Six UNESCO-Listed Features to Explore on the Croatian Island Of Hvar

Hvar, Croatia, is considered the birthplace of organized tourism in Europe.

Back in 1868, the Hvar Health Society promoted the island as a destination for recovery from chest ailments, given its mild climate, clean sea air, and abundance of medicinal herbs. In 1899, locals rebuilt the historic palace and named it the Palace Elisabeth 5* Hotel in honor of Princess Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Empress Sisi.

But this isn’t all that sets the Adriatic island of Hvar apart from other destinations.

Hvar offers six United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-protected cultural assets. These are cultural practices or natural sites recognized as having ‘outstanding universal value’ to humanity. Recognition from UNESCO ensures that Hvar’s historical legacy is protected. I experienced five of the six assets in a whirlwind, two-day tour.

Stari Grad

Our tour guide, Zorana Vrandečić, drove us around Hvar Island and pointed out the Stari Grad Plain, also known as ‘Ager’. The Plain, used to grow grapes and olives, remains untouched since the ancient Greeks arrived in 384 BC. In fact, the UNESCO-protected town of Stari Grad is older than Rome. The area is also a nature reserve and houses the remains of an ancient Greek fortified tower.

Dry Stone Walling

The Hvar Island tour took us past dry stone walling, structures created without the use of a binding element, such as cement. Carefully hewn walls rely on interlocking stones and gravity to stay in place. They last for centuries, even in harsh climates. The Greeks separated rectangular plots using dry stone walls and built stone shelters that are still visible today. The plot division system represents one of the masterpieces of Greek culture in the Mediterranean. This eco-friendly art is still taught and practiced on Hvar.

On Hvar, the UNESCO-protected structures of Stari Grad Plain, including walls and shelters, were created by the ancient Romans. — **Dry Stone Walls on Hvar Island. © Merle Rosenstein**

Agave Lace

The art of agave lace-making is a cultural heritage protected by UNESCO, and the domain of the Benedictine Convent of St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony the Abbot. For several centuries, dedicated nuns extracted thin threads from agave leaves to create this labor-intensive art. Some of the larger pieces take five to six months to complete. The nuns do not use patterns, so that each piece is different. You can visit the Benedictine Monastery Museum in Hvar Town to view these handwoven examples of fiber art.

Mediterranean Diet

Hvar’s rise as a culinary hub began in the 1970s and 1980s, when family-run establishments opened their doors. In the 2000s, a growth spurt met the need to satisfy an influx of European visitors. Hvar fishermen catch fresh whitefish, squid, and a variety of shellfish to grace restaurant menus. Families grow vegetables for local restaurants, such as the staple, blitva, or Swiss chard, a delicate and nutritious cousin to spinach. Gregada, a type of fish stew, is the most well-known dish. I sampled the hearty stew at Konoba Luviji, breaking apart fresh bread to soak up the savory sauce.

Gregada, a hearty fish stew made from different types of fish, on the Island of Hvar. — **Gregada, A Hearty Fish Stew. © Merle Rosenstein**

Wine on Hvar can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks from Paros more than 2,000 years ago. There are about 130 indigenous varieties, including Bogdanuša, Kuč, Maraština, and Parč. Some wines are exported globally. I tried a white wine blend with Maraština, Parč, and Bogdanuša grapes at Duboković Winery. It was orange-tinted and fruity, with peach and orange on the palate. An excellent wine museum in Jelsa describes grapes grown on the Island.

Glass of white wine against a backdrop of the Adriatic Sea. — White Wine on Hvar Island. © Hvar Town Tourist Board

Klapa Singing

The word “Klapa” means a group of friends. Small ensembles sing a cappella pieces in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. The songs are about love, longing, friendship, the sea, homeland, and wine. At the Duboković Winery, we were guided through a wine tasting by Stjepan Mijat Zaninović, as he sang a traditional Klapa song. The genre evolved from a religious to a secular form of expression.

Klapa Singers around a table full of food on the Island of Hvar. — **Klapa Singers on Hvar. © Hvar Tourist Board**

Za Križen (Following the Cross) Procession

After mass on Maundy Thursday before Easter, worshippers in six villages on Hvar – Vrboska, Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, and Vrbanj – walk through the other villages carrying a wooden cross for 15 miles overnight, and return home in the morning. A cross-bearer leads the Procession barefoot or in socks, not resting and holding the cross off the ground. Za Križen brings together communities and the Catholic community globally.

People in white robes are marching on the Island of Hvar. One person is carrying a cross. — **Following The Cross Procession. © Hvar Tourist Board**

The six UNESCO-listed heritages ensure the preservation of Hvar’s customs and sights. It’s key to safeguarding these traditions and ensuring they are passed on to a new generation. While I missed the Za Križen, I now have a reason to return.

Special thanks to Iva Belaj Šantić of the Hvar Tourist Board, Konoba Luviji, Duboković Winery, and guides Zorana Vrandečić and Barbara Bachiocco for hosting our journey. Photo at top of this article courtesy of the Hvar Tourist Board.