History of Hvar Island
2,400 years of heritage. From ancient Greek colonists to Venetian grandeur, discover the history that shaped one of the Adriatic's most storied islands.
Hvar Island is not just another pretty Mediterranean destination. Beneath its sun-soaked surface lies one of the richest historical tapestries in Europe, spanning over 2,400 years of recorded history and more than 6,000 years of human habitation. From the ancient Greek colonists who established one of the first urban settlements in Croatia, to the Venetian Republic that shaped the island's iconic architecture, Hvar's story is woven into every stone wall, every narrow street, and every fortress ruin.
Today, visitors to Hvar can experience this history firsthand - walking the same marble-paved squares that Venetian merchants once crossed, exploring a fortress that has watched over the harbor for five centuries, and visiting the oldest public theater in Europe. At Mini Yachts Hvar, our private boat tours offer a unique perspective on this heritage, approaching the island from the sea just as countless civilizations have done before.
384 BC
Greek Colony Founded
1612
Oldest Public Theater
400+
Years of Venetian Rule
2008
UNESCO Inscription
The Ancient Greeks: Pharos Colony (384 BC)
In 384 BC, Greek settlers from the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea sailed across the Mediterranean and founded the colony of Pharos on what is now Stari Grad, on the northern coast of Hvar. This was not a random choice. The wide, fertile plain behind Stari Grad offered ideal agricultural land, and the deep harbor provided natural protection for their ships.
The Greeks immediately set about organizing the agricultural land behind the settlement. They divided the Stari Grad Plain into a precise geometric grid of land parcels, separated by dry stone walls and paths. This system of land division, known as chora, was designed with such precision that it has survived essentially intact for 2,400 years. The same boundaries, walls, and paths that the Greek colonists laid out are still visible today, making this one of the oldest continuously used agricultural landscapes in the world.
The Pharos colony quickly became a prosperous settlement. The Greeks cultivated olives, grapes, and grain on the fertile plain, and established trade routes throughout the Adriatic. Archaeological excavations in and around Stari Grad have uncovered Greek pottery, tools, and building foundations. The town's name "Stari Grad" literally means "Old Town" in Croatian, a nod to its status as the island's original settlement.
The relationship between the Greek settlers and the local Illyrian population was not always peaceful. Historical records describe conflicts over land and resources, including a famous siege in which the Illyrians attacked Pharos. Despite these tensions, the colony endured and laid the cultural foundation that would influence Hvar for millennia to come.
The Roman Era
As Roman power expanded across the Mediterranean, Hvar fell under Roman control during the 2nd century BC. The Romans recognized the island's strategic importance as a waypoint on Adriatic shipping routes and maintained the existing Greek settlement at Pharos while developing new infrastructure.
Under Roman rule, Hvar became part of the province of Dalmatia, a name that would endure for two millennia and is still used today to describe this region of Croatia. The Romans improved harbors, built roads connecting the island's settlements, and introduced their architectural and engineering traditions. Archaeological evidence of Roman villas, mosaics, and infrastructure has been found at several sites across the island.
The Roman period was one of relative stability and prosperity for Hvar. The island's wine production expanded under Roman patronage, and Hvar wines were traded throughout the empire. This viticultural tradition, established over 2,000 years ago, continues today with indigenous grape varieties like Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša still cultivated on terraced hillsides that may date to the Roman era. You can sample these historic wines at vineyards across the island, or enjoy them aboard one of our private boat tours.
The Venetian Republic (1420-1797)
The most visible chapter of Hvar's history is the nearly four centuries of Venetian rule that began in 1420. It was during this period that Hvar Town was transformed from a modest settlement into the elegant, architecturally distinguished town that visitors see today. The Venetians made Hvar a key naval base and administrative center for their eastern Adriatic territories.
The grand St. Stephen's Cathedral, the imposing Arsenal building (which housed the Venetian war galleys), the elegant loggia, and the beautiful Renaissance palaces that line the main square all date from this period. The Venetians brought their distinctive architectural style - a blend of Gothic and Renaissance elements - that gives Hvar Town its unique Mediterranean character. The main square, the largest piazza in Dalmatia, was paved in the Venetian style and remains the social heart of the town.
Perhaps the most remarkable Venetian legacy is the Hvar Public Theatre, established in 1612 within the Arsenal building. At a time when theater was typically reserved for nobility and the wealthy, Hvar's theater was open to all citizens regardless of social class. This was a revolutionary concept in early 17th-century Europe, making it one of the first truly public theaters on the continent. The theater has been beautifully restored and can still be visited today, its intimate interior offering a tangible connection to Hvar's cultured past.
The Venetians also built the Fortica (Španjola) fortress that crowns the hill above Hvar Town. Originally constructed to defend against Ottoman raids, the fortress was expanded and reinforced over centuries. Today, the climb to Fortica rewards visitors with panoramic views over Hvar Town, the harbor, and the Pakleni Islands - a vista that has changed remarkably little since Venetian times. From a private boat in the harbor, looking up at the fortress is one of the most iconic views of the Dalmatian coast.
UNESCO World Heritage: Stari Grad Plain
In 2008, the Stari Grad Plain was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing it as the best-preserved example of ancient Greek agricultural land division in the Mediterranean. The inscription acknowledged that the geometric system of stone walls and agricultural plots established by the Pharos colonists in the 4th century BC has been maintained in continuous use for 2,400 years.
The plain stretches from Stari Grad on the coast into the island's interior, covering approximately 6 kilometers of fertile flatland. It is divided into a grid pattern of chora (land plots) by ancient stone walls, many of which are original Greek constructions. Today, the same plots are still used to cultivate olives, grapes, and lavender - crops that have been grown here since antiquity.
Visiting the Stari Grad Plain provides a profound experience of historical continuity. Walking among the ancient stone walls, with olive trees that may be centuries old and grapevines producing wine from grape varieties that have grown here since Greek times, you are walking on land that has been farmed without interruption for over two millennia. It is a living connection to the deep past that few places on earth can offer.
While the plain itself is inland, a private boat tour from Hvar can include a stop in Stari Grad harbor, allowing you to explore both the ancient town and the nearby UNESCO site. Stari Grad's waterfront, with its historic stone buildings and palm-lined promenade, is a delightful stop on any Hvar coastal tour.
Hvar Fortress (Fortica / Španjola)
Dominating the skyline above Hvar Town, the Fortica fortress (also known as Španjola, or the Spanish Fortress) is perhaps the island's most recognized landmark. Perched on a hill 100 meters above the harbor, the fortress has served as a defensive stronghold, a military garrison, and today as one of Croatia's most scenic viewpoints.
The site has been fortified since at least the 13th century, but the current structure dates primarily from the Venetian period, with significant expansions in the 16th century following devastating Ottoman raids. In 1571, the Ottoman fleet attacked Hvar Town, causing widespread destruction. The fortress held out during the siege, and in the aftermath, the Venetians invested heavily in strengthening the fortifications.
The fortress is named "Španjola" (Spanish) because Spanish troops were garrisoned there during the period when Spain and Venice were allies against the Ottoman Empire. Spanish engineers contributed to the fortress's distinctive star-shaped bastions, which were designed to deflect cannon fire - a cutting-edge military technology at the time.
Today, the 20-minute climb from Hvar Town's main square to the fortress is a rite of passage for visitors. The reward is an extraordinary 360-degree panorama encompassing Hvar Town's terracotta rooftops, the harbor filled with yachts, the Pakleni Islands scattered across the turquoise sea, and on clear days, the distant peaks of the Croatian mainland. It is a view that contextualizes Hvar's entire geography and maritime importance.
Experiencing Hvar's History from the Sea
One of the most compelling ways to experience Hvar's history is from the water. After all, for the vast majority of the island's 2,400-year history, the sea was the primary highway. Every civilization that shaped Hvar - Greeks, Romans, Venetians - arrived by ship, and the island's harbors, fortifications, and settlements were all designed with the sea in mind.
A private boat tour with Mini Yachts Hvar allows you to see the island from this historical perspective. As you cruise along the coast, our knowledgeable captains can point out Venetian-era watchtowers positioned on headlands to spot approaching ships, ancient harbors where Greek trading vessels once moored, and the coastal fortifications that defended the island against Ottoman and pirate raids.
The approach to Hvar Town from the sea is particularly evocative. As you round the headland, the town reveals itself gradually - first the fortress on the hill, then the bell tower of the cathedral, then the elegant waterfront buildings. This is essentially the same view that greeted Venetian galley captains, Austro-Hungarian naval officers, and generations of visitors before them. It is a view best appreciated from the deck of a boat, and one that connects you to centuries of maritime history.
The small town of Vrboska, accessible by boat along the north coast, is sometimes called "Little Venice" for its canal-like harbor and Venetian architecture. Its fortified church, built to serve as both a place of worship and a defensive refuge against pirates, is a unique architectural hybrid that speaks to the island's turbulent past. A stop in Vrboska on a coastal cruise offers a quieter, more intimate historical experience than bustling Hvar Town.
Modern History: From Empire to Tourism
Following the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Hvar passed through several hands - the Austrian Habsburgs, Napoleon's French Empire, and back to Austria - before becoming part of the newly formed Yugoslavia after World War I. Each period left its mark on the island's culture and architecture.
The Austro-Hungarian period brought Hvar its first reputation as a health and tourism destination. In 1868, the Hygienic Society of Hvar was established, promoting the island's mild climate and clean air as beneficial for health. The first hotels were built, and Hvar began attracting well-heeled visitors from Vienna and Budapest. This was the beginning of the tourism tradition that continues today.
During World War II, Hvar played a role in the Yugoslav Partisan resistance. The nearby island of Vis served as Tito's headquarters, and the waters around Hvar were contested by Italian, German, and Allied forces. After the war, Hvar developed as part of socialist Yugoslavia, maintaining its fishing and agricultural traditions while gradually building a tourism industry.
Croatian independence in 1991 and the subsequent development of the tourism sector transformed Hvar into the international destination it is today. Yet remarkably, the island's historical character has been preserved. The same lavender fields, olive groves, and stone villages that define Hvar have endured through every political change, invasion, and empire. This is an island where history is not just remembered - it is lived.
History of Hvar FAQs
How old is Hvar Island?
Hvar has been continuously inhabited for over 6,000 years, with Neolithic artifacts found in caves across the island. The first major recorded settlement was the Greek colony of Pharos, founded in 384 BC by settlers from the Aegean island of Paros. This makes Hvar one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Europe.
What is the oldest public theater in Europe?
The Hvar Public Theatre, located inside the Arsenal building on the main square of Hvar Town, was established in 1612. It is widely recognized as one of the first public theaters in Europe, predating many famous theaters on the continent. It was open to all social classes, which was revolutionary for the time. The theater has been restored and can be visited today.
What is the UNESCO site on Hvar?
The Stari Grad Plain (Ager) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. It is the best-preserved ancient Greek agricultural land division (chora) in the Mediterranean, with field boundaries and stone walls largely unchanged since the 4th century BC. The plain is still actively farmed today, making it a living landscape of continuous agricultural use spanning 2,400 years.
Can you see historical sites from a boat tour?
Yes! Many of Hvar's most significant historical sites are visible from the sea. A private boat tour with Mini Yachts Hvar passes coastal fortifications from the Venetian period, ancient harbors used since Greek times, and defensive towers along the coastline. Our captains provide historical context as you cruise past these landmarks, and you can stop in Hvar Town, Stari Grad, or Vrboska to explore on foot.