Art and Cultural Events:

Culture and art are essential attributes of Hvar. This island was the birthplace Petar Hektorovic `(1487-1572), Lucic` Hannibal (1486-1553) and many other writers whose work is part of the European literary heritage.
	Many musicians that enriched culture, lived and worked in Hvar. Their presence had a significant formative impact on the mentality of the island. In recent years, regular music concerts, exhibitions and readings by renowned Croatian artists and scientists were organized.
These events are usually starting in June lasting until October. Similarly, alternate choirs, bands and music as well as performances from schools are offered in the summer almost every day.

Galleries, Museums & Arts
Seven thousand years of history and spirituality dominate the landscape of Hvar.

Die Archeologische Sammlung

	The Archaeological Collection It is located in the former Dominican Monastery. And it is one of the best collections of ancient amphoras in Croatia. Archaeological research shows that even in the Neolithic period people have lived on the island.
While the similarities to the painted pottery at the same time in Italy and Greece are resulting ceramics, with linear ornaments, using a scoring technique (impresso ceramic), a characteristic only for the Hvar culture phenomenon.
	The pieces reflect the connections with the areas of the Mediterranean such as Crete, Syria, Egypt, Malta and southern Italy.

The Franciscan Art Collection

It contains the precious collection of old masters. The Last Supper, maybe the original, is of considerable size and impressive artistry. A Venetian master who suffered shipwreck was rescued by the islanders. He painted this work of art, leaving it as a thanksgiving on the island.

The Franciscan monastery itself is a Renaissance building, which local builders have built from 1461 to 1489. The Renaissance relief in the lunette of the portal, the Virgin and Child is a work of Nikola Firentinac (s.Sibenik). In the monastery church is located on the main altar an altarpiece by Francesco da Santa Croce from the year 1538. It is one of the most valuable works of the Venetian painter.

The Bishop Museum

In addition to the inventory and the objects of art from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, are most interesting the vestments and altar coverings, and the masterly carved choir stalls. Put your special attention to robes, towels and blankets which are richly decorated with gold and silver embroidery. Also worth seeing are the gold works, most notably the gold-plated brass rod of Bishop `Pritic, the master work of Pavao Dubravcic` from Dubrovnik.

The Hvar Theatre

	The center for the preservation of cultural treasures. The ancient theater was built in 1612, the interior comes from the 19th century. The theater was renovated several times, with two rows of boxes today that come from the year 1800.
The Theatrelife of Hvar did not begin until the construction of the theater - before its inception performances were held outside the cathedral. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling, and the cute stage into the theater are like a romantic adventure that puts you in the old days.
	It is the first theater in Europe, that opened its doors to all classes of the population and even today in that building many professional and amateur ensembles perform.

Already in the 4th Century BC Greeks from the island of Pharos built in the vicinity of today's Stari Grad, the ferry port on the island of Hvar, a settlement and named it after their home FAROS, the name which later developed into HVAR. Today this area is famous for one of the best local red wines.

In the 3rd Century, the island was conquered by Romans, then took over in the 7th Century bei Hungarian-Croatian kings, and after that the Venetians came to take Hvar. Over the centuries, Venetians and Turks led to much bloodshed. Following riots in the 17th Century, equality between people and the nobles reached. With interruptions by the French Hvar belonged to Austria from 1797 to 1918. After that the island was part of Yugoslavia. Because of its turbulent past, Hvar has a variety of architectural treasures to offer.

The Gallery on the Arsenal
In the Arsenal a Gallery is located including works of the famous Croatian modern artists (Emanuel Vidivic `,` Frano Simunovic, Miljenko Stancic, etc.) The building itself is the most secular monument in Hvar. It was built between 1579 and 1611. With a 10 meter wide arch it allowed the accommodation of a war galley. When renewing the Arsenal the theater on the first floor was built by the Hvar Prince Pietro Semitecolo.

The urban Loggia
In the immediate vicinity of the Arsenal is a Renaissance building, Earlier attributed to the Veronese architect Girolamo Sanmicheli, but according to recent findings, however, was created with the participation of master Tripun Bokanic `from Korcula. The elegant loggia is an expression of self-esteem of the former inhabitants of Hvar. Next to this building stands clock tower that was built in the 15th Built-century an belonged originally to the wall of the principle's palace that was cracked in 19th century, and got its current appearance in the 18th century. It bears the symbol of power of the Serenissima, St. Mark's lion.

The town of HVAR

The port is dominated by two large buildings, the Arsenal and the Loggia. The dock for small boats was already in the 15th Century created the city's seafront, and in the 16th Century paved the present port enclosure with the baroque pyramids are dated with 18th century.
	The Arsenal was build between 1579 and 1611. To Venetian times it was used as a warehouse for the war galleys, in the 17th Century the building was given its present appearance, was increased at the instigation of Prince Pietro Hvar Semitecolo to the theatre on the first floor.
On the other side of the square is the Loggia with the clock tower. These are the remains of the 14th Century Governor's palace, now used as Palace Hotel, the first house on the square.
	At the end of the square you will find the Cathedral of Sv. Stjepan. The Renaissancestil building of the 16th Century belonged to the bishop who, since the mid-13th Century was in Hvar. The impressive Renaissance Tower was created in the 16th Century by the Croatian architects Nikola Karlic and Marko Milic Pavlovic.
Worth seeing are the baroque altars from the 17th Century and particularly valuable is the altar with the Madonna of family Hekotorvic with inscription from the 13th Century.
	As you stroll along the palm-lined Riva to the southern port bay, it is more quiet. On a spit of land is the Franciscan monastery of the mid-15th Century, built in Renaissance style with it's museum. Its bell tower is the oldest in Hvar and is from builders of the island of Korcula. In the church in front of the high altar the poet Hannibal Lucic is buried.
On the main altar in the monastery church you can see a Polyptychon of master Francesco da Santa Croce from 1583. The museum houses the stunning painting "The Last Supper of Christ with his disciples" in the format 2.5 x 8 m of Ingoli Matteo (1585-1631) from Ravenna.
	The old Capital of the island, STARI GRAD Stari Grad is the oldest city on the island and one of the oldest in Europe. It's history began with the colony Faros 384 BC. In 1147 Stari Grad was Episcopal and untill 1278 also the administrative center of the island, later the town of Hvar took over these functions.
In addition to Romanesque and Gothic buildings the castle Trvdali, the palace of the poet Petar Hektorovic 16th Century, is one of the most interesting buildings of Stari Grad.
JELSA The port of Jelsa originated in the 14th In the 15th century formed a settlement around the church Sv. Ivan. Again, you encounter all over relics from the past, even in the vicinity finds from ancient times. The area was already inhabited at the Neolithic period, which was discovered in the study of the cave called Grapceva spilja, south east of Jelsa. South of Jelsa left by the Greeks, you'll find an observation tower that is still very well preserved, as well as some Roman villas.

	VRBOSKA In the 15th Century as a port of the village Vrbanj Vrboska was built and became a fishing village with a large fish factory. Today here are preserved sardines in a traditional way by salting. In Vrboska you'll find a unique fortress church, built to protect against the Turks. Gray stone tower over the pristine Renaissance building with its three-bell tower, make the city unique in the entire Adriatic.