Hvar Town with its harbour and the Pakleni Islands in the background
Hvar town is the administrative centre of the island of Hvar, but it is not very big, only around 4,000 inhabitants. Hvar was an important port for the Venetians and the fortress (from which the image above has been taken) provided a haven for their fleet. The fortress was constructed by the Venetians in 1278 and has been expanded in the centuries thereafter. The old town is built between the fortress and the harbour and most of the old medieval buildings are still preserved intact.
I was struck by how close the Arsenal (the naval shipbuilding unit) resembled the Arsenal in Venice. Outside the harbour, the island is protected by a chain of smaller islands, the Pakleni Islands, that both protects it from the weather and form enemy invaders.
In the 16th C the Turks had taken the mainland of Croatia but the Venetians still controlled the islands. The Turks invaded Hvar in 1571, but the inhabitants took protection in the fortress and were saved.
The Fortress seen from the harbour
Our family was guided in our explorations by our friends Rada and Arne. In this image are Eric, Mikee, Rada (on telephone), Arne and Jennifer
Another view of the harbour, town and the Pakleni Islands as seen from the fortress
The harbour seen from one side to the other. Straight ahead of us with the semi-vaulted opening is the Arsenal, the original naval shipyard which now houses a magnificent theatre above on the first floor.
The fortress seen from the quay at the blue hour (the time after sunset, when it is still possible to see the sky, the clouds and part of the landscape although the sun has set). It has sometimes the sky coloured red or orange or yellow by the setting sun shining on the clouds, but the sun itself is below the horizon. This was such a lovely evening. The people walk ghostlike because of the long exposure time
We are still in the blue hour, but it is later and the fortress is lit by lights and the exposure is longer (15 seconds), so I have cropped out all the walking people.
Not far from the centre (everything is close in the small town of Hvar) is the Franciscan Monastery with the church of Our Lady of Mercy. It was bult in the late 15th C. The bell tower, so prominent in my image, is the work of a local artist from Korcula(an island nearby)
In the old town most of the buildings are well preserved and date from the late medieval period or soon thereafter. The images below illustrate the typical streets/alleyways among those buildings. The first one also houses the by far best restaurant in Hvar – Giaxa.
Another narrow street with old medieval houses in HvarThe well in the previous image is here seen in more detail. The lion of St Mark, the symbol of Venetian power, is engraved on the well obviously showing that the building and the well itself were constructed during the Venetian periodJust outside Hvar we can enjoy the tranquility of the land and sea. Our family was relaxing while Arne and Rada contemplated further property investments on this lovely island
