Hvar - Split
Diocletian Hotel
Very hot
The morning was spent on a guided tour of the Spanish Fortress which sits high above the town on the hill and a walk around the old town.
Hvar has four thousand inhabitants however the population swells enormously during the tourist season.
The Spanish Fortress was built in the thirteenth century after pirate and Ottoman attacks however it was completely destroyed then rebuilt in the sixteenth century after the supply of gunpowder was ignited by a lightning strike.
Diocletian Hotel
Very hot
The morning was spent on a guided tour of the Spanish Fortress which sits high above the town on the hill and a walk around the old town.
Hvar has four thousand inhabitants however the population swells enormously during the tourist season.
The Spanish Fortress was built in the thirteenth century after pirate and Ottoman attacks however it was completely destroyed then rebuilt in the sixteenth century after the supply of gunpowder was ignited by a lightning strike.
The fortress on the hill with the harbour in the foreground.
The view from the fortress is magnificent. There are lots of islands however Hvar is the longest.
We were dropped off by bus to the city centre to access the Old Town and follow our guide around the noted landmarks. The central square is large and St Stephen’s cathedral sits at the far end of the square. The world famous Porcession of the Cross has been in existence since 1510 and follows the course of 22 kms with the cathedral as its final destination. It is believed the Holy Crucifix cried in 1510 which prompted this outpouring of devotion.
The Renaissance bell tower of St Stephen.
We wandered the back alleyways exploring the homes of the nobility featuring their crests above the doorways. The Benedictine Convent with the remaining six nuns produces intricate lace work from agave fibres. The small museum houses an impressive collection of their work.
We had some spare time to explore Hvar before setting off to Stari Grad the port to catch the ferry to Split. At the port we were picked up by vans to go to a nearby olive farm for an authentic and traditional lunch.
Pork, lamb and potatoes are very common fare in Croatia.
The lovely verandah decorated with checkered tablecloths and with views to the surrounding olive groves.
Beautiful scenery to admire at our lunch.
It was a quick trip to the ferry to make sure we didn’t miss the journey. Two hours later we were in a very hot Split. We had to laugh as our guide mentioned that our hotel had been a former retirement home and as the majority of us are over sixty or seventy it caused a lot of mirth. As it turned out the hotel is very grand with lots of amenities.
Tomorrow we are exploring Split which is enjoying immense popularity amongst tourists.
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