It's only 11 AM, and you reach for your bottle of sunscreen to apply the second layer onto your shoulders. A quick forecast check shows the temperatures will rise to 31°C by Monday. The official beginning of summer is two weeks away, and yet... you're in Komiža.
A darling little town located on the west shore of Vis island, Komiža is known as one of the farthest inhabited places off the Croatian mainland. Picking a favourite island town in the area of Split-Dalmatia County is not an easy task, but Vis and Komiža have a certain underlying charm that's impossible to resist. As its location is shielded from sharp winds by Mount Hum, Komiža has a reputation of being the warmest town on the Adriatic in winter months, and the abundance of sights and natural scenery never leave you short of things to admire.
(Waterfront in Komiža, source: Komiža Tourist Office)
But first, how to get to Komiža? If you're not sailing around the Adriatic or haven't booked a tour of the islands, there's a ferry line departing from Split that will take you to Vis island, where you can grab a bus or a local ride to Komiža that's only about 10 kilometres away from the port of Vis. Plenty of accommodation facilities await at your disposal, both hotels and private apartments, so you can enjoy a longer vacation stint in this charming town. Just make sure to book in advance, as Vis island can get pretty crowded in the summer!
(Image source: Komiža Tourist Office)
Once you're there, you have more than 50 beaches to choose from, one more attractive than the other. If you're more the type to explore instead of catching some sun, take a walk around Komiža to see the gorgeous historical architecture. Pictured below is Zanchi Palace (called Zonkotov Paloc in the local dialect), a three-story baroque palace dating from the end of the 17th century. Komiža and Vis territory in general are also home to multiple lighthouses, as well as wondrous churches and monasteries such as the parish church of St. Nicholas. On December 6, residents of Komiža gather to celebrate the Day of the Town with a ceremonial fire burning in front of the church, dedicated to the rescue of all ships and sailors worldwide. As St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and travellers, it's worth seeing the church to honour the local tradition.
(Zanchi Palace, image source: Komiža Tourist Office)
You'll find a lot of options for various activities in Komiža. There are multiple diving centres and farms offering riding classes if you enjoy an active vacation, and in case you'd like to find out more about the history and culture of this magical place, there are wine roads to be explored, as well as tours of the neighbouring historic villages and abandoned military facilities.
As Komiža is known for its long-running tradition of fishing, it's no wonder one of the main events in the summer is the Fisherman's night, a traditional manifestation usually taking place on first Saturday in August. The island population merges with tourists on the waterfront to dance the night away, all the while enjoying the best of local cuisine and wine.
While you're feasting, you might want to weigh in on a dispute as old as the island itself - which dish is better, pogača from Komiža or Vis? The delicious flat oven-baked bread is prepared in different ways in two main towns on the island, and this event should be a perfect opportunity for you to try the Komiža pogača. Visiting in 2017? Mark August 12 in your calendars!
The small island of Biševo south of Vis is home to the famous Blue Grotto, a natural spectacle dazzling visitors with a glowing blue light and crystal clear water. Once accessible only by diving, the sea cave now has an expanded entrance large enough for boats, and is known as one of the most attractive natural destinations on the Adriatic. We're preparing a guide to the Blue Cave for this season, so make sure to check the website in a day or two.
(The Blue Grotto, source: Flickr)
As the best should be left for last, the most phenomenal event in Komiža takes place at the end of summer. Come September, the waters around Komiža become home to Rota Palagruzona, a spectacular historical regatta featuring traditional sailboats. The boats embark in Komiža and set off for the remote archipelago of Palagruža; the uninhabited islands were once a favoured destination of Komiža's fishermen owing to large shoals of sardines populating the waters of Palagruža.
(Rota Palagruzona, photographer Ivo Biočina, courtesy of CNTB)
It might be best to leave it to the locals and Komiža itself to show you what awaits at this remote gem. Here's a video provided by the Komiža Tourist Board, featuring the charming narrow streets, island sunsets, and too much turquoise waters to handle:
