Stari Grad Hvar
About Stari Grad
Stari Grad (Pharos) is the oldest town in Croatia and one of the oldest settlements in Europe. The same year – 384 BC when Greek philosopher Aristotle was born in Trakia, the Greeks from the island of Paros in the Aegean sea settled the town on the island of Hvar and named it Pharos.
The town is situated in a landscape where the blue of the deep bay touches the green of the wide, famous field of Pharos, with vineyards and olive-groves. The fields used to provide sustenance and the bay provided protection and a sanctuary for many sailors whom the people of Stari Grad always welcomed.
Today, both the fields and the bay add an attractive quality to the island, in which the modern vacation sights have become intertwined with the antiquities of the town and of the island. Both are also on UNESCO World Heritage List. Stari Grad is a gem with its medieval renaissance and surrealist architecture with older buildings spreading across the Southern part and the newer to the North. The old part of the city has remained preserved in terms of traditional architecture and as such is of exceptional tourist value. The newer part is from Austro – Hungary time, a series of buildings continue and behind them are secluded houses with gardens.
Stari Grad is an ideal place for long walks and trips on the sunniest Adriatic island.
Harbor and anchorage
Stari Grad is a very deep and well protected bay from all weathers. It has a small and narrow marina so it might not be suitable for larger yachts. Boats can be moored with anchors or moorings and with stern tied to the shore. Another solution is to choose some of the smaller bays in said of this deep Stari grad bay and spend a night on anchor, free of charge.
Beaches in Stari Grad
Right next to Stari Grad is a settlement “Borić” that provides many beautiful beaches that are surrounded with pine and few olive trees. If you arrive with the boat, the captain will dock in one of many small bays in the entrance to Stari Grad.
Stari Grad restaurants
Exclusive restaurants and taverns with healthy domestic food and traditional good island wines will give you an unforgettable experience. Nauta restaurant and Konoba Batana are two places we would like to recommend.
Famous crafts from island
Vineyards and olive groves are truly amazing but there are two more crafts this island is famous for. First is agave lace. It is a craft that dates from the 18th century. The nouns from the Benedictine monastery invented embroidery. The job of preparing the threads is long and painstaking. Thin, white threads are pulled from fresh agave leaves, harvested at certain times of the year in a specific way until they are ready to weave.
The second are lavender fields. June is the month when the island gets the vivid purple color. In the interior of the island are huge lavender fields that stretch along the island providing amazing fragrant, healthy oils, soaps and many more interesting products which you can buy on every corner of the island.
Hvar town or Stari Grad
On island Hvar there are two most popular towns; Hvar and Stari Grad. If you are not sure which one to visit, here are a few tips.
Both are beautiful and rich in history, but they differ a lot with vibes you will feel while walking the streets of these two towns.
Hvar is loud, full of clubs and bars. Young people love to visit this place and party until late in the evening. You will adore many little shops and curved streets in Hvar but mind that docking with a boat is almost impossible without upfront reservation. Probably dingy will drive you from close bay bays where the boat will be anchored.
On the other hand, Stari Grad is a much more peaceful town with beautiful lungo mare walk. It is quiet and perfect to relax, swim, have a nice dinner and walk afterwards.
