Stari Grad – The hidden gem of the island of Hvar

The island of Hvar is one of the most beautiful islands across all of Croatia. Also known as the Queen of Dalmatian Islands, island Hvar is something that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. If you are going for an Adriatic cruise adventure, you should definitely consider visiting Stari Grad: one of the towns on the island of Hvar. 

Things you probably didn't know about Stari Grad

Stari Grad is one of the oldest towns in all of Europe, not only Croatia. Stari Grad has been pretty well-documented, even though the 2400-year history it has. 2020 marks the 2403rd year since it was inhabited or at least documented after being inhabited. Here are some fun facts about Stari Grad that you should know:

Safe harbor for sailors:

Because of its geological position, Stari Grad has historically been one of the safest harbors for sailors throughout the region. The Greeks from the island of Paros in the Aegian sea settled in Hvar, the Romans came afterwards and settled there.
Like what happened with so many other islands in the vicinity, even the Venetians inhabited Stari Grad when they came. Finally, Yugoslavians were the last great dynasty to come and rule over this location. 

UNESCO approves

Officially approved as a cultural heritage in 2008, Stari Grad is one of the hidden gems of the island of Hvar. Its chilly winds, as well as the serene atmosphere, makes Stari Grad one of the best locations to visit for visitors, no matter the age.
Stari Grad is Croatian for Old Town – which is kind of obvious and redundant but also places emphasis on this town being the oldest of the location. Do not confuse this town with Starigrad Paklenica because they are completely different towns in different parts of Dalmatia. 

Places to absolutely never miss

Stari Grad was originally given the name of Paiz by the first inhabitants around 384 BC. The locals love to call Paiz as the Paris of Croatia, and there are a lot of reasons why. Here are some of the places that you should never miss if you want truly memorable luxurious sailing holidays:

104-year old Andrija Petric Muse

Andrija Petric Muse is not a location to visit, but a person. Apparently, this old lad has a love for fishing and is a local legend. It is said that he has been smoking for over 80 years. Though many tourists tend not to disturb him because of his elderly status, he is still a legend that you should see at least once on your trip. You will often see him by his shop that he has set up, or near the waters. 

Stari Grad Plain

The biggest place to visit on Stari Grad’s town is the Stari Grad Plain. It is a cultural landscape that is protected by UNESCO because it was first colonized by the Ionian Greeks. Surrounded by ancient stone walls and trims, spread across with small stone shelters, Stari Grad Plain is one of the testimonials of a great civilization that once lived in this region. 
There is the land parcel system that you can check out, the agricultural plain and the cadastral system. 

Stari Grad Bay

The Stari Grad Bay is one of the deepest bays in the region. It is also the only bay of the town. Though it may be a good location to visit to check out beautiful sunsets and sunrises, Stari Grad Bay is locally infamous for its ‘plima’. Plima is a term that refers to the rising water levels of the bay. The water levels rise so much that much of the bay is drowned underwater. Depending on the scenario, you might be evacuated from the location if the severity of plima is too high. 

The castle of Hektorović Tvrdalj (Tvrdalj Palace)

The castle of Hektorović Tvrdalj is one of the oldest and well-known throughout Croatia. Apparently, it was built by Croatia’s own Petar Hektorović. The castle is located in the middle of the town, so you don’t really need to go out of your way to visit this beautiful location. 
You will find historic tools, an herb garden, hoses and even agricultural equipment inside the large castle. Most of the castle is free to be roamed around in, so you can have a great adventure. 
If you get confused, the castle is optionally known as Tvrdalj Palace by the locals. 

Marina – the new and updated version of the old Riva

Marina is the waterfront that you can see when you land from your luxurious cruising adventure in this town. Though it was pretty broken down until a few years ago, recent progress has made it an extremely clean and attractive front for any tourist to come and see. Oh, and there are a lot of good restaurants here that offer spicy and exotic food for a luxurious premium, of course. 

Venetian laneways

The laneways, especially those built during the Venetian period, are very quiet: to the point that they even seem desolate. These laneways are connected to the town of Hvar and you can find cheap restaurants and other attractive spots while roaming around. If you get lost somewhere, you can always ask one of these locals: they are always willing to help. 

Skor Square:

If you want to scour away with some of the best Instagrammable pictures all around, head over to the Skor Square. It isn’t all that battered down by the test of time, and when given adequate bright light of the sun, Skor Square offers some of the best picture spots in all of the town. 

Braće Biankini Museum:

Officially known as The Biankini Palace, this landmark is located on the Braće Biankini 4 street. Though more of a museum and less of a palace now, you can find different interior decorations of that time spread throughout the location for the visitors to see and admire. You can even find a well-preserved garden and especially the 100-year-old Deodar Cedar. 

Restaurants to visit

Here are a few restaurants that you should not forget to visit:

• Antika – Antika is revered as one of the best seafood restaurants in all of Stari Grad. If you find this place to be pretty desolate, rejoice because you will be able to enjoy your food in peace. 
• Kanoba Paria – best known for their grilled dishes, if you are looking to get your stomach full with chicken instead of fish, Kanoba Paria is the best place all around. 
• Cocktail bar Lampedusa – Lampedusa is revered as the best cocktail server on the entire island of Hvar. You will be paying a premium for these drinks, but it's worth it. Plus, you will be floating while drinking so who cares?

Final Thoughts

Though you can visit many of these things in around 7 to 10 hours, we do recommend getting a multiple-day tour for your sailing holiday needs because it will be more helpful. Located in the Mediterranean, you will be better off getting a private charter if you want a good spot on the waterfronts.

The best fact about visiting this island is that you won’t find many tourists. Getting a well-planned custom experience is recommended, which is why we offer our 7-day luxury cruising services to you.