Island Hvar – Your place for best holiday

The strategic position of Hvar on the maritime routes of the Adriatic has played a major role in the history and development of this island. In the Neolithic period, the so=called Hvar culture evolved, known for its pottery decorated with spiral motives. In the fourth century BC, the Ionian Greeks founded the town of Pharos at the head of a deep bay on the north side of the island. The Greek agricultural landscape survives up to the present day and has been recently been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the arrival of the Romans in the late third century BC, the island evolved into a centre for recreation, wine production and fishing. The numerous underwater remains from the seabed point to the island being used as a staging post for vessels sailing between Dalmatia and the Italian mainland. In the Middle Ages, the Venetians took over the island and proceeded to develop the town of Hvar. Major structures built by the Venetians include the cathedral, castle, monastery and arsenal. The latter was used for the building and maintenance of vessels. Venetian rule lasted until the late eighteenth century when the area fell under the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austrian rule lasted, except for a brief French interlude, until 1919 when Italian forces occupied Hvar. In 1921, through the treaty of Rapallo, the island formed part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, which later evolved into Yugoslavia and subsequently the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II. In January 1992, Hvar formed part of the newly formed and independent state of Croatia. Today, it is a major tourist destination and important hub for the yacht charter industry.