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Croatia Hvar island by
Amelie Gam
Hvar Island is
situated in the Adriatic Sea and belongs to Croatia. The island
spreads out on 80 km from west to east and it is truly paradise for
its tourists. People all over the world visit all four major parts
of the Hvar Island as its surprises are many and diverse.
| Hvar Island -
Stari Grad
- Croatia’s Oldest Town
Stari Grad (Old Town), on the
island Hvar is older than Hvar town and one of the
oldest in Croatia. This old town known as Faros, was
founded in 385 BC by ... |
During its existence, the Hvar
Island was know by other names also, depending on what culture it
belonged to. First it was known as Pharos and after that it was
called Piteyeia (around the third century B.C.) as we know from the
Greek poet Apollonius of Rhodes. While it was under Roman rule it
was called Pharia and later Fara. The Slavs, people that occupied
the island during the middle ages, named the island Hvar. Even if
the island was under Slav occupation, a lot of the inhabitants were
Roman-speaking and convinced the Slaves to change the official name
once more, this time into Quarra. In the eleventh century the
Italians changed the name again into Lesina (meaning forest), a word
full of meaning because at that time the island was perfectly
characterized by a woody terrain. This name was kept until the
nineteenth century when it was changed back into Hvar Island.
This place exists nowadays
under the name of the Croatia Hvar Island, but the Hvar Culture has
long been extinct. It is said that this culture existed from the
year 3500 to 2500 B.C. The Croatia Hvar Island is an important piece in
Croatian history being one of the important literary centres of this
country during the Renaissance. Nowadays it is known as a producer
of lavender, honey and wine and these aspects can be charming to
those interested in stimulating their senses. Because of its climate
and unique position, the Hvar Island is home to a lot of different
species of flora and fauna like the Croatian Fighting Toad. An
interesting fact about the Hvar Island is that it gets 2800 hours of
sun per year. As you can see, there is no possibility for anyone to
get bored on this island because it reunites history and culture for
those with this kind of interests and it can be a great place to
relax by bathing in the sun and admiring nature.
There are many cities to visit
on this island, each with its own story and appealing
characteristics. The town of Hvar had a population of little over
four thousand people in 2001. It can be a tourist attraction because
this is the place where the first public theatre was opened in
Europe back in 1612. The town of
Stari Grad located in the northern
part of the Hvar Island had almost three thousand inhabitants in
2001. It is the site of some of the first human settlements on the
Adriatic Sea from Antiquity. Jelsa, a town in the central northern
region of the island, it’s said to have had a population of
approximately 3.600 back in 2001. The fourth region that might
capture your attention is the town of Sucuraj, a city of picturesque
beauty situated on the east cape of the Hvar Island. Sucuraj has
been named officially the center of the eastern part of the Croatia Hvar
Island. The town is said to be 2300 years old, fact which can
fascinate anyone. The city has been blessed with mild climate and a
beautiful country side which makes it even more perfect for
contemplation and relaxation. The 400 people settled here live off
tourism and fishing therefore any person who is interested in this
location will be received with open arms and will have a wonderful
time.
The Croatia Hvar Island is
thought to have been inhabited since the year 5000 B.C. Since then,
a lot of different cultures living there in each age known to man
have left their own fingerprint on the place. The Neolithic age
proves its existence in the history of the Hvar Island by a fragment
of pottery dating from the year 2500 B.C. The bronze pottery and
hilltop sites represent the Bronze Age. The Iron Age left behind a
lot of settlements including a castle; most of these settlements
were even equipped with some rudimentary forms of defence. After
that, the ancient Greeks became very interested in the Hvar Island.
Remains of the Greek colony can still be seen through some of the
defence walls that are still standing. After the Greeks, a lot of
different cultures left their legacy to the people on the Hvar
Island, like the Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Venetians, Turks and
even newer states like Austria, France, England and Russia had their
own influence.
The Croatia Hvar Island is a
great place for a vacation. One of the few places were you can
escape from the big city life and all its problems, a place where
you can really catch your breath and relax. Strolls on a forested
sea path or a week of quiet life in one of the picturesque villages
to see how life is without any connection to civilization. The Hvar
Island is a relaxation heaven. There are a lot of sites to admire
like one of the monuments of the Hvar Island, the Saint Lawrence
Church which is known for the collection of paintings by old
masters. The Croatia Hvar Island also has one of the largest naturist camps.
There is simply no way you can get bored here.
One of the few places that man
hasn’t destroyed yet, the Croatia Hvar Island is a must see just
like other famous places in the world. It’s just that it hasn’t had
so much publicity and this is perhaps the reason its beauty remains
untouched. You can enjoy the scenery and you can see the way native
people live there. This will give you an idea about the way our
forefathers made a living without having to work in loud plants and
polluted environments. As a fact, it is necessary to say that Hvar
Island is one of the perfect places you can visit and unwire
yourself.
Life in the big cities is
tiring and soliciting. This is why people take vacations and search
for the perfect place to forget their daily lives. One of the best
places to do exactly this is
Hvar island
in Croatia.
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