Hvar, Croatia - Our First Port of Call

Historic Hvar town and harbor - with its 16th century fortress at the summit

Monday, July 4 - Trip Day 5

We'd already had a full day - learning how the sails were raised and lowered, attending lectures, and enjoying a 4th of July cookout on the lido deck.  But now it was time for our first port of call - Hvar, Croatia.

And our ship is anchored in the natural harbor that forms Hvar's port - so we needed to be transported back to land. Hmmmm.  Enter the Zodiac, a large rubber raft with a small motor which can take a dozen or so people to visit our ports.  First - life jackets, and then down the gangway stairs and step into the bobbing and rocking rubber boat.  With the help of the crew, not so tough after all.

The town of Hvar is sited on the island of Hvar in southern Croatia

Our Zodiac transport to the port awaits for us under the gangway

First Zodiac is off and heading into port

Michael's not nervous - he's only checking his pulse as he waits for us to leave!

We land and disembark at the quaint port, next to the town square and St. Stephens cathedral

Hvar is a small, popular tourist town with a petite natural harbor.  The origins of the town are Illyrian, from the 8th century BC, and it was later colonized by the Greeks and Romans.  

As you might expect, it became a part of the Venetian republic - and much of its existent historic architecture dates from the 1200's and later.  The lion of St. Mark's abounds in many place, including on the first building you encounter, the town Loza (loggia) and clock tower - the only remains of the original Governor's palace.

On the hills above are the town walls, constructed in the 13th century, and the fortress, the Fortica, rebuilt after a gun power explosion in 1579.

The Loza (loggia), clock tower and flagpole bearing the Croatian flag

Just beyond the town hall (Loza) is the large Pjaca (piazza) - the town square with market

A great place to purchase lavender

Hvar's Pjaca - town square - is the largest in Dalmatia and surrounded on three sides by the Governor's Palace, the Bishop's Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Arsenal.   The Arsenal is the largest building on the square, and its grand first floor arch opens to the port.  At one time, the Venetian galleons would sail right inside for repairs and refurbishment.

The current Arsenal was reconstructed in the late 1500's and its large second floor was opened in 1611 as the oldest public theatre to admit commoners and aristocrats alike.  During recent reconstruction, 1st century Roman ruins were found underneath the building.

St. Stephens at the far end (left) and the large Arsenal/public theater on the right

A look inside the Arsenal, with a large space for ship repair, and the wooden theater floor above

Hvar's appealing buff colored limestone streets and buildings

Venetian architectural influence is found throughout the town

A covered well with the lion of St. Mark

A Juliet balcony above the well and building entrance

The bell tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral

Rebuilt in the 16th C on the site of an earlier cathedral destroyed by the Ottomans

Interior altar in St. Stephen's cathedral

Looking to the port, across the limestone paved town square from the steps of St. Stephens.