In honor of Stari Grad’s 2400 years of foundation, we thought we’d bring you the top 5 “must-see” things in this beautiful old town, as chosen by the Tourist Board of Stari Grad.
1. Petar Hektorović Castle (Tvrdalj): Petar Hektorović was a Croatian poet who built perhaps the most famous building in Stari Grad. A project that was built throughout his entire life, Hektorović’s castle had the same importance to him as his literary work did. On the grounds of the castle there are microcosms for fish, birds, herbs, and people – giving local citizens a shelter whilst Hvar was under attack by the Ottoman Turks during the 16th century. There are many stone inscriptions both in Latin and Italian throughout the castle, as well as inscriptions in Croatian.
Image by TZ Stari Grad
2. Stari Grad Plain-UNESCO Heritage: The Stari Grad Plain is a cultural landscape that has remained intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in 4th century BC. Mainly centring on grapes and olives, the original agricultural activity on this plain has been maintained since Greek times. The Stari Grad Plain is also a natural reserve, and the grounds themselves feature ancient stone walls and stone shelters that show the geometrical system of land division used by the Greeks – remaining intact over 24 centuries.
Image by TZ Stari Grad
3. Kabal Peninsula: Resembling the fingers of a hand, the Kabal peninsula is situated on the north-western part of the Stari Grad bay. The entrance to the bay holds the Kabal cape, with the edge of the bay holding Stari Grad – one of the safest natural harbors in the Adriatic. In the depth of the bay is the town of Stari Grad.
Image by TZ Stari Grad
4. Stari Grad Museum: The Stari Grad Museum was the neo-renaissance family home (or rather, palace) of the Biankini brothers. Dating back to 1896, the interior decorations of the palace have been preserved, and the garden holds a centuries-old “Deodar Cedar” tree which dates back to the same period. In addition to this being a spectacular site to see, the museum collections tell the tales of Stari Grad’s long history.
Image by TZ Stari Grad
5. Škor Square: One of the most picturesque squares in Stari Grad is Škor square. Formed during the 17th/18th centuries from a stretch of shallow water, the square was formerly a shipyard. This square hosts many of the summer cultural events in Stari Grad.
Image by TZ Stari Grad
Sources: TZ Stari Grad & WHC UNESCO
