June 16, 2019 - There are few more people in demand in the hotel industry than the head concierge. A snapshot of life through the eyes of Suncani Hvar Hotels concierge, Ana Stambuk. 

1. Being a concierge on Hvar must be a demanding job - tell us about a typical day?1. Being a concierge on Hvar must be a demanding job - tell us about a typical day?

It is a very demanding job and you are pretty much always on the move. When I arrive at Amfora, I am in constant communication with my guests. This doesn’t only mean communication at the concierge pult, but also through the phone, messages, e-mails. So very often I find myself scattered around, either in my office, pult, or on the move to other hotels where we have concierge services.

2. What are the most common requests you receive from guests?

Guests that arrive in Hvar often want to explore the entire island and further. This is when I recommend different tours to Paklinski islands, Blue Cave or suggest them to go and explore the other side of the island. Many of them like to go wine tasting, since the island is very well known for its different wine sorts. They like the entire experience – of going to the vineyards, and then tasting the wine that came from those fields.

3. There is lots to do on the island, and there are an increasing number of specialised tours. Give us a flavour of some of the lesser known things you recommend to guests?

Our favorite (and new) tour this summer is the Vis experience tour, which includes Blue Cave, Green Cave, Stiniva, Paklinski islands and Jeep safari on Vis. We also recommend the 6 top Beaches on Hvar, which is starting to become a very popular choice for our guests. Moreover, we have a new boat available for daily rent, Pershing 46, a 14.72 m yacht with 3 cabins and suitable for 6 people, a very popular choice for day cruising.
 
 
4. Hvar attracts some very famous and wealthy visitors, and I assume there have been some rather unusual requests over the years. Any funny ones you would like to share?

There are really no unusual requests. But what I can say is that each guest requires a personalized treatment. In this business it is very important to be a good listener and have a lot of compassion towards each guest.
 
 
5. Palace Elisabeth will open its doors this summer, the first 5-star hotel on the island. How important is this for the island's tourism in your opinion?

We are so excited for the opening of Palace Elisabeth! I believe it is a very important project for Sunčani Hvar, but also for Hvar island as well. After all this will be the first 5-star hotel on the island which will definitely attract high end clientele who are eager to discover tailor-made programs and enjoy individualized experiences.
 
 
6. And finally, where does the Sunčani Hvar concierge go to relax? Where is your favourite place on the island, and why?

I love to go to Paklinski islands and Vis and experience the nature there. However, my favorite place on Hvar is my home town Vrboska where I go to relax with family and friends. There are also many nice places to swim and taste wine.

Learn more about what is on offer at Suncani Hvar Hotels.

To learn more about the island, visit the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page. 

June 12, 2019 - The Blue Cave of Bisevo near Vis is one of the top day trips in Central Dalmatia. What you need to know to avoid a long wait in the midday sun, and how to maximize your day from Hvar to see the island of Vis as well.  

Like many tourism jewels, the Blue Cave is a lot more popular than it was even ten years ago. Back then, apart from day trips from neighbouring Vis and a little from Hvar, there were hardly any tours. Fast forward to a booming Split, and these days there are many daily tours from Hvar, Brac, Split and other destinations. The result?

Yes, you guessed it - what can be a fairly lengthy wait in the hot midday sun as the queue of boats in front of you slowly gets to this wondrous natural treasure. The last time I was on Vis a couple of years ago, several of the locals told me it was almost like watching a motorway in the channel between Vis and Bisevo. And the sad reality is that in order to get the most from your Blue Cave experience. Tash Pericic wrote a typically honest and impartial piece on the Blue Cave experience from the point of view of a yacht hostess for TCN a couple of summers ago, which I heartily encourage you to read if you are planning a visit. Check out the August vibe in the video below, from 2017.

The key to getting the most out of your day is to get there before the crowds. Not only will there be less waiting time, but you will also have less time in the hot sun, which can be a real issue in the peak summer months. And bear in mind that if you are starting from as far away as Split, you are going to join a reasonable sized queue. Some agencies sell the tour, and the wait is part of the package, while others try and use the opportunity not only to get to the Blue Cave early when it is cooler and less congested, but also then to make much more of the day by including the wonders of the magnificent island of Vis in the itinerary, as well as a visit to Palmizana on the Pakleni Islands. 

Starting and finishing in Hvar Town, just an hour by speedboat to the Blue Cave, the Hvar Tours Blue Cave tour starts at 08:00 from Hvar Town, leaving plenty of time for the Blue and Green Cave, a swim at the famous Stiniva beach, before an outstanding tour of Secret VIs with local experts, before an hour on the Pakleni Islands and home in time for an evening out. 

Certainly beats sitting in a queue in the midday sun! Here is what is on offer.

Experience an island that is the birthplace of European cricket outside the UK. An island which has had huge British military impact over the centuries and houses Allied cemeteries, soldiers who paid the price for the strategic positioning of Vis in the Adriatic which has attracted visitors – friend and foe – since time immemorial. An island which was closed to foreigners until just 25 years ago as it was home to the largest missile base in former Yugoslavia with its own submarine base and secret military installations – all these you will visit. An island which hosted the first sailing regatta in the world. An island of fabulous wine, food, tradition and history, reassuringly far from the mainland, and one whose second town has more families living from fishing than tourism. An island of outstanding natural beauty, of traditional stone Dalmatian stone villages and fertile fields contributing to the healthy and natural Mediterranean diet. 

And an island that many tourists visit only for a famous beach, Stiniva, which was voted the best in all Europe, as part of a visit to neighboring star attractions, the Blue and Green Caves, but missing all of the above. It is like visiting Paris but missing out on the Eiffel Tower, or Venice and San Marco Square. Stand out from the crowd and join us on our private tour of Secret Vis, one of the most fascinating islands of all. Join our local experts to explore the island's rich military history, bizarre sporting claim to fame and fabulous food and wine, including its indigenous white wine gem, Vugava.

Two tours for the price of one, and wait until you exchange your Blue Cave and Vis stories with other tourists who spent much of the day queuing... 

This is a group tour three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tour description:

Of course, it would be foolish not to visit those popular attractions above, but in order to get the most out of them, it is advisable to do them first, before the crowds – two amazing caves and the best beach in Europe for a little swimming. Not a bad way to start the day before we discover Vis away from the crowds. 

Suggested itinerary – please note that an earlier departure is possible – even advisable given the growing popularity of the caves. It should also be noted that crowds at the Blue Cave may delay the schedule somewhat. 

08:00 Hvar town departure and straight to the Blue Cave. The early bird gets the worm, and enjoy the relative peace and lack of queues, unlike other tours which arrive later in the day.

09:00  The Blue Cave  is a water-logged sea cave located in a small bay called Balun (Ball in the local dialect), on the east side of the island of Bisevo and about 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) from Komiza. The grotto is one of the best known natural beauty spots on the Adriatic and a popular show cave because of the glowing blue light that appears at certain times of day.

09:40 Stiniva bay – hard to spot with its cliffs protecting its location, Stiniva is divine, a small ray of heaven which is collecting several international accolades, the latest of which was voted the best beach in Europe by European Best Destinations. Enjoy the moment with a dip in true Dalmatian heaven. 

10:15  Another cave, another colour, including time for a swim at the Green Cave, which is not as popular as its Blue cousin, but well worth a visit. The Green Cave (called Želena Spilja by the locals): a small opening in the ceiling of the cave lets the sunlight pass through, creating an image very similar with a flashlight cone in the night. The cone is also visible in the water and you can clearly see the spot where it hits the seabed. 

11:00 Collection by Pino Vojskovic and our Vis team for the Vis Inland Tour. Discover the role the British have played over the centuries on Vis, with their forts, Allied cemeteries and role in refugee evacuation to the Sinai Desert. And as fascinating as those stories are, Vis is famous for its submarine base (you will visit), as well as its tunnels and ramparts built into the hills by Tito, as well as a missile loading site. Imagine a current tourist island which was closed to the world just 25 years ago.

2:00pm Arrival in Vis Time and free time to explore until 4pm. Alternatively, you can book lunch at Roki's estate, a veritable feast of Dalmatian peka, and the sitting of one of the most remarkable stories in Dalmatia, for your host Roki was solely responsible for continuing one of the island's more unusual claims to fame – the oldest cricket club in Europe outside the UK. With regular international games and tournaments on the edge of the military airfield which played such a crucial role in World War II, the stories and setting are a match for the excellent gourmet experience. Please note that this lunch must be booked in advance, as do two other additional options, wine tasting at Lipanovic of Roki's. 

4pm departure for the Pakleni Islands, the island jewels of Hvar tourism.   

5pm Arrival at Palmižana, the most popular spot on the largest of the Pakleni Islands, St. Clement, where among the other unusual attractions, there is an arboretum and art gallery and peacocks freely roam. 

6-6:30pm Return to Hvar.

For more information about the tour, visit the Hvar Tours website. 

To learn more about the magical island of Vis, check out the Total Croatia Vis in a Page guide.

June 11, 2019 - It is the most aromatic month of the year to visit Hvar, and what better occasion than the 11th Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje?

Hvar is an island blessed with a multitude of treasures like no other. The most UNESCO heritage in the world, the oldest public theatre in Europe, the most island sun in Europe to name but three. 

And lavender. 

While there is sadly nowhere near as much lavender on Hvar these days due to various factors including fire and emigration, the months of June and early July are a joy to behold. 

Nowhere is this more so than on the old road from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, where the must abundant and accessible lavender fields can be found. 

The small and picturesque village of Velo Grablje is the heart of the Hvar lavender story. Once the centre of lavender production for the whole of Dalmatia, emigration hit Velo Grablje very hard, and the permanent population was just five over a decade ago. There has been an impressive revival since then, as local association Pjover has breathed life into the village with its mission to focus on the heritage and traditions of Velo Grablje. 

By far the biggest event of the year in the village is the annual lavender festival which takes place each June. This year's event will take place on June 28-29, and the programme has just been released.

It is a lovely time to visit Velo Grablje and learn more about the traditions of Dalmatia. 

You can even take part in the harvesting of lavender, and then follow the whole process through to the distilling and production of lavender oil in the old traditional manner. 

Harvesting lavender is hard work. Take a look at how it is done on the top of the island in the fields of celebrity paparazzi, Jadran Lazic, below.

To learn more about the island, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page.

Take a break from the beach on June 29, 2019, as the sunshine island of Hvar hosts its annual Hvar Half Marathon, one of the prettiest races in all Europe. 

Looking to keep in shape while enjoying your Dalmatian summer this year? Why not take part in what is surely one of the most beautiful races in all Europe, the Hvar Half Marathon?

The race, now a fixture on the Hvar tourism calendar for a decade, attracts an increasingly international field, and no wonder! The race stars in historic Stari Grad, a 2,400-year-old settlement with its own UNESCO World Heritage Site, before ascending the old road towards Hvar Town. 

This old road used to be the main connection between the island's two main settlements, and late June (the Hvar Half Marathon takes place on June 29) is the absolute best time to visit, for this is when Hvar's famed lavender is in full bloom, just one aromatic distraction for the runners, as they enjoy spectacular views of the Adriatic both to the left and right. Indeed, this year's race coincides with the final day of the annual Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje. 

Be prepared for a challenging run, despite the views, as the ascent from coastal Stari Grad to the wonderful views on top of the hill is a quick ascent of about 400 metres. Want to check out the route in advance? Enjoy a motorbike tour of the route, which was shot several years ago, below.

The race kicks offs at 18:00 on June 29 from Stari Grad. Co-sponsors Suncani Hvar Hotels have a special arrangement for participants of the race. 

For more details about the race, and to register, check out the official website. 

Learn more about the island with the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.

June is the month of lavender on the island of Hvar, but did you know that there are other crops being harvested this month? Immortelle, for example.

I will confess that I knew very little about the curry plant, Immortelle, until my friend Jadran Lazic showed me his plans to plant immortelle on the top of Hvar close to the lavender field I help him harvest each year. A little research told me that immortelle was both a healthy and a potentially lucrative crop which is growing in popularity. Check out the New York Times feature last year on the immortelle crop near Zadar. 

And now, for the first time, there is a chance for you to take part in an immortelle harvest on Hvar, as well as take part in a natural cosmetics workshop in one of the most chilled places in Dalmatia - Hvarcienda. More information about the workshop from the official event page:

We invite you to spend a day at the top of this magnificent island, immersed in a field of a million tiny sunshines, with the scent of eternal summer. Take a ride with us from Hvar town to Hvarcienda, sustainable organic farm and restaurant, to experience our Immortelle workshop!

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with an Immortelle elixir and introduced to the rich history of the plant mentioning Slavic, Greek and Roman mythology. We will then take a walk through Immortelle field and pick some flowers to turn them into precious and useful products.

After harvesting, the workshop will start by guiding you through the talk about the plant's use in cosmetics, followed up with drying process and creating immortelle macerate, salve and skin cream out of basic ingredients from your kitchen, along with scented bath salts.

After the educational part of the day, we'll spend some leisure time enjoying the food from our farm, paired with a glass of local wine, while taking in the incredible view from our terrace. 

After lunch some of you might decide to stay and chill with a glass of wine (mesmerized by being where you are), and the adventurous ones will join us on a guided hike at the very top of the island (626 m above the sea level) 20min walk, and learn identifying plant life on the island Hvar. Sage, thyme, wild oregano, rosemary, milk thistles and beautiful wild orchid are some of the plants you are about to find on your way up.

A trip back from Hvarcienda to town with your Immortelle gift bag, will be at 2:30pm or arranged differently.

Allow yourself to be seduced by the sweet, sensual scent of Imortelle, sung about in the ancient Greek epics. Join our workshop, and learn how to use the plant attributed with the power of Sun god Apollo. Feed your body and your soul with beautiful food and wine, and the best view found on Hvar island and beyond. 

PRICE €150

PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION IN ADVANCE *U slucaju da imate svoj prijevoz i zelite nam se samo pridružiti na radionici 300kn 
+385 95 3880 316  / Whatsapp and ViberTihana

START AT 9:30 Mario Rent agency 

The workshops will be led by Mia, the founder of the brand Lumini. By degree an agricologist, her love for nature is what guides her. The brand has been founded to unite all of her quests for finding creative and practical ways to live that love. The name Lumini symbolizes its purpose, education and enlightenment, spreading the light of knowledge one candle at a time...

*Please wear comfortable hiking/ walking shoes
*You bear responsibility for your actions and behavior, organizers are not responsible for your safety.

To learn more about the island of Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.

June 3, 2019 - A new fast catamaran service linking Split Airport to downtown Split, Brac (Bol) and Hvar (Stari Grad) began on Saturday. TCN's Rhona Crosbie was among the first Split Express passengers. 

It is a few years now since the demise of the European Coastal Airlines seaplane service, which briefly offered quick transfers from several points on Croatia's mainland and islands, as well as flights from Croatia to Italy. The service was never the most reliable, but when it worked, it was a dream. Fifteen minutes from Resnik, the bay by Split Airport, to downtown Jelsa was a dream for me personally when I lived in Jelsa. 

Since then, there has been no affordable and quick transfer option to Hvar from the airport, unless you wanted to shell out 350 euro plus on a speedboat or perhaps a helicopter. 

A new service, Split Express, started two days ago, offering connections between Resnik, a short 500-metre walk from the airport terminal, to downtown Split, Bol on Brac and Stari Grad on Hvar. TCN contributor Rhona Crosbie flew into Split from Scotland and decided to try the new service, cost 199 kuna one way (299 return). 

As you can see from the timetable below, the daily sailing schedule has both direct connections with the airport from Stari Grad, and indirect connections via Bol. The direct afternoon connection from Stari Grad taking just one hour to the airport is a dream compared to the need to get the 2-hour ferry to Split and then the bus/taxi to the airport from there. 

The new service has only just started, and Rhona said that the company were in the process of setting up portacabins and a booth at the airport. She wandered down to the bay (a straight walk from the airport terminal) and found plenty of space on the new service. There were about 20 passengers in total, most of whom alighted at Bol. The service was extremely comfortable, included a free drink, and took 1 hour 50 minutes with the stop in Bol, still much quicker than going into Split and taking the ferry.  

One more option to reach both Bol and Stari Grad, and if you fancy a quicker and less congested option to downtown Split than taking the bus, 99 kuna will buy you a one-way transfer - see the timetable below.  

To learn more about the island of Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.

June 2, 2019 - Welcome to June, the most aromatic month on the lavender island of Hvar, which will celebrate its 11th Hvar Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje next month.

One of the many natural delights of a summer on Hvar is getting out into the fields of the surrounding inland villages in late June and early July. Apart from the picturesque views, sunshine and natural beauty, this is the time of year when one of the island's best-known harvests taken place. 

Lavender. 

Like many Brits, my knowledge of lavender harvesting was less than zero before I moved to Hvar, but it did not take me long to learn more about this wonderful aromatic treasure. 

Driving the old road from Stari Grad to Hvar Town in late June is a delight, and it is not uncommon to find cars abandoned at the side of the road as drivers and passengers head into the fields to take photos next to the aromatic bushes. 

In truth, the lavender fields today are just a fraction of what they were in their heyday. Emigration and fire have sadly depleted the number of fields one can visit. 

There are signs of rebirth, however. My friend Jadran Lazic, for example, has replanted 300 lavender bushes on top of the island on his estate, and it has become an annual tradition for me to get up at 04:30 each year to help out with the early morning harvesting. The fields look divine pre-harvest.  

The centre of the Hvar lavender story, however, is the village of Velo Grablje, a few kilomotres from Hvar Town on the old road. Once the centre of lavender production for all Dalmatia, Velo Grablje was hit hard by emigration, and its population dwindled to just five people over a decade ago. 

Since then the village's fortunes have changed for the better. A group of enthusiastic young locals with family ties to the village founded an association called Pjover, whose stated intentions were to resurrect the traditions and heritage of Velo Grablje. The highlight of this was an annual lavender festival, which will this year take place on June 28-29, for the 11th consecutive year. 

Far from being a dead village of over a decade ago, the population of Velo Grablje has grown from 5 to 14 at last count, and there is an excellent restaurant (Zbondini) and even a winter pub which is popular with many from Hvar Town. 

The lavender festival is a popular celebration of all things lavender, including harvesting the oil. There is a chance for tourist participation, something which I took advantage of a few years ago after I was invited to jump on top of the bunches of harvested lavender in the steel vat in order to compress them. My feet smelled of lavender for days. 

Of course, for the real lavender experience, you can't quite beat joining the harvest itself. Why do they start so early? It is hard physical work, and the summer heat arrives quickly, and it is already too hot by 07:30. Check out the harvest in the video of Jadran's field a couple of years ago above, then spare a thought for previous generations who did not have the benefit of roads and air conditioning when planning the harvest. 

To learn more about Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page. 

June 2, 2019 - They may all look the same, but the Pakleni Islands in front of Hvar Town have an astonishing variety for tourists - taking a closer look.

Hvar Town is one of the most beautiful towns in all Europe, and yet one of its main attractions involves leaving this architectural gem by boat. 

Located in front of Hvar's idyllic harbour lie a collection of pine-covered islands, whose peace and tranquility have been attracting visitors since Roman times and a growing number of tourists since the first tourist business opened there back in 1906. 

And while they may look very similar when viewed from Hvar's vantage points such as the Spanish Fortress, the Pakleni Islands offer as diverse an experience as Hvar itself. 

(Photo by Romulic and Stojcic)

In season, the daily water taxis ply their trade between several of the islands, but which one is right for you?

Often mistranslated as Hell Islands (if the Pakleni Islands are a vision of hell, then I wonder what heaven looks like), the islands' collective name is thought to derive from the Croatian word for the resin of the ubiquitous pine trees, which dominate the nature on the islands. Tourism has played its part in the development of the islands, several of which have developed in very different ways. 

The tourism story dates back to 1906 when the local Meneghello family opened the first tourism facility in the bay of Vinogradisce on the largest of the Pakleni Islands, Sveti Klement. Often referred to as Palmizana and sporting an ACI marina of the same name, this continues to be the most popular destination for day-trippers. 

Tourism at Palmizana is well-developed these days, but Dagmar Meneghello, who has given more than 50 years of her life to developing the island of her late husband, gave a fascinating interview of life on Palmizana over the last half-century. You can read the TCN interview here.

Today Palmizana is known for its luxury cuisine, and a destination where many A-list celebrities visit to avoid the cameras. Others, who are not so camera-shy, have not only visited but returned, and Bono was a particular fan of the cooking of chef Hrvoje Zirojevic on at least two occasions. 

Palmizana is also a very popular wedding destination, and its five waterfront restaurants have something for everyone. The Meneghellos have also developed tourism in different ways, and at Palmizana, you will find an arboretum, art gallery, roaming peacocks and a rich cultural performance of concerts throughout the summer. 

As this is the most popular destination on the Pakleni Islands, there are regular taxi boats from the Hvar waterfront, which cost around 70 kuna return, and the ride takes about 15-20 minutes. The water taxi drops you off at the ACI marina on the northern side of the island, from where there is a lovely walk through the forest for about 200 metres to the south. Here you are confronted with signs and paths to the different restaurants - Meneghello, Toto's, Zori, Bacchus and Laganini

Sveti Klement also offers a totally different experience, also available by water taxi from Hvar Town - Vlaka.

Located on the northern shore some distance past the marina, Vlaka is one of the region's most fascinating destinations. Here you can find the remains of a Roman Villa Rustica, evidence of the island's popularity throughout the ages, as well as the remains of a Roman mud bath - locals still come here to bath in the mud and swear by its natural healing powers. There is also the lowest vineyard in Croatia, just one metre above sea level, which until recent times produced the grapes for Andro Tomic's popular Sveti Klement white wine. And many locals will tell you that the best and most authentic restaurant experience on Hvar can be had in Vlaka - Dionis. 

Great food is a constant theme on the Pakleni Islands, and for an altogether different experience, check out Galesnik, the closest island to the town. The low one-story stone building you see from Hvar also functions these days as a great eco-ethno restaurant (you can book by the harbour master on the Hvar riva).

The island was also one the home of a donkey called Mercedes, who had a liking of rakija and was in fact the only full-time resident of Galesnik. A British visitor took pity on the lonely Mercedes and arranged for a male companion to be winched onto a boat and transferred to Galesnik to keep her company. 

After some happy times together, the couple were moved to the Pelegrin forest north of Hvar Town, where food and space were more abundant. Mercedes went missing one day and her male admirer died of a broken heart. Although we never met, Mercedes lives on, providing the inspiration and cover photo for my last book, Lavender, Dormice and a Donkey Named Mercedes.

The Pakleni Islands are also a great destination for FKK naturists. The island for you is Jerolim, which back in 2011 was named by CNN as the top naturist beach in the world. While many get as far as the restaurant opposite Hvar Town, take the path to the left and walk about 100 metres through the woods to the other side and discover what for me is the best place on the Pakleni Islands - Mare's Place. Perfect chillin'.

And if it is nightlife you are looking for... 

Marinkovic is another very popular island, but one whose name you will rarely see. For it is mostly referred to by three of its bays, all of which are accessible by those all-important water taxis. Locals swear by both Mlini and Zdrilca, both of which have great beaches and food, but undoubtedly the biggest draw - both day and night - is in the bay of Stipanska, home to Carpe Diem Beach. By day, a very popular beach club, by night, the biggest party on the nearby islands. 

While these are the main islands connected by water taxi, there are several others which you are free to explore independently. One of the best ways to do this is by sea kayak, a sport which is growing in popularity each year. Local adrenaline experts such as Hvar Sea Kayak rave a range of great tours to explore the hidden coves close up, and the sunset tour of the Pakleni Islands is magical. 

Sea kayaking is just one way to explore. Sailing tours, including half-day trips to get a taste of what the islands offer, is also popular, and scuba divers will head to another of the islands, Vodnjak, which is home to some of the region's most popular dive sites. 

A fabulous collection of islands, and once enjoyed by day, the delights of Hvar Town await in the evening - the perfect combination!

Looking for the best beaches on the Pakleni Islands? Your TCN guide.

June 1, 2019 - The eagerly-awaited opening of Palace Elisabeth, Hvar's first 5-star hotel, is getting closer, with the external renderings now complete. 

Some nice things are happening on the island of Hvar. 

The island with the most sun in Europe and the most UNESCO heritage of any island in the world, is focusing more attention on its rich cultural heritage, and 2019 has already seen some significant milestones.

Having celebrated 150 years of the oldest organised tourism in Europe last year (after the founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868), last month saw another significant event - the reopening of the oldest public theatre in Europe. Built in 1612, the Hvar Public Theatre had remained closed for almost 20 years for renovation. Since its reopening, the theatre has already hosted a range of cultural and fashion events, as TCN reported recently. 

Looking to put the location of the theatre in context? Check out this excellent drone footage by Jaksa Kuzmicic, which starts overlooking the main square of Hvar Town, below.  

But while much of the attention so far this year has been focused on the theatre and the imposing Arsenal building where it is housed, there is another fantastic heritage story unfolding just across the square. 

The former 2-storey Hotel Palace is undergoing a total transformation and will reopen later this summer as the luxury 5-star Palace Elisabeth, hvar heritage hotel, the first five-star hotel on this elite island. 

Palace Elisabeth takes its name from Empress Elisabeth 'Sisi', a benefactor of the original hotel which is located on the spot were organised tourism in Europe began way back in 1868. And there are not many places in the world (actually only Hvar!) where you will be able to enjoy a pre-theatre cocktail on the terrace where organised tourism began in Europe, before strolling across Dalmatia's largest square for a performance at the oldest public theatre in Europe. 

As you can see from the lead photo, the exterior facade has now been completed. Work is ongoing inside (the above pictures are renderings of how the hotel will look), and things are on schedule for an August opening. 

You can learn more about this luxury addition to Hvar tourism on the Suncani Hvar website. 

To learn more about Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide. 

Palace Elisabeth is not the only luxury upgrade Hvar's hotels have seen in recent times. For arguably the best views of all, the three penthouse suites of Hotel Adriana, above, take some beating. 

May 30, 2019 - There is a new entertainment hot spot on the island of Hvar, one which is more than 400 years old - the multi-functional oldest public theatre in Europe.

It was closed for almost 20 years for renovation, but it seems that Hvar fully intends to make maximum use out of its newly renovated cultural treasure, the oldest public theatre in Europe, which dates back to 1612.

The theatre, which lies on the first floor of the imposing Arsenal building which guards the entrance to Hvar Town's majestic main square, reopened earlier this month with a series of plays in the first few days. 

But the theatre, which is open to visitors during the day, is already showing its potential as a multi-functional meeting point and entertainment centre. 

The latest event to be held at the theatre was a fashion show from the island's leading fashion designer, Toni Caric Rico.

A glorious setting for his innovative work, and the evening was by all accounts a great success.  

Fashion for the future and traditional dance from yesteryear, the theatre also recently hosted a Hvar Theatre Ball, where guests were also invited to dress up and participate. Many thanks for to Katia Zaninovic Dawnay for the video footage. 

Looking to enjoy the theatre and its spectacular location from the comfort of your living room? Take a drone tour with Jaksa Kuzmicic in the this excellent video.

To learn more about the island of Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.