Continuing our photo countdown to the closing of voting for the 2017 Best European Destination on the European Best Destinations website by taking a daily look at what makes Croatian nominee Stari Grad special.
No destination would be complete without its own prestigious international sporting event, and Stari Grad not only has one of the most demanding swimming races in the world, but it is also a race which attracts the highest international competitors from all over the world, including Olympic gold medallists and world champions.
Taking place every year since the early 1970s, the Faros Marathon takes place each year in the last weekend in August, bringing together some great swimming talent from every continent. The gruelling swim in the Adriatic is a challenging 16km, with the race starting in the Stari Grad harbour out to the tip of the Kabal Peninsula (8km) - and back. There is both a men's and a women's race, with the winning time a little over three hours.
Learn more about the Faros Marathon on the official website, and check out the 2015 race in the Hvar TV video below.
(With thanks for Rafael Janic Photography for the lead photo)
