Croatia Travel Blog

Go ahead clubbers. Party away in Hvar Town. True culture buffs now zero in on the Stari Grad Plain, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located outside Stari Grad town on Hvar Island, this new site makes seven World Heritage Sites in Croatia. The others are: Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Trogir, Diocletian’s Palace, the Euphrasian Basilica and the Cathedral of St James.

On 8 July, the UNESCO committee inscribed the Stari Grad plain on this prestigious list, noting that:

Stari Grad Plain on the Adriatic island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The site is also a natural reserve. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters, and bears testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks, the chora which has remained virtually intact over 24 centuries. (see full text)

What is especially appealing about this decision is that the region is much less well-known than the other WHS in Croatia, giving visitors an extra reason to venture beyond the beaten path that leads to Hvar Town.

Find out more about the history of Hvar Island.

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This week’s Telegraph, had a magnificent spread on travel to Croatia with sections devoted to where to stay, activites, and holiday planning. After wading through all the pages, I can say that their listings were certainly comprehensive; every single tour operator in the UK with a Croatia program this year appears to have been mentioned.

Missing was any mention of small, local operators that offer specialized knowledge at a reasonable price.  Hvar Adventure is one of the more intriguing of the local agencies. The young group– Dean, Riccardo, Veselka, Damir and Josko–is based on Hvar Island and have eons of experience in hiking, trekking and sailing. From guided treks across Hvar’s lavender-scented interior to romantic sunset cruises, Hvar Adventure can help you experience the real Hvar Island, away from the well-beaten tourist track. Here’s a sampling of their 2008 program:

• one week sailing school

• two days, one day, half-day or sunset sailing cruises

• Sea kayaking excursions from a half-day to a week

• Hikes from one-day to a week

• evening wine-tasting tour

• a multi-activity week

• a five-day short break with sailing, kayaking and hiking

Reliable, responsible and dynamic, Hvar Adventure can create an unforgettable holiday in Hvar.

Read more on Croatia Traveller’s Hvar Adventure page or go directly to the Hvar Adventure website.

Posted under Adventure & Croatia Travel & Hvar Island & Sailing & Travel & Tours | 1 Comment »

The venerable NYT has been a little late on the uptake when it comes to Croatia but is making up for it. This past weekend, Croatia appeared twice. A piece on family vacations correctly noted the many opportunities for active vacations in Croatia that include sailing, cycling and kayaking on the “Dalmatian Riviera” which runs from Split to Dubrovnik.

And, in its “53 Places to Go in 2008” article, the writer highlights Hvar Island, known for its chic nightlife and wonderful Adriana hotel, Croatia’s first Leading Small Hotels of the World. (But, bizarrely, the photo accompanying the article shows Komiza on Vis Island. As if there aren’t plenty of photo-ready spots on Hvar!)

Despite the emphasis on luxury, note that you don’t have to charter a yacht to fit into the Hvar harbour scene! There are plenty of small backpacker bars in the narrow side streets and plenty of reasonably priced private accommodation.

See more on:

• Hvar Island
• Hvar accommodation
• Hvar Town

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The invisible force field that draws the sleek & chic to Hvar Town, has left the rest of Hvar Island in delightful semi-obscurity. A recent article in the Toronto Star discusses the village of Humac on Hvar Island, reached by a scary mountain road weaving precariously over the cliffs. Fortunately, the article inaccurately describes this road as “the main thoroughfare on this 68-kilometre-long island”. No. The main thoroughfare is a modern, inland road that connects Hvar Town, Stari Grad and Jelsa. I suppose that if you’re living in Humac though, that mountain road counts as a thoroughfare.

I could also quibble with the remark that “this island remains much like it was decades ago.” That would be true for every place but Hvar Town. It remains a stunning architectural showcase but, in the ten years that I’ve been visiting the place, I’ve seen the hills behind Hvar harbour grow new buildings faster than mushrooms after a rainstorm.

But these are minor details in an otherwise good overview of Hvar Island. I wouldn’t expect the world to come rushing to Humac’s door, but I like the mention of Hvar’s excellent hotels such as the Riva Harbour Hotel and the deluxe Adriana with its rooftop patio, swimming pool and spa. I always thought that the Palace Hotel deserved some attention and I’m glad to note that it’s being renovated.

The article also mentions that local “farmers, winemakers and fishermen” have joined together to form the “Best of Hvar Club”, ensuring that 50% of the produce served in the above hotels comes from Hvar Island. Good for them!

The people of Hvar have shown impressive solidarity. I wonder if the “Best of Hvar Club” local produce partnership has been successful because part of the Suncani Hotel chain (which owns most of Hvar hotels) is owned by Hvar Town. Local pressure forced the government to assign a percentage of Suncani Hotels to Hvar when it was privatised. Other Croatian townships are trying to follow the example of Hvar but it’s a highly contentious issue. The problem that Hvar and many other Croatian resorts have is that the local hotel company is a major employer. Among other things, they want these companies to give their kids good jobs and not just low-wage seasonal work.

See the Toronto Star article

See more about Hvar Island

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June 6 will see the opening of a fabulous new hotel on super-trendy Hvar Island. Actually, the Hotel Adriana is not a new construction but a totally overhauled, updated, re-designed version of the former Hotel Adriatica. The venerable old Hotel Adriatica was built sometime in the 60s I believe, when Yugoslavia was still catering to mass tourism. I stayed there once about 10 years ago and was definitely unimpressed. Still, it was the only hotel in Hvar with a view of the old town from across the water. That’s probably what inspired the Orca group to undertake the rebuilding project. The result should be awesome. The indoor rooftop swimming pool has a unique canopy top that allows it to be both indoor and outdoor, if you will. There’s and enormous spa and wellness centre plus the usual acoutrements that go along with a top-class luxury hotel. The opening should be quite an event in Hvar. Read more about the Hotel Adriana. Find out more about Hvar accommodation.

Posted under Croatia Accommodation & Croatia Hotels & Croatia Islands & Hvar Island | No Comments »