Stari Grad Hvar Island, is a pretty old harbour town with bobbing boats along its long promenade. Restaurants and coffee bars are set along the waters edge and it all has a lovely local feel. It’s also the gateway to Hvar island with several car ferries coming across from Split and also from Italy each day .
Stari Grad (Pharos) is the oldest town in Croatia. (The same year – 384 b.c. as Aristotle was born ) the Greeks from the island of Paros settled here, and named it Pharos. Stari Grad literally means “old town” and you will find a little slice of old Hvar here still. Considered the heart of the island, it’s long provided a popular and safe harbour for sailors.
Stari Grad Hvar Island is a located in a long bay close to Vrboska Bay and Jelsa Bay’s, and is surrounded by forests of pine . The fertile fields of Pharos still providing wealth to the town with it’s vineyards and olive groves. These are protected and cared for still and you can see the remains of the Roman walls and towers throughout the land.
RELAX & EXPLORE STARI GRAD HVAR ISLAND
Head to the town beach just out of the town or hike or cycle to other nearby bays (some of which are hard to get to by car ) This part of the island is full of quiet little bays. You can also hire little boats to explore the nearby coves – take a picnic and plenty of water and it’s sure to be a day to remember.
Visit Tvrdalj Gardens – This historic house was built by aristocrat and writer Petar Hektorović (1487–1572). It has a lush Renaissance garden, set around a pond stocked with mullet, as it was in Hektorović’s day. It’s a reflection of his favourite pastime, as recorded in his most famous poetic work, Fishing and Fishermen’s Chat (1555).Quotes from the writer’s work are inscribed on the walls in Latin and Croatian.
There is also a lovely monastery, founded in 1482, The Monastery of St Peter The Martyr was damaged by the Turks in 1571 and later fortified with a tower. Fragrant orange trees, hydrangeas and lavender bloom in the gardens. and it’s a lovely place to stop for a minute or two of contemplation.
Here you will also find the museum packed with fossils, ancient Greek inscriptions, Greek and Roman coins, and beautiful religious icons dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. The highlight, however, is Tintoretto’s engrossing 16th-century painting, Lamentation of Christ
When you want some action Stari Grad is connected to Hvar town by a new road and an old road. It takes about a half-hour to drive from Stari Grad to Hvar town on the new road. The old road is quicker and curls up through the hills – definitely more scenic but believe us you’ll need nerves of steel !!
