Hvar Sights
Hvar is an island full of sights. In each part of the town generations left traces
of different stories, stories about travels, conquistadors, ancient cultures, rulers
and common people... A part of the story can be read on its historical monuments,
marvellous buildings and preserved collections...
Fortress
Fortress, erected above the town was built at the beginning of the 16th century.
It was damaged in explosion of powder-chamber in 1579, but its final appearance
came after many reconstructions. It hosts a prominent collection of amphorae and
other objects from the ancient times and the Middle Ages. From the fortress toward
the town square lead the city walls, built in the Middle Ages.
On a nearby hill there is a building called Napoljun, erected by the Emperor Napoleon
in 1811. Due to its favorable position, it was always a look-out post. Today it
houses the astronomical observatory of Croatia...
In front of the port of Hvar, on the islet of Galesnik, the Austrians built another
fort which served as a prison and quarantine in 1830...
The square of Hvar
In the middle of the town the square of Hvar, the Pjaca is situated. It is perhaps
the most beautiful and largest town square on the Adriatic. The Pjaca was erected
in 1780 by filling in a deep swampy bay, and then paving it with stone slabs.
The Cathedral of St Stephen
The Cathedral of St Stephen stands at the far end of the Pjaca. It was built on
the site of an early 6th century Christian church. Present appearance the Cathedral
received in the 16th and 17th century...
In the interior of the Cathedral many cultural works from different periods have
been preserved: wooden late-Gothic choir seats from the 16th century, the paintings
by Domenico Umberti and Andrea Celesti. The bronze door-frames are the work by Kuzma
Kovačić, contemporary sculptor who also designed today's Croatian kuna coins...
The examples of late-Gothic and Renessaince liturgical vestments as well as the
work of goldsmiths are exhibited in the Bishop's Museum.
Gustirna
The city well, Gustirna, in front of the Cathedral was built in 1529.
Arsenal
The Arsenal is a most impressive example of secular architecture. It was built between
1579 and 1611 on the site of a building from the 13th century. With its 10 m span
arched doorway this building served as a store for war galleys...
The archeological excavations to the south of the Arsenal reveal late-classical
civitas from the 4th century. Some archeologists suppose that a still unidentified
Heraklea might have existed on the site of present-day Hvar town, as could be indicated
by the coins found bearing the name of that town...
Hvar Theater
Count Semitecolo of Hvar had a theatre built on the first floor in 1612. That was
one of the first communal theatres in Europe. A figure head from a Turkish galley
captured in the battle of Lepanto in 1571 is exhibited in its entrance-hall.
The City Loggia
The City Loggia is the most beautiful loggia built in 1479 by stonemasons from the
island of Brac. Today the City Loggia serves as the registry office...
Next to the Loggia there is a clock-tower, Leroj, with the bell from 1562.
The Franciscan monastery
The Franciscan monastery was built in 1465. It was a hospice for sailors. In front
of the main altar the poet Hanibal Lucic was buried, the author of "Robinja", the
first Croatian drama. Within the Franciscan monastery there are the artefacts exhibited
in the monastery collection which is also the oldest on the island. It consists
of paintings, manuscripts, old coins and incunabula.
The most valuable part of the collection is the famous painting of the Last Supper
by Matej Ponzoni-Poncun who belonged to the circle of the Venetian painter Palma
the Younger. The painter made this work for the Franiscans in gratitude for saving
his life after a shipwreck. The collection includes the Ptolemy's Atlas.
The building of the Palace of Petar Hektorovic, the most prominent poet of Hvar,
started in 1463 and was never completed. Along with other late-Gothic and Renessaince
palaces it embellishes the town streets...
The archeological collection and the collection of stone monuments of Grga Novak
is placed in the once famous Dominican monastery of St Mark in Hvar, and exhibits
from prehistoric period, the Roman and the Greek times can be seen. The collection
is enriched by the hydro-archeological collection - amphorae, lead anchor,...
The Hanibal Lucic art collection is within the complex of the Benedictine Convent.
Exhibits of lace from agave, made by the Benedictines, are a real treasure.