Stari Grad Plain on Hvar Island far older than is believed

Follow @FindCroatia

The Island of Hvar was once again this year one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Adriatic, attracting many visitors. Hvar enjoys its tremendous popularity on account of its nature, rich and top quality tourist offering as well as numerous entertainment, hospitality and other facilities and activities.

However, the Island of Hvar is also known for its rich history, the remnants of which attract the attention of
visitors and are still researched by historians. The most recent archeological research conducted in the Starigrad plain on the island of Hvar could reveal that the history of Stari Grad is far older than is believed.

Excavations at Remete on the edge of the Starigrad plain on the east entrance to the Stari Grad have revealed a settlement three centuries older than Faros. Until now, it was believed that the first urban settlement on the area of today’s Stari Grad was established 385 B.C. by setters from the Greek island of Paros, who named it Faros.

On account of the great importance of the Starigrad plain, called hore in Greek and agera in Latin, where throughout
history the original Greek foundations from the end of the 4th century B.C. remained excellently preserved, UNESCO
put the arable plain on the World Heritage List last year as a cultural monument. The plain stretches from Stari grad
to Jelsa and Vrboska. The same agricultural products have been grown in the plain for over 24 centuries.

It comprisesaround 120 archaeological localities, from prehistory to the Middle Ages. The most recent archaeological research is being conducted in the courtyard of a stone house from the 18th century, which is being renovated and will be turned into the headquarters of the public institution Ager, tasked with managing and promoting the protected area.

The Stari Grad Museum will exhibit newly discovered objects: Ilirian-Liburnian bronze needles and hooks, rough black
ceramics and Greek colored ceramics. In the near future, numerous other items from yet to be researched localities will surely find their place in the museum as well. The most recent excavations have once again confirmed that the area of today’s Stari Grad, which has been competing for the title of the oldest city on the east Adriatic with Island of Vis, is rich in cultural treasures, attracting to the Island of Hvar numerous cultural heritage enthusiasts from the entire world.

Stari Grad Tourist Board www.stari-grad-faros.hr