In 42 days voting will be completed for Europe's best destination 2017 on website European Best Destinations. Whatever you think of the actual process, there is no denying the benefits to the successful winner - just look at what has happened to Advent in Zagreb, which has just won the vote as best Christmas market in Europe for the second year running. From a tiny Christmas fair confined to the main square until just six years ago, Zagreb in December now attracts more tourists than some medium sized destinations on the coast in a whole year.
And so, in order to help promote lovely Stari Grad a little and encourage people to learn a little more about this wonderful town steeped in 2,400 years of history, we will be highlighting a different aspect of Stari Grad each day until the end of voting on February 10 through a daily Photo of the Day through the eye of local photographer Vedran Rafael Janic, whose work you can follow on his official Facebook page here.
We start by getting to know the neighbourhood, for Stari Grad is surrounded in natural beauty, a deep bay of 8km reveals what some say is Croatia's oldest town. It is no wonder the Ancient Greeks were so happy to settle here in 384BC, founding their colony of Faros.
For the best views of Stari Grad and beyond - the snow capped mountains of Biokovo in the background providing a stunning contrast with the lush green of Europe's sunniest island, and the paradise of the Kabal Peninsula above the town - head up the old road to Hvar Town through the village of Selca, for views like this. 2,400 years of gorgeous Stari Grad surrounded by a natural paradise.
