pitve that the statute of 1331. mentions as “Fons vocata Jelsa” or “Portus de Pitue”. The old town of Jelsa - Civitas vetus Jelsae refers to the ruins of a medieval fortress on the Gradina peninsula. On this peninsula an Augustinian Monastery was built in 17th century, with remains in form of today’s church. If you find yourself in Jelsa, we recommend walking along the shore and through pine forests, shady groves, manicured paths, and visiting picturesque villages scattered across the hills and valleys covered in Mediterranean plants and herbs. District Municipality of Jelsa, and the whole island, has numerous bays and coves where you can truly relax and rest and find the necessary strength for life’s challenges.
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Sucuraj is located on the eastern tip of the island, and therefore best reached by ferry from Drvenik, Makarska. The town has existed for more than 2,300 years and throughout its history has many times been totally destroyed and rebuilt. The first known inhabitants of Sucuraj were the Illyrians, and their queen Teuta had her castle in Sucuraj in the 3rd century BC. In 7th and 8th century Sućuraj Croats settled in Sucuraj and stayed there to this very day. Sucuraj was named after the church of St. George mentioned in the Statute of 1331. Thanks to the exceptionally mild climate and beautiful nature Sucuraj is a popular tourist destination. Also, due to its well sheltered port it is the destination of many yacht owners in the Adriatic. Near the centre of town are two beaches: sandy beach on Česminica on the south side, and Bilina on the north. Sucuraj features many picturesque and beautiful bays; the most picturesque Perna on the south side and Mlaska on the north. Both bays have beautiful sandy beaches. A variety of recreational opportunities (day and night fishing, cycling, sailing, scuba diving), Cultural Summer rich with vatious events, beautiful places for excursions on land and sea, and nearness of town Hvar, Dubrovnik, the island of Korcula and Peljesac peninsula guarantee eventful and unforgettable vacation. We believe these are excellent reasons to visit this beautiful island, and if you already have been here, to return again. If you fell in love with this island as we did, and you wish to have a place to stay with your family or friends one of the island’s picturesque towns and villages, we invite you to contact us. We will be pleased to find you a perfect Hvar home.
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