Monday May 25, 2015

Hvar--a major tourist destination

Photo: The harbor at Hvar Town taken from the Fortress above the city. We are next to the 53 meter yacht!

We departed the anchorage at Uvala Lucice on Brac at 0935 and powered the whole way to Hvar Town--12 miles--no wind at all. We decided to make a short trip for two reasons: to get in early and be sightseers in Hvar and to get a berth--not a certainty but more likely at this time of year. Just as we were coming in two charter boats were leaving and we could back right into a vacated berth.

Last year Paul and I stayed outside in the small islands just south of Hvar Town, so we had not seen this historic city. We got a city map at the tourist office and then set out. Many spots around Hvar have signs in English to describe the area or structure. We climbed LOTS of steps up to the fortress overlooking the harbor. Two of the ancient walls are still present and in very sound condition. The fortress dates from the 16th century although the foundations lie on a fortification dating from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. When Hvar lost its strategic importance in the second half of the 19th century, the fortress was abandoned. It is now maintained as a major tourist site.

We visited several interesting churches and a cemetery. The Cathedral of St. Stephen I is in the center square and is named after a pope and martyr. It has a lovely printed guide in English that describes the 11 altars that make up the cathedral. Much of the artwork is 16th century. The other interesting church is next to the Benedictine Nunnery. This is a closed order and the nuns never leave the building unless they need surgery or for the funeral of a close family member. They are the only 9 people in the world who make a very fine lace from the fibers of the agave plant. The fiber is very fine but very strong. The patterns are all from their imagination and are incredibly intricate.

We are always on the look out for concerts and we found one. It was in the cloister of the Church of Our Lady and the Franciscan Monastery. This is the Hvar Summer Festival and tonight's concert was a program of Jazz, Blues and Bossa Nova music. The five-member group from Split called "Partet" played piano, bass, drums, guitar & vocal and flute and vocal. It was great.