MONDAY MUSINGS :HVAR

MONDAY MUSINGS ON HVAR:

After visiting the spectacular Blue Cave* we continued towards Hvar, "the longest island in Croatia, the sunniest in all Europe(2724 hours of sunshine per year) and is considered  among the most beautiful islands in the world. "

Upon arrival, we joined a guided tour of Hvar and learned why this amazing town is a must see on the historical map of Croatia. 

Charming cobblestone streets greeted us with narrow walkways/ alleys ...

                                                                   

Hannibal Luciċ," a local nobleman lived in Dalmatia under Venetian rule also was a prominent Croatian poet and playwright known as the author of Robinja ( The Slave Girl), the first secular drama in Croatian lit. He was influenced by Petrarchan traditions, involved in local governance and construction projects on the island.

Franciscan Monastery

Unfortunately, the Franciscan Sisters' monastery and their museum were closed and we couldn't see their intricate lace work made from threads of the agave plant.

"Lacemaking in Croatia (Croatian: Čipkarstvo u Hrvatskoj) is a tradition dating back to the Renaissance when lacemaking began spreading throughout the Mediterranean^[1] and continental Europe. Throughout the years, Croatian lace has become notable for its unique patterns and designs. In 2009, UNESCO recognised lacemaking in Croatia as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.^[2]

Today in Croatia, there are several centres of lacemaking tradition, most notably the Adriatic towns of Pag and Hvar, the northern town of Lepoglava, and the Sveta Marija village in the Međimurje County."

Hvar lace

This lacework makes extra monies for the manifold projects of the Franciscan Sisters.

water well

 The phenomenal stonework   never ceased to      amaze   me, no matter which island   we visited.

 Hvar was no different and all the towns were so    clean...

With the realization our visit was fleeting,  I became a real tourist and spent time also perusing shops, buying lavender goods from nearby fields and sampling various olive oil flavors. 

              Obviously,  I am just another fish in the sea... LOL

* In case you missed the Blue Cave posting, here's the link.

BLUE CAVE