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Hvar, Croatia
Hvar Town sits on one of the sunniest islands in Europe, and its compact old town is a delight to walk. The main square, Trg Svetog Stjepana, is one of the largest in Dalmatia, flanked by the Renaissance cathedral and the Arsenal, which houses one of Europe's oldest public theaters. Climbing to the Spanjola Fortress above the town rewards with panoramic views of the harbor, the Pakleni Islands, and the Adriatic. The narrow backstreets reveal stone houses draped in bougainvillea, hidden restaurants, and artisan shops. Beyond the town, the island offers walking trails through lavender fields and olive groves, and the Stari Grad Plain — a UNESCO-listed agricultural landscape laid out by ancient Greeks — preserves a 2,400-year-old farming pattern still in use today.
explore by interest
The fortress climb is steep but short — go at sunset when the light turns the harbor golden and the views of the Pakleni Islands are most dramatic.
June through September for beach and outdoor dining weather, with July bringing the lavender harvest and its intoxicating scent across the island.